peter monahan

That's nice! What were the qualifications for earning this award?

I have nothing useful to add to the discussion of the batons, but on reading the whole thread I was tickled by Mervyn's description of the Ushers: They are a temporary appointment of Gentlemen who act as Ushers during the Coronation Ceremony in Westminster Abbey. 'temporary Gentlemen', of course, being the sneering description accorded war time commissioned officers by their long term, regular Army brethern. We miss both his eruditon and his wit!

Rather cryptic, Mark! I'd say the odds are slim, but I've been wrong before. Once, in 1998. Seriously, if you can guve us a hint - spare parts to sell? somebody making a movie and needs props? - a member(s) may have an answer for you. 'I know a guy who knows a guy who...' actually does work in some cases. Peter

Your usual wonderful work! You might want to check out the US 'Great War Association' and contact some of the Central Powers units with samples of this sort of thing. Our sprinbg event is fast approaching and some of these dudes clearly have more money than is good for them! And in US dollars too! http://www.greatwarassociation.com/CentralPowers.html Peter

I'm afraid my limited expertise on things Napoleonic is realted solely to the British Army and, more specifically, the War of 1812, and my German is non-existant. However, there were some very good looking KGL troops at Waterloo 2015 last summer and there is a facebook page for at least one of the units: https://www.facebook.com/KGAUK/ Peter Catley, a senior re-enactor and acqauintance of mine is linked to the group, I think, but even if he isn't can almost certainly direct you to knowledgeable types in the UK who may be able to answer your questions. I hope this is of some small help. Peter

Luverly!

It looks like a smaller version of the famous 'Khyber knife' beloved of the Pathan peoples of Afghanistan and Pakistan. The blade shape and the 'eared' handle are common to fairly distinctive, though other blades from that part of the world may be similar' If you Google 'Khyber knife' or 'Choora' you will find many similar looking blades. This looks like a simple blade with honest wear on it, so it's probably NOT made for the tourist trade. The steel in these varies tremendously in quality, depending on the source. Old bayonets [European] were a favoured source for blade steel in the last century; now perhaps auto springs, as that's what the Nepali kukri makers prefer. Here's an example of a very similar blade, I think: http://www.collectarea.com/shop/afghan-khyber-knife-dagger-choora/

As a 'Born in the USA', raised in Canada dual citizen with no military service in either country, I'm staying right outta this debate!

So, Northern Ireland sounds right. Nice catch, Toni!

Well done that man, for checking the books and doing the math. So, sounds as if Group 1 might be dodgy. As with any other collectable, the bottom line has to be 'Will I think it was money well spent in X weeks / months / years from now?' Neither group has any rarities, if that makes a difference, so its down to price and how much you want to wet your feet in this particualr collecting pool.

Veeery nice!

Who knew? Maybe the name fools the ever vigilant paranoics at [fill in name of government agency here].

My only comment is: I can't imagine anyone living outside the continental USA begoinning a sentence with 'I got a Panzerfaust in the mail...'. Peter

That was my question too. These are lovely and quite likely have very interesting stories attached which, depending on how good the newspaper archives are in rural Mass might be researchable.

Well up to your usual superb standards, Spasm! Well doen, that artist. Happy Easter!

I read this 'discussion' periodically over cleaning or not medlas, badges etc. I look at it from the perspective of a soldier and an SM: 'Get that disgusting dirty thing off... my... parade... square!!! I 'get' toning and so on, but I like to display them as they were worn, when I can. I keep the old ribbons when I replace them and don't sand blast anything, but I likes 'em shiny! Happy Easter!

Nice! Thanks for sharing, Redlegs.

Ta! I spent two years in Nigeria a few decades ago now but hadn't the wit nor money to look out and grab any really nice artifacts. The best I could do was a 'made for tourists' Tuareg sword, which oine of my daughters has now absconded with for her knife collection [along with my skean dubh and a couple other items]. My collecting these days is mainly of computer files and repro. British Army kit, as I re-enact both the Napoleonic and WWI periods. But, like Kat, I love blades and have a foundness for the unusual - my original collecting was the then under-popular field of the Indian Army. Enjoy the entended weekend. Peter

Shiny Here's the best place to look: http://www.stablebelts.co.uk/ I'd take a boo myself but I'm off to bed with a rotten cold. I'd guess one of the services - RASC or some such - based on the colour scheme, but don't quote me. Good luck! Peter

Good call! Liner and sewing would be things I'd be comfortable doing myself, as I am a collector, not a curator, but enough of the cautionary tales have stuck with me to make me cringe at some of the 'repairs' people attempt. For years I owned a very dirty stuffed Snowy Owl which came with a cottage my family bought and was persuaded by my mother [I was 14] NOT to vacuum it. I later decided I'd have ended upo with a pile of feathers and sawdust if I'd done so. Peter

When I first had money for medals - some decades ago now - I began collecting to members of the Indian Army [pre '47] which were dirt cheap because they were 'unresearchable'. Eventually I got a few groups to Native and British Officers, about whom some info. was available, but I was always mostly satisifed to be able to associate a medal or group to an OR with a battalion and campaign if not the man who won them. The amount of info. available today about obscure campaigns and units, on the web and through reprinted rolls etc, is an order of magnitude greater than it was even 15 years ao and i suspect that that trend will continue. There is clearly beginning to be some interest in collecting, for example, to the modern IA and I'm hoping that will spur someone out there to start writing good histories of some of the untis and campaigns. Locating data on individual soldiers will still likely be catch as catch can, but for me that is hald the fun anyway. My two devalued Canadian censt worth! Peter

I could have told you NEVER to go into the kitchen in any establishment in the developing world. Better not to know, as it just spoils the appetite. The 'squatter' toilets in Nigeria were a rude shock for the Canadians when we arrived there many years ago. Luckily, at the school where I worked, the staff lines had 'sitters'. Nothing worse than having a case of the crud and nowhere to go but a dirty squatter. I stayed right out of our multistory dormitory, as the fact that it had never had running water didn't stop the students from sing the toilets.

The Canadians who went to Cyprus, especially the Signals, were almost all specialist technical troops - Sigs and Logistics and so on - and many of them did 5, 8, 10 individual 6 month tours. It didn't mean that the whole force was in and out that many times, but individuals were rotated in and out, much the way the US forces in Vietnam operated, so airly early on it was decided to use the numerals instead of multiple awards of the gong or bars. I know I've seen '8's on UN medals worn by CF members and I believe there are examples with '12', which wouldn't be outrageous for a 'lifer' in the Sigs, a very small unti over all.

Maybe it makes up for the pay and living conditions? That seemed to work for the Queen Empress!

I can understand your reluctance to meddle with them, Brandon. I have a little background in musuem work, where the First through Fifth Commandments are 'Thou shalt not do anything you can't undo.', which includes cleaning, coating and very definitley dismantling! That said, interesting items with a fascinating back story. I should have thought of the 'no guns to the Apaches' angle myself. By the way, welcome to the GMIC! I hope you'll find something to interets you and have more things and ideas to share! Happy Easter. Peter