Daniel Murphy

Bob and Ralph, Your posts made me realize I had forgotten a couple of photos when I started the thread. This is a set of Prinzengrosse or mini wound badges compared with a full size piece. Dan Murphy

David, The Cross with the cypher and the stamped hinge plate was made in the 20's or 30's. I have an EK1 with the same set-up. Dan Murphy

Stogie, Please tell me this was not an angry postal worker venting his frustrations on the medal bar you just bought. Maybe somebody plucked it from the ruins of a burnt out German home in 1945? Dan Murphy

Alejandro, The ships number does not look like a German designation. If you look at the mast there appears to be a British jack flying under the German Flag. This would mean to me, that this was a prize being brought back by a boarding party of the U-boat who accompanied it into harbor. Dan Murphy

Robin, I would doubt that many covers were made since these would have been used mostly before the war and at parade functions. Here is a photo of a kettle drummer of the Leib Garde Hussars. The drummer is Elo Sambo who was originally from Kamerun. I hope this helps with how the kettledrums were set up and decorated. There looks to be about 6-7 panels on each drum. Oh, super piece by the way. Dan Murphy

Don, Fantastic mini, I have never seen one before. Gordon, Great pieces, your 800 silver looks to be a dead ringer for mine that is posted above. Now I have a question. I have seen a few naval wound badges for sale in past couple of years with the background cut out similar to the cut out armies. I have never seen any until then. Are they real and of the period, altered originals or very good modern fakes? I am here to learn too. Here is the picture of one that I saw for sale a while back. Perhaps these are like the Hansen EK1, until recently I had never seen one but a few rare ones were around in collections. These have been seen with both types of swords. Dan Murphy

Gentlemen, After following this thread and reading about the laquer on the EK's, it prompted me to take a close look at one of mine. I have had this for years, knew it was from the 20's or 30's (due to the stamped tin center) and had always thought the frame was silverplated or nickel plated brass. Upon examination it proved to be genuine silver (unmarked) and appears to have had an application of something to keep the polished finish shining. Since laquer turns yellow with age I do not believe it is that. Even an idiot would not apply nickel plating over genuine silver, so it must be a silver plated finish. There is about 50% remaining on the obverse frame and about 85% on the reverse. The photo of the back was the best I could get without a blinding glare. Dan Murphy

Joe, Great piece that has been discussed earlier at Imperial German Silver wound badge. Gordon, Great badges, I especially like the blued naval and the gold naval badges. As you know, the gold navals are very hard to find. Ralph, Great mini with the 1 Mark (about US $.20 at the time) price tag still on it. Wish I could get them for that price today. Dan Murphy

Not really much help for you, but that is a great picture. Did anyone notice he is hearing the Hut with the turn-up on the wrong side? Maybe for the photographers benefit to show the cockade. Since there is a white band on the hat I believe he was serving in East Africa at the time of the photo or modeled his field uniform after his return, before going to China. Dan Murphy

Mark, OMFG !! I have never seen this before anywhere. What do I have that you want? It's yours. There is a nice Saxon generals uberrock c. 1890 I could part with. Dan Murphy

Mustn't forget the mini's. All are stickpins except for the unmarked buttonhole device. Come on guys I think we can give the TR guys a run for their money! Dan Murphy

Almost done. Here are some Gold badges for 5 or more wounds. The naval on the right is a private purchase version that is gold plate over nickel plate over brass. Dan Murphy

Next, Silver wound badges of all types for 3 to 4 wounds. Notice there are different finishes, some plated, some painted and at the top right is one of 800 silver. I know these are nice but I know you have some better badges than this. Dan Murphy

Here are some private purchase versions and naval badges. The one with the cloth was brought back by a Lt. Ferguson of the 30th Division from the Argonne. Dan Murphy

Gentlemen, The TR forum has its thread on wound badges and has included some imperials. I do not believe we should have to wade through limitless numbers of similar TR badges just to view our imperials. So here is your chance show our members and guests just how many variations there are and what can be found if you look hard enough. Whether they be plain jane, engraved, or whatever, lets see them. I will start off the thread with some of mine. First are the issue badges for one or two wounds. Dan Murphy

Hey, I was not far off the mark. Thanks to Stogie and Rick, I'm learning a liitle more with each post. Dan Murphy

Mark, The first bar looks like it could be real. I would think the Bav. 1866 cross would have been in front of the 1870 though. The vet would have had to be about 60 or older (likely much older) in 1905 and probably retired before WW1. Perhaps his LS were on the old style (pre 1913) clasps pinned on the uniform. The second bar looks bad, real bad. Some of the ribbons look too new, they are mounted in different ways, and what is up with those hooks. They do not even look like the medal hooks you normally see on bars. I believe the medals and orders are real, just made up in a fake mounting with some fake ribbon. Please tell me you didn't buy this one. Dan Murphy

Joe, It's a good badge, the quality of the obverse detail is very nice and the silver is matt, like it should be. The maker just did not go to the expense of creating a detailed reverse die. I would imagine it is slightly heavier than normal since a thicker sheet of metal would be required for a die like this. A variation since I do not think the maker actually saved anything by doing it this way. Dan Murphy

Luftmensch, Magnificent!! That is the only word to describe it. Austrian aviation badges are always beautiful, but this one by Rothe is, yes, magnificent. Dan Murphy

Theodor, I knew that was a "square" maker before I ever saw the back. I have two a convex and a flat one and they are very distinctive. While the maker is unknown, the crosses are very high quality. As a collector, you have definitely adhered to the "quality before quantity" motto. Great cross and great group as well. Dan Murphy

Can I assume that is a good thing? Or do you need some powder? Dan Murphy

Double entry sorry.

Here is my best item of 2005. A cased Godet Pilot badge. Dan Murphy

Here is the majority of mine. All of the ones showing the front are standard or convex pinbacks. The one with the brass back is a battle damaged one that was trench art repaired and converted to screwback. There are 2-3 more around somewhere including a regular screwback, plus the Hansen coming in the mail from Canada. I know this is supposed to be about one special cross, but greg got me started. Dan Murphy

Theodor, That does not look like any German officers under-the-tunic sword belt I have ever seen. Most German ones have a bullion covered leather strap with a buckle or clip for the sword. I cannot say whether it is Bulgarian or not, but I can say that it is one high quality sword belt. Dan Murphy