Yankee

I think I remember the story of "Bull's Blood" wine - written on the side of the bottle:

A Hungarian castle town was beseiged by a load of Turks. The Hungarian Soldiers inside were served the wine and the best of food to keep up their strength. The Turks, having heard that the defenders were drinking Bull's Blood decided to go home. I think it was the Hungarian's first victory over the Ottoman Empire.

Have you tried any? No wonder the Turks ran away.

That awesome castle your thinking of is located in Eger, Eastern part of Hungary, Surprisingly the castle still stands considering the amount of destruction the Turks caused. Oww ya that is one good wine , that is all I drank there and lucky for me it can be had in the States.

Peter is right about the years of service. I don't think that ever changed much. Back then the soldiers profession was for life so many had a lot of years of service. The record being something like 50+ years.

Here is a pic of one that sold this year, not sure about the ribbon - looks too fresh. They go for a bit more than the "normal" types, but not much. I didn't bid on this one because of the bad strike

PS Nice medals Peter! I really need to get me a nice medal to honor my great great grandfather distinktionskorpral Lyckman.

/Kim

That is one proudly worn medal. Hope the guy who got his for 50 years was in gold or some sort of special presentation.

A fine Napoleonic piece with an arched crown and solid crowns between each arm.

Maybe of German make, never seen another...........

The Medal of the Sword (instituted 1850) came in silver and one size only (30mm). The criterias for the Medal was 16 years of service and the same for the Sign of the Sword (including 6 years as an NCO).

Kim, do you have any illustration of the hinged version? Can't recall having seen one.

Thanks Peter for that helpful info. In the fotos & catalogs they look larger. I must admit only once or twice did I ever see a Sword medal that was hinged, never occured to me just how rare they are. BTW thanks for sharing your cool Sword collection

Sincerely

Yankee

Yankee: There are no books (to my knowledge) that deal in the medals variation. Everything I have seen written about it are just the history, this medal is heavily shadowed by the order. Adding to this shadow is the fact that it was only awarded for long service. But I can give a basic idea of the most common models:

Crown mounted with a hinge. This is the first model and used to late 1850-ties. At this time most hinges disappeared from both medals and orders.

Small crown. Used into the reign of Gustaf V. When the change to a larger crown happened is a matter of future research.

Somewhere here is the year stamp introduced by law for medals. I need to dig some to find the exact year, but it's something like 1900-10.

Large crown.

"Modern" crown. King Gustav VI wanted a more modern looking crown and the result was the type as shown here, from about 1950. This was the final type, as the medal stopped being awarded in 1975.

And as a side note I can mention that my own great great grandfather got this medal for his service in the Royal Västmanland regiment for 27 years of service.

As for Napoleonic times I do not know of any published lists. Could be some in private hands as all the records are probably still in the archives. But the time and knowledge to pull them and sort it all out is not done in five minutes.

/Kim

Hi Kim

Many kind thanks for explaining in detail the differences that we come across over the medal to the Sword in its time frame. What would be the length of time for a soldier to receive the medal or better yet how long did your Great Great Grandfather need to serve before he recived his medal . Was it strictly a one class medal in size & only a silver grade or was it like the Vasa? Thanks

Sincerely

Yankee

No, they are much easier to date as they have to have silver stamps according to law. Those made before the law can be dated by the style of the crown.

The medal o the pic has a year stamp and the maker MJV stamped on it.

/Kim

Hi Kim

Can you suggest a book that would have good illustrations of the medal to the Sword. I have seen several with large crown, small crown, flat crown, some directly attached & others hinged. Thank you for informing me on the silver marks in order to date them. Any idea the first year they were introduced to the medal?

Sincerely

Yankee

Hi Peter and Yankee,

Thank you for the information.

Swedish Orders are my side line of collecting and my knowledge is not very comprehensive.

I recently got the Civil model without the swords, which as far as I know was awarded in the period 1894-1920

I am also adding a picture of the Medal of the Order of the sword to compliment Peter's information

I am also using the opportunity to ask you for information when can I get original sashes for orders of the Vasa and the Order of Polar Star

Best

Graf

Hi Graf

The Sword is a beautiful Order with a lot of history unfortunately there are no books written in English on the subject to my knowledge. There are many fine books written on the subject but there all in Swedish. The last Kuenker Auction offered a good early section that you should still be able to view online. Nice medal to the order you have, they are more difficult to date.

Sincerely

Yankee

Dear Membes,

I recently obtained this old Model of the Sweden Order of the Sword.

My research indicates that the Model could be around 1800 Period

Can you help me to identify the exact period and how rare is this Model

Regards

Graf

Hi Graf

The early examples from 1800 would usually have the crown attached directly to the Cross. I agree with Peter you have a very fine example from the 2nd quarter 19th century & they are scarce.

Glucklicher mann sind sie.

:cool:Was für einen

Dass ist eine fantastische sammlung sie machen :jumping: . Ich denke zweiten foto ist Franzosich Napoleonic....danke

I don't think lot 44 is a Chevalier going by that price.

Better yet take a look at the next day sale November 16th. Napoleon's Sox & Breast Stars plus SB went through the roof. Lots 76-79 & 121-123

Rosa !!!!!

Hallo Rudi

Vielleicht besser ich sage kupfer gold farbe. Ihren schone Ludwig Ritter mit etui haben .

Hier mal ein früher Komtur2X ca. 1850 - 1860

Hallo Paris

Die detaillierte griff, rosa und gelb gold schwertern sind wunderbare

Another variant of the Wilhelm Order. This one too is translucent but with curved raised arms, Two of the arms have been restored which are the genuine ones I don't recall. Please excuse the scan, came from a horrible foto, Further info needed on this type.

I could only help on the history of the order not on the difference in its medaillons

Only 8 awarded in exile, curious to know of any changes. Hope all is well with your project.

All the best.

Brian

Hello

Can anybody shed some light on the Golden Lion & Wilhem Order 1816-66 variant knight examples that have that transparent enamel design. The vast majority I come across are the opaque ( cloudy ) enamel type. When were they awarded and by which jeweler. Possible Elector Frederick William awarded them in exile 1866-75 from Austria. The quality, weight and size are nearly identical to both knights. Thanks in advance.

The badge itself is unmarked therefore it would be a difficult task to ascertain who the manufacturer is. The seller states the badge being of post war production but notes the kleine decoration of an earlier period. Your assement is spot on

A very fine post war gold knight

Amazing combination!

AMAZING CAREER TO BE SURE

and certainly from this one

2224.jpg

TWO WORLD WARS, REVOLUTION, COMMUNISM, EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN & NOT EVEN A SCRATCH

IT SEEMS ONE WOULD NEED AN IRON STOMACH AND PLENTY OF MAALOX IN COLLECTING THE ULTRA RARE TODAY.

BTW GOOD EYE NICK

Very nice bar, Brian!

Yours?

Hi Nick

Still in my collection & still can't put a name to the recipient.

not my medals group belong to an enlisted man ...

about cross from Graf collection , mentioned in Prince Dimitry Romanoff book " The Orders, Medals and History of the Kingdom of Bulgaria"

on the photo - Felix Graf von Luckner

Thanks for that. You don't see too many gentleman sporting two medal bars

and photo of medals group ( not my medals, sorry )

If you have photos of early medals group, or medals group or some crosses - post please !

Hi Igor

That is a really nice bar Did the group belong to an officer or an elisted man? Two of the emedals that are in silver were given to officers but the cross itself is for non-comm or enisted man. Thanks in advance.

Talking about quality

55 (3).jpg

56.jpg

As it should be.

By photos from post # 157 looks ok

Glade to have picked out a good one from the fine bunch.