landsknechte

Officer? I had always assumed it was a MVK.

No, these two bars couldn't be to the same person. I only posted one of them, but I have two identical examples of the sew on bar.

The first two ribbon bars, which very obviously belong to the same person and were made by the same person, came to me from two different continents. What ever it is, it was meant to be. "No sir, you are the caretaker. You have always been the caretaker."

Once I get it in hand and have a chance to really look it over, I'll post my observations. Seems like a strange ribbon to have found it's way to a fake ribbon bar. As far as I know, I own the only other two German ribbon bars in existance with that ribbon on it. Interesting that this bar has the civil service DA, and mine has the BMVK on the Beamter ribbon. Two bars hardly makes a broad sample, but that might prove to be a clue right there.

Here's the reverse:

...and now, at the dawn of 2008, this bar is winging it's way through the labyrinth of the postal system. No closer to having any idea what it is, but at least I now know that it wasn't a one-off ersatz fix for some other decoration.

Some of you with longer memories might remember my strange, and perhaps unhealthy, obsession with a little blue and white ribbon which seems to be eluding all attempts at identification. Been wrestling with it for more than two years now, ever since landing two identical ribbon bars with it tucked in there...

Given James' description of the criteria for that last ribbon, which to me implies that the owner was a Croatian, does the Polizei analysis still work?

I misunderstood your saying that "I believe that is all there ever was to it" to mean that you believed that there had been nothing else attached to it.

There's no trace of any device ever being put through it. I'd presume it couldn't truly be a peacetime decoration, as it only existed (I believe) from 1941-1945.

Aha... Croatian.... That would make #3 a Zvonimir on a civil ribbon. Croat SS volunteer perhaps?

Yep, that is a Ludwigs Order.

That's one that I never suspected would be that unique. Another one to add to my list of likely unique but eternally untraceable ribbon bars.

After a bit more research, I went ahead and bought the assault frame and pack from IMA. They both appear to be pretty good in person.

With some of my notes being lost to a hard drive crash, I don't remember what the two foreign ribbons at the end of this bar are: ...anyone know off hand?

A little while back, I had a hard drive crash, and lost some of the notes that I had on my collection that I hadn't already printed out. Apologies for the redundancy, but now I don't remember what the general consensus of the group was as to what the likely identity of the red ribbon in this lapel bow was:

Just an opinion based upon my observations as a cat owner.

I think it just means that you just came out of the litter box.

I can't really tell from the picture, but it seems like it would be largely irrelevant in this case. To have two 1914 EK-type ribbons on a bar, both with gold crown and swords - what else could they be but one of each?

My one lone contribution is, I'd imagine, quite far from the realm of identifiability.

HHOX and Crown Order with swords?

Heck, I'm picturing the Kurgan from Highlander...

Thanks! Any guess on what #4 is?

Could you post a better scan of the ribbon bar?

I wish I had one to give. This is a pic that I found online somewhere, and have had on my hard drive for a while.