Eric Gaumann

Another one I don't have.   I did, once, but it turned out to be a Markof fake.

Very nice!  The Mother's awards are something I've never acquired despite looking from time to time.  Maybe someday I will...

On 29/03/2019 at 13:40, Wessel Gordon said:

1. How does serious collectors feel about these copies?

2. Is it wrong to either buy or sell such a copy if both the buyer and seller knows and acknowledge the fact that the item in question is a copy and therefor have zero historical significance?

1. Doesn't bother me.  Could be a place-holder or part of a display.  Heck, even Cosplay or whatever the kids are doing these days.

2.  Not wrong at all if both are aware.

Both are my opinion.

What is the weird little finger of the hand holding the flower on these Orders?

Every time I see an image of these awards my eyes go to that finger.  So weird.  IMHO

7 hours ago, Alex K said:

looks more like an EKII converted to a RK at some point,

Yeah, that's exactly what it is; an EK2.  RK had the suspension loop parallel to the frame, EK2 loops are perpendicular (see image).  That's not to say it wasn't worn that way (as a RK); there were instances of that happening in WW2.  But unless there is some seriously solid provenance proving that it's just an EK2

Absolutely awesome collection!!!

On 02/02/2019 at 13:13, paul wood said:

Russo-Turkish War 1877-78

That medal has a very interesting 'ear'.  Never seen one as big as that.

My Partisan theme display, just finished today.  I added the cap star just to round out the collection.  And it somewhat resembles the Partisan Stars, especially in size.

Got outbid. ;(   To make matters worse it was a group of 5.

I just received this one two days ago.  Got sniped on the document that went with it but I like this early version.  Looks like it had a home repair done to the ring which makes me like it all the more.

Just got this one along with a Order of Bravery as part of a failed attempt to collect a group of docs to one person.

I love the simple design, and typical Yugoslavian quality, of this medal.

On 02/01/2019 at 13:37, seb16trs said:

At the soviet or czech mint, such a defect would have led the medal to melting oven. But I tend to believe Ikom products were less well  finished

I agree with this, and everything else you posted.  Also, I've purchased from the first two sellers you mentioned with no concerns whatsoever.

Hard to believe it's been 5 years since we found that.  And since it's posthumous it never saw battle so whatever happened to it is really a mystery.  I can see the H&S being removed for the gold, but the rest of the defacing?  No clue.

I think "БУТАФОРИЯ" translates to "props" i.e. reproductions.

7 hours ago, nickstrenk said:

In my opinion the topic belongs to Soviet badges division.

True, but I know what it is.  I just don't know why it was made in France?  Was hoping one of the learned members here knew a little about FIA Lyon.

Can you help me with this strange, Soviet badge, please?

I've collected Soviet items for years now and have never seen a Soviet badge manufactured by a Capitalist Country.  This Soviet style looks to me 1950s, but It could be earlier, even pre-WW2.  It's a long service (10 years I assume) badge issued by a 'sports committee' in the USSR.  Google shows me FIA Lyon started (and still exists) as a badge and medal manufacturer in 1928.

Any ideas?

Nice job recreating this man's awards.

Here's what I've done: I found the docs at my new favorite seller's page and had three of the four awards in my collection already. So I bought the missing award to recreate the set.  Not a matching set but a set I enjoy nonetheless.

Before and after a scrubbing in warm, soapy water with a used (soft) toothbrush.

Here is my recently received T2.3 award.  Very heavily used, abused and repaired; "salty" is the way I like them.

4 hours ago, BalkanCollector said:

Great addition Eric! Glad to see our subforum is busy lately.

In the post #76 you can see the OPA2 awarded to my grandpa. Sadly it also has that non-gilt parts.

Do you perhaps have a document that went with your piece? I'm guessing it was awarded in the early 80's.

 

Thanks.  I have a document for an OPA2 but it's not the actual doc that came with this order.

More images.  Huge box, BTW; 180mm x 122mm x 43mm.

OK boys, here it is; my OPA2 that I just received;

Some more images.  When I saw this on ebay I thought the darker parts of the rays of the obverse were wear/patina.  Sadly they seem to be where the gold paint either flaked away or was not correctly applied.  Same on the reverse down by the catch.  So it's just another 'shinny'.

Seems I've maxed out my upload MB allowance so I'll try for more later.

3 hours ago, Alpha Draconis said:

BK should be Braca Knaus, the same company as GK only later...

Thanks!

2 hours ago, BalkanCollector said:

GK stands for "Griesbach & Knaus" and BK is for "Braća Knaus" (Brothers Knaus). Both were if I'm not mistaken the names of the same institution before it was finally renamed to IKOM (Industrija komunalne opreme i mjerila/Industry of utility equipment and measures).

Thanks!  Did not know GK and BK predated IKOM.  TIL (Today I Learned)

2 hours ago, BalkanCollector said:

the second one is with three sort of a gutters around the stick where the screwpost goes (example on my other piece). I don't know how the upper part is fixed that way to be honest.

Just like some of the People's Merit Orders.  I assume the upper part on each is soldered to the screwpost which is then passed through the base?  At least that's my guess.

Awesome list!  Thanks for doing this.

I've noticed the majority have three rivets securing the upper part while a few use the screwpost to secure it.  How does that fit in?

I also notice the "GK" maker's mark is for "Griesbach & Knaus" . Any idea who that maker is, and who is "BK"?

PS.  Any reason to doubt this well-worn award?

Wow...Nice!  Despite the 16k number that screwpost has got to be very early, no?

Congrats on a great find.  That's on my 'bucket list' as well.

3 hours ago, BalkanCollector said:

I saw those on ebay recently. So that's where they went.

Nice ones Eric!

Yes, in a safe home now. All four documents to the same man saved for posterity, for what that's worth.  So few even notice this, much less care about it.