JensF.

If I may post a little correction. It is the Bavarian Military Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords. Nice bar!

Thanks for this great contribution Chris! I think men like these are some of the real heros of the war. Here is another example. German soldiers save a french comrade from drowning in the mud:

They were no cowards and no victims. They were just humans. It is normal and simply human to have fear especially in such an abnormal situation called "war".

Yep, and you can "read" the most medal bars much better than any Third Reich medal bars. Very nice set, complete with the ribbons, buttoniers and miniatures! Here is another medal-bar with the Braunschweig cross. This one is the really rare type with a two-ring attachment. This is only the second cross of that type I saw and in the "von Hessenthal" book is written, that this shall be the original type of cross which I can't believe because 99,9 % of all Braunschweig crosses have a "normal" one ring attachment. Strange...

Yes Rick, I thought the same. Maybe I will research my Newski and this one. Do you think an Order of the Patriotic War 1. class is also worth to research?

More technical data: Caliber: 8 x 50R Lebel Length: 1.306 m Barrel: 803 mm Weight: 3.81 kg Rifling: 4 grooves Magazine capacity: 3 rounds There is also a model 16 of this rifle. As far as I know the only difference is, that this model also accepts 5-Round loading frames.

Markings on the left side. The rifle model and the maker; the french arsenal of Continsouza. I think this is a rare maker for a Berthier. All guns I saw before were made in the arsenal at St. Etienne.

The markings on the right side. Dated 1917.

Closeup of the bolt.

Made for the standart Lebel spike bayonet.

Closeup of the buttstock.

One of my newest acquisitions is this french Berthier model 1907-15. This beautiful and very long rifle, over 1,30 m, has the french standart caliber 8 mm Lebel (8 x 50R) and can be loaded with 3-cartridge loading frames (like the Mannlicher or the obsolete german Gewehr 88). However it is, in my opinion, not the best rifle. It hasn't got a safety and to remove the bolt you have to remove a screw in the bolthead with a screwdriver. No comparision to a german Gewehr 98 with its perfect bolt system which can be removed in 1 second. This is a deactivated decoration rifle matching the german laws. For example the cartridge chamber is closed (welded).

This is what I call QUALITY! Wonderful, no... fantastic details on that medal! Whoever was the die-maker, he was a real master in his job!

Back with number 50060:

My only Red Banner screwback:

Back with number 32360:

The "highest" soviet award I have in my collection (except some Red Banners).

There is not much to add. The "Bew?hrungsabzeichen" was awarded for two years continuing service at the front, so everyone who got it was a real frontfighter who distinguished himself for several deeds of bravery. It is a rare award and as you can see in the set this guy got himself a second badge for the buttonhole ribbons and a small one as ribbon device. I think he was very proud of it. My statistics say, that the Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2. Klasse 1914 from Braunschweig was awarded about 8000 times. Below is a picture of the KVK 1. Class:

Back 6:

Back 5:

And finally this unique privately purchased example. I never saw a similar badge! Screwback with mark "800". This is not a badge, it is jewellery but we should never forget, what a Woundbadge means. Especially a golden badge for 5 or more wounds in combat...

Back 4:

After silver comes gold Here a Golden Woundbadge made from gold plated silver with "800" mark:

This badge is made from silver plated iron.

A silver "D.R.G.M." example. I still search a golden one: