Ed_Haynes

Agreed (and hi Dave!). If your item is documented, Nota Bene can do fairly well. The Usual Source has been slow and uncommunicative, mired in another auction I suspect. There is another possibility with whom I have a number of items that were previous dead-ends; we shall see.

This is extremely disturbing. Markov seems to be getting as bad as some of the others. I didn't bid, but I picked up a few on the unsold lots and got those within a week of the end of the auction. I don't know what to suggest. Have you tried calling? (I may send some other suggestions by PM.)

But usually enough of the chum escape to learn better.

Perhaps. But who plays the "sharks" and who plays the "chum" in this scenario?

When a feeding frenzy starts, the sharks usually do not abide by logical rules.

Interesting. You wonder how much ex-public-museum material is winding up in them. Does anyone check THOSE serial numbers? We all know the answers . . . ?

It is my understanding that the central orders chancery has records of normal awards (which they won't share) but that the Windsor archives have them all (if you can get it). As it was more a dynastic than a State award, records at Kew are minimal (though the foreign office may have taken note of a "K" to a foreigner?) The 9 November awards seem to have been awards on the occasion of Edward VII's (real) birthday. The guess at it being to a German seems a good one. A shame the envelope strayed. Nice one though.

, of course, !!

Nice. According to Galloway, Stanley, and Martin, 4 KCVOs were Gazetted 9 November 1903, but since your chap was an HONORARY KCVO (= an unwashed foreigner), there'd be no Gazette entry. The records at Windsor might help.

And another picture of her with her various goodies.

While most of her medals predate the curent government:

General Mohammadzai Khatol, 38, the first Afghan woman paratrooper is in his [her?] office in the Defense ministry building. She started her military career as a paratrooper and jumping in 1984 during the Soviet invasion in Afghanistan.

See: http://thruafghaneyes.blogspot.com/2007/04...-woman_909.html

Brian, you are never a pain. When someone wishes to LEARN, it is a joy. Nice group, nicely dressed-up. Treat him well. Wish there were some chance of research.

Brian, your group, order of wearing, and mounting is fine. As I said before, in a more professional venue, shabash! Ed

Most interesting. Thanks.

Now . . . who will visit and report back??

Alas, the Pakistan Independence Medal could not have been worn first, from Pakistan's independence in 1947 on several grounds. First and foremost, the medal wasn't instituted until 1950.

Actually, the medal was, in fact, instituted in principle, when it was decided that there would be a Pakistan medal to parallel the Indian Independence Medal.

But this is

The mounting order is quite corerect.

Oh well, plenty of other Round Number jubilees coming up this year.

Right-oh . . . the 60th anniversary of the 1st Indo-Pakistani War? Wasn't that what you were pondering??

These awards are very difficult to find on the open market. Especially with all the documentation & original box of issue. Someone will win a very significant set....

Every OMSA has numbers of these. See you in Florida??

And (OK, I lied) one more:

PAK/200043 AC2 MOHD SAFDAR. R.P.A.F.

1- General Service Medal: Kashmir 1948

2- Independence Medal

3- 1939-45 Star

4- WWII War Medal

5- Indian Service Medal

Only the Independence Medal is named, as shown above. He must have left by 1956, or there would have been a Republic Medal. Original ragged mounting.

And

O. NO. 630129 COOK U. BAKSH

1- General Service Medal: Kacch 1965

2- War Star 1965

3- War Star 1971

4- Campaign Medal 1965

5- Campaign Medal 1971

6- Quaid-i-Azam Centennial

7- 1400 Hijra Medal

8- Oman, Peace Medal

Only the Istar-i-Herb 1385 / War Star 1385 [A.H. = 1965 C.E.] is named, as shown above. Very ragged mount, a tattered tailor's lable on reverse, so probably halal.

There are many do-it-yourself Pakistani mountings, as there are many do-it-yourself Pakistani naming jobs, and all help to confuse the complex and sometimes disturbing picture of post-Independcence Pakistani "groups". I have seen such "groups" being assembled in Rawalpindi, as a single named Pakistan Medal was "augmented", quite randomly by medals extracted from surrounding sacks. And then a good touch of the sandpaper post-mounting made it into a "aged group". Be very, very careful!

Indian groups, named, even WWII, are safer, but (strangely?) harder to find.

A couple of Pakistani groups that live with me in which I hold (some) faith:

383012 Recruit Abdul Ghafur, 16th Punjab Regiment

1- The General Service Medal, 1947 - KASHMIR 1948

2- The Pakistan Independence Medal, 1947 - 383012 RECT ABDUL GHAFUR 16. PB R (as is unfortunately usual, the Independence Medal is the sole named medal in the group)

3- The Pakistan Republic Commemorative Medal

4- United Arab Emirates, 1976 Armed Forces Amalgamation Medal

5- Abu Dhabi, Defence Forces Service Medal

An interesting group, in that it demonstrates service -- as something more than a recruit, to be sure -- on loan to the Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates, ca. 1976. A nice, unusual, if somewhat tattered group. Were it not so tattered, however, I might doubt its authenticity!

Hi Doc! Not that this thread ever went anywhere, but you may want to glance at: http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=24749

Avoiding any historical comment (though Kevin brushes on some important points ...): I think they also had (have) medals for WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and the two Gulf wars in which the US has been involved (two different?). And part of me even remembers one for the war with Spain? All roughly patterned on their cross for Confederats veterans of the Civil War.

I was thinking of something that would fit onto a Mauser C-96. But I am pretty ignorant of firearms.

I still think the 1932 plaque is off a Cossack saber hilt or Kindjal type weapon. Post the reverse side, please, and exact measurements.

It would fit no pistol or revolver that I can think of.

Shall do so when the group is back in hand, Rick.

Shall also add closeups of the pictures where is is wearing ribbons and (partial) medals.

The independence medal was worn first, from Pakistan's independence in 1947.

NICE images, thanks!