lew

Logically yes, but I would like to discuss the matter base on exiting examples and fact, not if. Many detectable fakes we have seen so far already have high quality engravings, but not close enough to period piece, same as fake patina. For the possibility of particular good fakes that have already being accepted as original, logically it might exist but not to large number. And I’m trying to express here that we should keep at least certain standard and keep tracking the good ones. I know it’s just matter of time for fakers to develop new process and technique in order to make better copies, then we have see how collector community will adapt and behave in the future.

I’m afraid in the area of engraved EK, many of pieces(more than half may be) are hard to draw conclusion with and doomed to be in mystery, as sad as that. However if look at the bright side of it, it might not be a bad thing to keep high standard, and pass on the black and white part of the knowledge to new collectors. It happened in some collecting areas before that arguable ideas or objects have confused people, and eventually became acceptable along time.

It’s interesting to see people are discussing the same topic in different forums. http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/showthread.php?t=780113 In contrary gut feeling is not about judging various details on technical level, but taking an over all look. It's a feeling that have been developed over years by observing original pieces, not only engraved EKs but plain medals and all kind of period pieces made from similar material. It’s a sense that how stuff should look like after years of wearing, tarnishing and even damaging. The original EKs have engraves done first, then came the decades of wear and aging. It might be easy for a skilled craftsman to engrave a piece in certain style, but in my opinion almost impossible to do without breaking the integrity of original look of entire cross. Unless a skilled engraver could craft and age the engravings, at the same time preserve all naturally formed characters on the entire object without leaving signs, their fakes are detectable by experienced collector with gut feeling. Gun engraving is really not a sounding argument here since that only show how good the engravings skills are out there, after all you won’t take a modern engraved gun as something done during the war time. Anyway I have to admit the gut feeling, or relying solely on gut feeling could make people to overpass something which might be good. My personal experience is that this is not due to the accuracy of gut feeling when judging originality, in fact it’s more reliable than judging from separate details, it’s a personal taste thing. When someone have seen enough and developed a good sense of originals, it’s a tendency that only the best and elite ones are accepted, it’s not just only original but have to be up to certain standard, you can see that kind of desire when people show off their pieces.

I would like to have a reprint as well.

Thank you guys for the comments. Here is the back photo, I think the Saxon service medal is Landwehr-Dienstauszeichnung 2nd class. So is such a bar id-able?

Dear friends, here is a medal bar that I think is a bit unusual, I'm having hard time figuring out the criteria of such a combination and origin. It features a centenary medal, a service medal from Saxony Kingdom, no other Saxony awards but a Saxe-Weimar order of white falcon. Please share your thought. Sorry for the fuzzy picture, I will take more photo when I have the chance.

I thought the cross and swords look like Wagner pieces, but the seller claimed it's made by WILM. Are the swords normally screwed in on Wagner cross?

I have no idea, these're the only photos available unfortunately.

Any comment?

back

Hello everyone, may I ask for your opinion about this KO4 with swords? and which maker do you think it is from? Thanks.

Hi Iver, this medal is not mine but you can see the extra large photos here. http://www.ebay.de/itm/Tapferkeitsmedaille-WW1-/111363206252?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT&_trksid=p2047675.l2557&nma=true&si=zNQdLLif1HmCNIYlwQOA8EhiX5Y%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc The reason of asking is because of a medal bar I have consists an identical ribbon, but I have no idea what medal should be there and I wondered if it could be for a bravery medal once I saw above pictures on eBay. Here is my medal bar. http://gmic.co.uk/index.php/topic/62550-ribbon-id/

Ok that seems to be a perfect match. Can the bravery medal to be put on the ribbon of St. Stephen Order?

Hi Detlef, congratulations on the finding. Did you also get the medal bar? The mini chain is still available out there.

..

This is a bronze Tapferkeitsmedaille if not mistaken, but I don't recognize the ribbon on it. I have seen this medal on ordinary ribbon in red/white, also on blue/yellow ribbons similar to crown orders, but never with this purple/green ribbon, is it a particular variant for special case or just a mistake? if so does anyone recognize what is this purple/green ribbon for? The ribbon seems a tri fold and having the hook like the Austro-Hungarian mounting style.

(Oberarbeitsarzt) Dr. med. Paul Stehr received HHO3X on 7.7.1918.

Which Saxon Duchies order can be put after the Austrian order?

Saxon duchies are my prime suspect as well. The Saxe Ernestine house order ribbon matches the colour except missing two thin black lines on the inner edge of green strips. And they have very narrow outer boarders in purple.

A Mejidie order could be really cool! I found one example on internet with similar ribbon, but most of the Mejidie order ribbon I saw are more red-ish. And it's a a biiiiiig one, too tall for the hook...

Hi Jeff, that's pretty close. By the way the rest of the bar are EKII and MVO4 with swords.

And here is a side by side comparison between the questioned ribbon and army jubilee medal.

Hello guys, I'm having hard time figuring out what medal is this ribbon is for? The closest I could think of is bavarian army jubillee medal, but the colour seems too purple and the green strips are too wide. It seems also different from the ernestine house order ribbon. Any idea what could it be?

Ulsterman, can you help to look it up when you have time? And if not making any trouble. Thanks.

Wow! A photo album? or regiment history?