Obergefreiter

Thanks, Chris, I've got a couple crosses that could use a little cleaning. ;)

Possibly different production runs?

I always thought that the square box stamp was a pin mark from the manufacturing process. Am I wrong in thinking this?

What are the proportions?

I don't know who it was named after, but as for interesting British ships, the coal-fired, steam powered submarine that the Brits tried to develop following WW1 would certainly be on the short-list for interesting ships. Or at least an interesting concept.

Medal, wound badge, or stripe. Something should be put into place to recognize the fact that a soldier shed his blood for his country.

Thank you. The EK I is hallmarked .800 for silver content, and there are no hallmarks on the EK II. I confess that i have a terrible eye for detail when it comes to identifying who made what, and I was hoping that someone might be able to tell me who made these two pieces.

My thanks to all of you who provided some information on my question. Every little bit of information helps in this hobby. ;)

Maybe I'm looking at it from an odd angle myself. But I guess I'm looking at it from the standpoint of having an earned award for valor on the one hand, no matter where it came from, as opposed to something like a good conduct medal, or something similar. Recognition for what one does is always nice, but merit is merit and valor is valor. If it were me, I'd hold the valor award in higher regard than the merit award.

Why not? If I had a well-earned valor award from some other country's military, I'd be proud of it.

No doubt. I'm sure that an iron cross had a great deal more prestige than most Spanish awards of that time.

I think most countries allow the wearing of foreign awards, but they're usually at the tail end of a medal bar. But I often see pictures of medal bars for Blue Division veterans where the Iron Cross come first. According to Spanish Army protocol, where exactly would an Iron Cross be on a legitimate Spanish medalbar?

Sorry. Clicked on the wrong spot.

I don't think so. I got my hands on my FR very early on in my collecting career, and on mine there is a very tiny 'FR" stamped under the latch. In fact, I never noticed it for a long time, because there is a "B" stamped on the pin, and I thought that that was the maker mark. What's the story with that "B" anyway? Is it a QA mark, or did FR job out a bunch of pins and hinges to "B"?

I just thought I'd show off my two newest toys. The EKII has a bit of rust on the top, but the EKI looks nice.

I have heard that people burned bundles of banknotes in their stoves, because that was cheaper and easier than trying to buy coal.

Garth, are these considered to be actual MOH's, or are they considered to be in a class of their own.

Otto Frank, father of Anne Frank, served in WWI, and earned an EKI

I have never heard, one way or the other. But even as a kid I suspected that "nuts" was BS.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't there a time when the Royal Navy delt with scum like that by hanging them from a yardarm? What exactly does international law say about piracy?

Do you have a holster for an F.L Selfloader, Army Model I?

Kostas, here is all I could find about the Tiffany Cross. Apparantly it was so named because of the company that manufactured it. "Between 1919 and 1942, the Navy issued two separate versions of the Medal of Honor, one for non-combat bravery and the other for combat-related acts. Official accounts vary, but presumably the combat Medal of Honor was known as the "Tiffany Cross", after the company that manufactured the medal. "The Tiffany" was first issued in 1919, but was rare and unpopular, partly because it was presented both for combat and noncombat events.[27] As a result, in 1942 the United States Navy reverted to a single Medal of Honor, awarded only for heroism.[28" Hope this helps. I've heard of these things before, but it is my understanding that they're about as rare as hen's teeth. untitled.bmp

It's a nice looking medal. Does anyone have a picture of the 1st. Class cross?

Thanks for your time, Rick. It's nice to know a bit about ones stuff.

Rick, sorry it took me so long to get back to you. Work's been hectic here for the past few days. The serial number on the Red Star is 2204712. Thanks for your help