Tom Y

On the IVI the uprights and diagonals are squared off at the tops and there's a distinct, though slight, separation. On Bill's the left upright and diagonal are joined and the right are tapered. This can be accounted fr by the slight angle of the mark and the curvature of the ring, causing an incomplete stamping. I still say definitely an M.

Flandern X3 +1

Gold

Gold w/ crown

Gold w/ swords

Gold w/crown & swords

Silver

Silver w/ swords

I think one reason they're scarce is the delicacy of the suspension. I imagine a lot of them were broken over the years.

Silberne Verdienstmedaille mit Schwertern. Instituted in 1885, the swords were added in 1909.

Thanks all. I think I'll ask Detlev if he can shed any light on the subject or maybe it'll just remain one of those eternal mysteries. Anyhoo, I it to pieces.

It's hard to say what would go on the Vet's medal, but a black/white/red one with equal size stripes, ala the National Flag would be a good bet.

Yes, the larger cross is probably a commem. loosely based on the Prussian Crown Order. The smaller one due to the tabs and size, makes me think, although I've never seen one, "soldier doll", sort of a 19th century GI Joe.

Paul,

I don't know about the crosses, but the medal is a veterans' association piece.

David

From the Franco-Prussian War.

Good question and good eyes Tom. Anything else come in with this? I can offer no clue on the swords, first time I've ever seen this medal with this type of presentation.

Nope, just the medal. the swords appear to be real cast siver, but I can't get to the back due to the stitching.

I seem to remember seeing a similar stickpin type mount on a French or Belgian medal, but my memory being what it is...

It would appear from the old stitching holes that it was on a bar at one time.

In today from Vendor Maximus Hamburgiensis, the Prussian Lifesaving Medal, in pristine condition. It's an interesting mount, obviously for civilian wear, but why the swords? Herr Forschung, you seem to be our resident expert on this piece. Please enlighten us.

Thanks to Rich I remembered this one, a cut down S 71 bayo.

And this H?rster with a reverse cypher on the pommel as a seal. Property of R. Nolte, IR Freiherr v. Sparr 3. Westf?lische Nr.16 (?)

My humble contribution.

An extreme close-up of the maker mark. . .

Definitely an M

.

Thanks, guys. You've set my mind at ease. It's got just the right curvature to go in a Tervis Tumbler, and the factory's only 30 or so miles away....

You got me to looking at my M and IVI, and now I won't sleep tonight.

Maybe because I have a night job? Anyhow, the gist of it is, the cores are identical. the only difference being about 1 gm. in weight.... and what I've called an M for years is really an IVI So, next question, does the M actually exist? Any good scans of a real M out there?

And finally the elevation wheel. I won't bother with the belt, as all the cartridges seem uniform.

The back section of the receiver

The legs up close and personal.

The back is pretty monochromatic, but I've managed to tweak the Juncker mark a bit.

It has one pin missing, but that's OK by me.

This Armelabzeichen der MG-Scharfschutzen-Formationen just arrived today, and as it's the first one I've ever seen live, I'd like a little reassurance. it feels good, and when I opened the package I got a good whiff of old wool, but it never hurts to ask.

And the medal close up.

Ehrenlegion doc & medal.