Tom Y

I picked up this what I thought was a run of the mill K?niggratz Cross on eBay a few years ago.

I noticed it was missing the cockades as well, and the chinstrap looked in a little better condition than the rest of the leather so that makes sense. Is there any way to add the missing cockades to the helmet?

Thanks,

Pat

They're easily added by rotating the chinstrap fittings so the indent matches up with the "teat"on the stud, adding the Kokarden, then replacing the strap. I may have a spare pair. Will PM you.

Here are a couple i missed on the first pass.

Prussian NCO with maker's mark. Anyone recognize the maker?

and a W?rttemberg I have some doubts about. Any input would be more than welcome.

Welcome!!!

Here is my contribution! They belonged to my great grandfather!

Nice buckle, great tab, and the family connection makes it very special. :cheers:

At the request of a fellow host I've been asked to use my newly acquired magick powers to move the Bavarian buckles to a new address here

BTW, Nick, my Mercedes SLK staff car hasn't arrived yet :rolleyes:

and finally, my personal favorite, aesthetically speaking, Bavarian Customs.

Here are the two Bavarian buckles for comparison.

Post-95 NCO

The final installment, Bavaria. Pre-95 NCO

"With age comes wisdom" so Ricky wont feel so lonely now tongue.gif laugh.gif

Well, maybe, but also memory loss, aches, pains,.... :rolleyes:

Even if I collected TR I wouldn't touch it. I can't believe it's ever seen any gold. The gold color is definitely toning as you can see from the backs of the eagles. I've seen the same thing in silver coins. It would take dental tools to remove gilding from the stamps on the back. The toning on the engraving doesn't match that on the rest of the piece. All in all, if it is an original some greedy buffoon has ruined it.

W?rttemberg NCO, 2 soldering holes

3 soldering holes and unit marked

Tomorrow the final kingdom, Bavaria.

Saxon NCO

As promised.

Saxon EM

I seem to remember having a similar one but can't seem to find it or even a scan of it. Will keep looking.

Its crowning glory

I'll be posting the other states tomorrow, but don't want to leave without posting this, possibly one-off, Prussian Telegraph EM buckle.

Dunno if it was actually worn or found in a factory dump.

Another officer's buckle. There are no traces of gilt, so I imagine it was for field wear.

If you were a Prussian officer you got to wear one of these.

Here's a NCO with tab. Can't read the maker, but it was made in Wiesbaden in 1915.

Before 1895 they wore these.

and another of the same, almost.

Prussian NCO. Note the stamped catch.

Another EM with tab. Maker Fritz Manke, Dusseldorf. Dated 1916

Well, looks like I've been volunteered to host this forum, so after some gentle persuasion from Rick R. (and liberal application of the knout) I'll get to work. Buckles aren't my strong subject, but I'll give it a go. Guess I'll start off with my meager collection.

Prussian EM, painted steel