Valter

The details on east medal look good and the bar construction appears neat from these pictures (medals/crosses are mounted on different heights of the bar, so they are even at the bottom) - these are good signs. Can you post some pictures of the whole bar, and reverse? About light medal: there were some german medals (mostly imperial) made in "lighter" version for medal bars and this can be the case - but I didn't find an approval (yet) in my references that was also the case with east medal. Maybe b/c it's quite "humble" decoration and researches don't really bother with it. :speechless:

Thank you, red cross! I'll give him a try! Valter

Thank you very much, Jeff! The sellers wants more, so I'll take the order in my hands and if it's not perfect, I'll look for another one. Valter

Jeff, thank you very much for the info. Any opinions about originality and value of this piece?

To bring up an old thread - is this ebay dealer a good one? http://stores.ebay.de/ANTICARTBG Stuff looks genuine and prices are not THAT high, but I'm really new in Bulgarian field. Thanks for any help! Valter

The (i think) obverse ... thanks for looking!

Gentlemen, I need help with this Bulgarian award - I'm totally new to Bulgaria and I have an opportunity to buy this. I can read "s nami bog" (god with us) and 1878, so I assume it's something with liberation war? I know pictures are crappy, but that's all I have. What decoration is this, is it a good (original) one, and approximate value? Thank you very much in advance! Valter

Also, this ribbon was very appropriate for Spanish blue division: black for death, white for snow, red for blood; also, black/white/red were german colors, and red and yellow are spanish; so the ribbon depicts german-spanish cooperation in bloody fight in deadly, cold Russia. And yes, Tom, this is a beautiful and rare medal! Thanks for showing us! valter

Gentlemen, sorry for stealing this thread, vbut I'm looking to add a brunswick cross to my humble collection. What do you think about this one? http://cgi.ebay.de/Orden-Kriegsverdienstkreuz-II-Klasse-1914-Braunschweig-/250687565969?pt=Militaria detalis look good, but reverse inscription looks thicker than examples posted in this thread. Is this a known variant or copy? Thank you in advance, Valter

A nice bar Brian! And Tirol medal is a bit harder to get than Kyffhauser, although it's common too.

Uuups, it seems I got over-paranoid with all these fakes. I need to learn more. Good news anyway and thank you for your replies!

... and yet it sold for 108 €! This one is stinky for me too: http://cgi.ebay.de/kleine-Ordensspange-2-Ehrennadeln-/180514875995?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Militaria&hash=item2a07866a5b sloppy stitching, off-centered and different swords, too-new looking... what do you think? Regards, Valter

Is this spange good or not? Sorry for my ignorance, I checked several pic references, and do not find anything obviously wrong. It's different type as Sergio showed, but for me (a beginner in imeprial field) looks fine. http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300430515801&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT Thank you in advance for any help, Valter

Maybe not even faded - I've seen several Austria Anschluss ribbons with red distinctivly lighter than Czech Anschluss.

Wow, a great find, Saša!!! Never saw one of these, and it's also interesting it was sent to parents, not to (adult) soldier!

Numbers of awarded partisan stars are: 1st class 627 from 1944-1980 2nd class 1531 from 1944-1972 3rd class 10384 from 1944-1972 these numbers were quoted in this thread and the same numbers I found in several Yugolsav publications, but without quotation of the original source. They are probably more or less accurate, as 3rd class was awarded to partisan commanders of platoons and companies, 2nd class to batallion and detachemnt comanders, and 1st class to brigade comanders and up. This award was one of the rare yugoslav awards that were not given for post-war or political merit, but only for WW2 partisan merits. There were much more produced than awarded, and part of the initial soviet stock remained unissued, stored for possible use in another war. In 1990's in some secret storage in Bosnia was found a hoard of unissued soviet pieces - hundreds of them. Bosnia was geographically center of Yugoslavia and hence it was considered to be a last stronghold of defence, as Bosnia is also rough mountainous terrain, where forces and political leadership would retreat in the case of attack either from East or West. That's why there was a lot of military industry in Bosnia too, as well as several storages of weapons, but also awards. In regards of numbering, there was some inconsistence, but in general, soviet pieces are below 10.000 and IKOM pieces above 10000. How exactly was this numbering planned (if planned at all), I do not know.

Ulsterman, can you post a link to catalogues with fakes? I'm hesitating to buy one because I didn't find reliable information how to spot original from fake.:unsure:

As we can see, there are 2 types of pin/hinge assembly, which could indicate there was one producer of badge body but several retailers who assembled the hardware. But there are also shown two types of inscription - smaller and bigger letters, and that's strange, as the badge was officially forbidden after 1934/35. When the production started and how many were awarded? OH, not to forget - it's a very nice and impressive badge for me! Still looking for one in my collection Thank you all for showing them!

Very nice piece Tim! Although enammel on IKOM stars is maybe not as good as soviet, it's a very nice colour, as you already noticed.

10th class of ground forces academy; navy NCO's school anniversary; 70 years of military industry; AA forces anniv.; air forces anniv.

30 years of armored units (there's also bronze version - no official meaning of these "grades"); artillery of Slovenian partisan IX. corps anniversary; XIX. Slovenian partisan liberative shock brigade Srečko Kosovel (mini of semi-official commemorative medal); Tito's guard mini.

Reserve officers of infantry school in Bileća (my school!!! ); music service NCO's school; general military high school Franc Rozman Stane, Ljubljana; military high school Brotherhood & Unity, Belgrade (last 3 are minis of official badges)

In 70's and 80's pin collecting was extremly popular in ex-Yu, hence there are many many political, organisational, sports, trade etc. pins - almost every organisation, factory, local community, club, even pub or shop - had their own pin. These pins often came in "sets" i.e. bronze, silver, gold, and these "grades" served no purpose, except fulfilling collector's demand. The other kind of pins were those produced "officially" as a form of award, recognition for some merit, membership, or a miniature of larger scale badges (i.e. para or military school badge's miniatures). I have only a handful of them as I don't really collect pins 1st. pic, from top left to bottom right: air force; artillery school center; (signals school ??? I can't really read it on pic, and I dont have the pin at hand right now ...); bottom row- turned upside down: air force technical school center (2x); war school; ground forces academy (the last 2 are miniatrues of official badges).

Komtur, thanks alot for this explanation! I knew for existence of underlayer ribbons, but thought in this case it's something else.