Streptile

And one more. RIBBON 3 This one was found among a batch of Bavarian ribbons. It's blue, then silver (with silvered threads) then thin black, and blue edges. Quite nice. Any ideas on this one? ' alt='' class='ipsImage' >

OK, next question (staying in Baden, even though we really weren't there). RIBBON 2 This ribbon has a narrower outer yellow stripe than most Baden ribbons I've seen (see lower sample). But could it still be Baden? They're pretty similar and I'm guessing they're the same. Thoughts? ' alt='' class='ipsImage' >

This photo of Württemberg and/or Austria's yellow/black ribbons gives a sense of the size of the collection.

Wow, you guys are great.I think it's identical to the Spanish or the French medals. On the Belgian, the red stripe seems a bit thinner.Really, many thanks!​

I'm not sure in which forum to post this thread, as the ribbons wil likely not all be German states' awards. But anyway, I need some help identifying them, so hopefully others will see this thread an stop by. At a recent show I bought a large collection of ribbons. I have Guido Rosignoli's book on ribbons, I have the Bänderkatalog, and I have a few good websites bookmarked. But there are a few ribbons which remain stubbornly unidentifiable to me. I hope the experts on here can help me. RIBBON 1 I'll start with this one. I guessed Baden but nothing in the Bänderkatalog matches it exactly. Yellow, with a red stripe down the middle and no white edging. Any ideas? Thank you in advance for any help. ' alt='' class='ipsImage' width="1000px" height="750px">"> ' alt='' class='ipsImage' width="1000px" height="750px">

Godet oakleaves type (in my opinion). ' alt='' class='ipsImage' >

Nice original set but in my opinion the oakleaves are not Godet types, and the core is a so-called "Type A" which is not the core usually associated with Godet pieces (although they did use it). Although I haven't studied the frame details (which is pretty hard on this example) I tend doubt either piece is by Godet. Definitely a nice original though.

I think it's possible these are rings removed by Frankenstein doctors too, but who knows? It's sure interesting. ​I agree Miro.

EK1 seems to be a KO and EK2 is a very nice BH Mayer.

Godet oakleaves design is very recognizable but I don't see any photos here.

In my opinion Eric Stahlhut's cross is the identical type to Richard's. By the way, are these cores magnetic? I will guess that they both are. AWS used this core (as I mentioned) but only in a non-magnetic version for their budget neusilber EKs, and never in an EK2 (that I've seen). Where I've seen this core before in a magnetic version, it's been in combination with non-AWS frames (such as the two now shown in this thread). I highly doubt any vaulted EK1s were ever awarded, but of course this is speculation, like so much of what we discuss in this hobby. I do know that no vaulted EK1s were supposed to be awarded, but who knows what actually happened when stocks ran low? Here for reference is my illustration of AWS core types: 1, 2, and 3 (from L to R). This one is no. 2. It is easily identifiable by the bifurcated serifs on the bottom of the date numbers.

Hi Richard, Currently the relationship between AWeS (Albert Werner und Söhne AKA AWS) and Juncker is a bit opaque. I'll tell you what we know for sure, and what I suspect. We know, with certainty, that the very earliest Juncker EKs in WWII (with both 1939 and 1914 cores) were made with the same frames that AWS used for the entire span of their EK manufacturing (roughly 1880-1930). We know also that Juncker used two of AWS's various pin systems, and two of three AWS 1914 cores. It's also known that some Juncker screwbacks exist with re-purposed AWS hardware. The AWS logo has been professionally but not entirely removed from the nut, and an L/12 mark added to the backplate. These are probably the most conclusive evidence of some kind of link between the two makers. From these facts, I and others have speculated that when AWS went out of the orders-manufacturing business (to concentrate instead on small plaques) some time in the early 1930s, they sold off their remaining stock and dies to C.E. Juncker, and perhaps others. Whether Juncker made 1914 EKs before the outbreak of war in 1939 is currently unknown but I have some distinct ideas about it. In any event, no pre-WWII 1914 EK has yet surfaced that has been convincingly attributed to Juncker. As for your specific cross, I'd rather not speculate. In fact it has the AWS core, and a very typical AWS pin, but the mark and the frame are not known AWS types, and the core is not currently a type known to have been used by Juncker at all. There are a few possible explanations for this. While AWS used only one frame for every single EK they ever made (as far as I know), others did also use their frame. Juncker is one such maker, of course, but there were probably others. I think your cross could have been made by one of these "other" makers who bought AWS parts, either before or after AWS themselves went out of the orders business. To make a long story short, if I had your cross in my collection, I would label it an unknown maker. Hope this helps.

Hi Lars, Sorry to say the entire setup is bad. The WHS is the typical Wagner fake but without the enamel. Here you can compare to an original (not mine but original nonetheless).

Wow Rujab, very nice chain and very nice presentation.

Very nice collection, thank you for showing them.

Many thanks Andreas.

Very nice stuff guys. Dedehansen, can you please show the reverse of the non-combatant EK2? Or tell us: does it have a maker on the back? Best, Streptile

Wow Wild Card, Great set! (great pics too)

I've seen one one-piece screwback and one one-piece EK2 offered marked 800. Both were exactly this same type, which is indeed made by Otto Schickle. I never held either of the two pieces I saw before, but I was always just a bit skeptical that they were really silver. However, now I've seen one screwback EK1, one EK2, and one pinback EK1, and they're all exactly the same type... so it's seeming a bit more likely that they're all good. I would love to see the results of a silver test on this piece. Why not send it to Don so he can use his magic machine on it?

They're really different books. If you're an EK enthusiast, get The Iron Time. If you're an EK scholar (or hope to be), get Wernitz. I have both and wouldn't be without them.

Hi Dave and ixhs, I really appreciate your help with this nice button.

Hi Andreas and Beau, Many thanks for your help. Would better photos of the ribbons would help nail it down? Can anyone say anything about the rank and nationality of this soldier? Your help is much appreciated

Yes indeed I do. There must be an equal number of authentic EK types missing as present for the 1870s. He didn't try to put together a sample of every known type (impossible as that may be); he simply documented a handful of important collections. That's it. But if you want to know about production techniques, schedules, designs, cultural significance, etc., consult Vol. I and you're good to go.

The book is totally indispensable as a technical and political history of the Iron Cross (Vol I), and fairly worthless as a collector's guide to variants and makers, etc. (Vol II). I wouldn't be without it, but it depends what you're looking for.

I know a handful of them, but not all. I appreciate any help