Danny70

Hello and Welcome to GMIC Team Canada! I see there are 2 War of Independence Medals with Comrac bar on ebay right now... What worries me is that the seller is using the very same photograph of the reverse in both sales and also used the same image in one he sold previously. Too lazy to take pictures of each individual medal?? Not to mention, the photograph of the obverse of the first one looks terrible - really blurred and the medal looks to have a high gloss finish. http://cgi.ebay.com/Very-Rare-Irish-Comrac...1QQcmdZViewItem http://cgi.ebay.com/Irish-Comrac-Medal-wit...1QQcmdZViewItem As previously stated, be very, very careful! Can we see the medals you have already purchased? Regards - Danny

Hello Chris, I have a weakness for little wooden boxes of all kinds, in so much that my wife has begun to loose her patience with me and doesn't want to see another for a long time! These are great!, I especially love the 'Tafelmusik' one. It amazes me to see the workmanship that goes into some of them, the dovetail joints and that clasp is a beautiful touch. And then... the TR tax stamps, well, they are just the icing on the cake!! Regards - Danny

Hello pinpon, It looks like a good one to me, although the flash in the photographs makes it look a little strange. It shares the same features and details as my one, and a good clear stamping. (This maker Beck, Hassinger & Co., Stra?burg used different stampings on the rings, some of which casuse problems with identification, but with this one there is no doubt.) Was it badly stored as the core looks to have some rusting under the paint? Regards - Danny Here's mine for comparison:

Brian, W&L crosses have a number of distinctive traits that make them 'stand out'. Many examples are found in this great condition still retaining much of the frosting. The first and most obvious feature being the hump at the jump ring - while this is found on quite a few different makers crosses (generally to a lesser degree), it helps narrow the possibilities. The second thing I look for is the low positioning of the dates on the core. Also, W&L crosses have the top right hand corner of the '3' chopped off on the 1813 date. (They do on my versions anyway... and yours!) These crosses also have a kind of 'squashed bead' (one that looks like a half bead squeezed in among the others) at the 2 o'clock position. Hope this makes sense and don't worry, you will get used to seeing the differences between makers because, as I said before, I'm sure this will not be your last cross! Regards - Danny

Hello Brian, Congratulations on your first EK2 and welcome to GMIC! I'm sure this one will not be your last. It is a beautiful example of an unmarked '100' - made by the firm of Rudolf W?chtler & Lange, Mittweida. Regards- Danny

PK - Brilliant!! If you ever do get around to putting these on the web, please post a link for us. Ulsterman - Thanks for posting that great photograph. Regards - Danny

This one may have been a looker in her day... but that day is long gone! Unmarked with great detail on the core but a splitting, battered frame that looks to have a high brass content.

For a 10 euro investment, it's looking really good to me! I'm not a helmet guy, but I don't have any problem with what you are doing... It's a sympathetic restoration, nothing wrong with that. Regards - Danny

Richard - That is a fantastic display!! and as for the contents.... I'm speechless! Excellent job indeed. When doing jobs like that, I usually get some really helpful comments like, "Is it meant to take this long?" or "Are you nearly finished?" and when combined with a 2 year olds help (stealing screwdriver, removing pieces, chewing screws etc.) it turns any DIY project in my house into a nightmare! Congratulations again, definitely worth the hassle. Regards - Danny

Hello nesredep, Congratulations! a very nice W?chtler & Lange. Regards - Danny

Thanks Joel! I had been searching for a '1' & '56' for what felt like ages, so I'm really happy that these have finally been added into the collection. Regards - Danny

Hello Kevin, I agree with Darrell, it looks like a perfectly good Berg & Nolte cross to me. Hard to tell for certain from the pictures but it looks as if it may have been cleaned at some stage. Regards - Danny Here's mine for comparison:

And the last one is a 'saltier' example marked '138' for Julius Maurer of Oberstein. As usual, any opinions or comments are appreciated! Regards - Danny

The third one is a beautiful cross in great condition with a matt finish on the core. Marked '56' for the firm of Robert Hauschild, Pforzheim.

The second is a cross marked '52' from the firm of Gottlieb & Wagner, Idar/Oberstein. In very good condition apart from two small areas of paint loss on the 3 and 9 o'clock arms.

Hello All... I haven't posted anything in a while, so I thought I would show some of my recently purchased iron crosses. These make it 35 makers checked off.... wonder how many I have left to go?!!! The first is a well worn cross marked '1' - Deschler & S?hne, Munich. Unfortunately, it has only a partial stamp but is unquestionably a Deschler. I had been looking for one of these for ages and I know I over-paid for it.. but, hey! I finally have one!!

LOL! The best laugh I had today was when I checked to see what his 'other auctions' were! Thanks Brendan.

Hello Alex, Sorry I can't tell you anything about the button, but the medal looks very suspect to me. The lack of detail and soft features make me question it's authenticity. Just my opinion. I hope someone can identify the button for you. Regards - Danny

Well if you ever do decide to part with this one, give me a shout first!! Regards - Danny

Joel, You certainly had a good weekend... Another beauty. I'll bet your old 'rubber arm' didn't really take much twisting!! Welcome back into the addiction! Regards - Danny

Congratulations Joel, A nice find indeed with plenty of character! One of the rarer makers, I've been looking out for one of those myself. Regards - Danny

Mametz, Thanks for the reply and sound advice! I know you are correct, but to be honest, this dagger was priced right for me and I wasn't buying it to sell on. I'm not a 'dagger guy' and this was purely to satisfy a desire to have a 'decent-ish' SA in my collection. I previously got a cheap one that was in a terrible state and tried to replace the blade, but the replacement didn't fit. I ended up buying another grip, set of crossguards and a pommel nut for the spare blade! As a result, I now have 3 daggers (one without scabbard) and have them in an antique display case which I am very happy with... so that's it, I have no intention nor wish to get another. I'm satisfied with what I have here. (Ok, I admit it, I've since replaced the missing suspension ring and added a hanger.. but that's definitely it now, no more!) Thanks again. Regards - Danny

I too, support the proposal for a new Ireland forum! - Danny

It looks like a wideframe '24' to me also. These crosses often have poor or incomplete stamps. Regards - Danny

Hi Tom63, That's a nice cross, but something about the stamped '8' is troubling me, I have a feeling that the stamp is a post-war addition. I have not seen a Hoffstatter EK2 before, but this one does not look very like the L/19 - Ferdinand Hoffstatter EK1. I think the frame on this cross looks very like the re-worked Zimmerman crosses. Can you compare your cross to this one, IMO the frames at least are identicle. Also, May I ask where you purchased the cross? Regards - Danny