M Hunter

Gentlemen, This little bar landed with me the other day. Passes the black-light test and devices all look good in my opinion. What say you chaps? Just looking through my copy of Medal Ribbons and Orders by D.G. Neville and i find it interesting to note that the Waldeck ribbon is the "Order of Civil Merit"...but with swords? How so? EDIT: Perhaps i have identified it wong and it is the Waldeck Cross of Honour (1899)? Kind regards Matt

Does this one qualify? My best Matt

This had also crossed my mind...it did happen as you say with the Duke of Saxe-Coburg & Gotha. Matt

:love: the mounting style on this bar...great piece! Kind regards Matt

I would almost say i can see swords... Matt

Heiko, An extremely nice ribbon bar. Kind regards Matt

What is this neck order? Matt

Going by the ribbon AND medal bar pictures my guess is No.7 is a Red Cross Order ribbon. Regards Matt

Thanks for those examples Rick, very nice to see! I don't think my bar has been tampered with, no scratch marks near the tabs...so can't explain the gold wreath. Perhaps the out-fitter did not have the correct green wreath. The owner must have seen some sort of combat in order to get the EK2....maybe an act of bravery at a field hospital? Best regards Matt

Seeing as Saxon ribbon bars are pretty prominant today i would like to post my latest addition, arrived today. Not a Saxon bar but features some Saxon! The first 3 ribbons i can identify as the Iron Cross, Prussian Red Cross medal, and Saxon Nursing Cross. I used my copy of D.G. Neville's "Medal Ribbons & Orders of Imperial Germany & Austria" to identify the ribbons, but the last one is not in the book. I beleive it to be some sort of Austrian Red Cross Award with War Decoration. Seems to be a running theme with this bar! Can someone please identify it for me? The reverse is marked DRP and unfortunately the original pin seems to have been broken of a long time ago, and then replaced with this pin...which unfortunately has been broken also... My other query regarding this bar is: was the Saxon Nursing Cross or "Cross for Volunteer Nurses, 1870-71" as my book states, awarded to both males and females? Maybe it is just sexist old me ( ), but when i hear "Nursing Cross" i think of a lady! Would like to learn more about how this cross was awarded. My thanks Matt

2 lovely bars Rick! And a good insight into your hard work and dedication. Just goes to show even the most simple ribbon bars can be tracked down to their owners. Well done! Matt

Hi Chris, It may have been awarded as a non-cambatant award? Or maybe he didn't bother putting the swords device on? Perhaps one of the long service ribbons is representing the Saxe-Altenburg Medal for Bravery 1915? Kind regards Matt

Rick, Yes these bars are definately closely matched, no denying it. The devices (with the exception of the eagels) are very similar as well as the colour of the ribbons...(West Wall as you say, as well as the Hamburg Cross IMO) Not to mention the placement of the eagle device, one slightly higher than the other. So very pobbible made by the same out-fitter. I had a look at my eagles as you instructed above....no trace of silver anywhere on the right-hand one, not even between the eagle's head and wings...but we have both agreed there is a distinct colour difference. Really hope this chap turns up. Let me know what i can do to help. My best Matt

WOW Rick!! This is amazing! Though i must say i thought my ribbon bar had 2 gold eagles rather than one in gold, other in silver. Now the eagle on the left is a lot more "golden"...so maybe the silver finish wore off the eagle on the right, leaving this dull gold/brass coloured base metal? If so there was me thinking i had snagged another General's bar! As you can now see from my Avatar i have put my Gen.Lt. Dittmar bar as the image.....wouldn't have this to say if it were not for Rick gents!! The chap's a real wizard! Many thanks Matt

And back to Hamburg again! Matt

Close-up 2

Close-up 1

Reverse of bar

Gentlemen, My latest Hansa related aquisition. Before i purchased i had a brief discussion with a fellow forum member about this bar (thanks again Timo ) so my mind was put to rest that the bar was most likely authentic. Once i had it here i used my new black-light device and it passes the test, it also looks and smells old (read about doing that here on the forum...very good advice). My question is why does the Hohenzollern Order come before the KVKX2? Should they not be the other way around? Maybe a period mistake? Looking forward to your opinions chaps! As always my thanks Matt

A simplistic but wonderful medal bar! Congrats! Matt

Looks ok but maybe better pictures would help. These are a little blurred with the camera flash, especially the first shot, cannot make out the detail on the eagle or plinth. Matt

And all these organisations had the same ribbon representing them? Thanks Matt

Christer, An amazing group! I really hope you can complete it! I think i know the medal bar you are referring to on ebay.de.....but would Arnold's medal bar not have the Bulgarian Bravery Decoration awarded in 1919(?) on it before the Hungarian Commemorative medal awarded to him in 1934? It is this way on the ribbon bar. Kind regards Matt

Looks like a nice piece. It was once on on a medal bar! Matt

I do not think there would ever have been more than one KVK2 on a medal bar regardless with or without swords. Looks like a made-up bar in my opinion. Matt