Hauptmann

Concur on this. absolutely original cross in fine condition.

Hi Stogieman,

Oh you don't know how I longed to here more people in the know say this! I feel so much joy right now you just can't imagine. I've always believed in it on most levels but again there was always this nagging doubt brought along by all the problems with German items and especially rare and expensive ones having been duped to death. As well as my usual Bundy luck. Looks like this time the Bundy black cloud has passed me by! And I could not be happier!

Thank you sooooooo much!

Just out of curiosity as I'd never want to part with it but would pass it down... any idea on rough value? Just a ballpark would do. Also on the Griffin I posted if you happen to know. Thanks!

Dan

Actually, all three bars are parts fakes, but that is not to say that all the PARTS are not original and certainly worth way more than you paid. It would certainly be OK to "fool around" with the plethora of dirt common and never going to be valuable unnumbered items to make a display group for a parade dress uniform. I doubt there will ever be a shortage of single mounted 1978 armed forces jubilee medals and so on!

Snip!

So in my opinion none of these bars would be a "loss" for doing anything you want with THEM. I agree that I would not place numbered awards on a made up bar, but purely for display, you could use the big bar for say the Victory and jubilee medals from 1945 on and have a correct looking bar with no loss of individual history.

Hi Rick,

Again thanks for taking the time to fill me in on all this. I'd have never imaged these three little bars would have garnered so much attention, good or bad.

And see, especially after reading so many of the Soviet award posts on here I've been overly concerned about precedence and what would be right where if I did this. Even if I had done what I originally wanted, and what you are, I believe, suggesting would be okay, here and use them for display of the common stuff, the ann. medals and such.

But even there I'd want to make sure I put together something that "made sense".

And yet, what Paul said makes me shudder too:

"It is a noble idea to try and restore these bars, yet there might not not be too many people here who would encourage disassembling an original medal from a suspension to do so... whether it is a common medal/order or not. A lot of people would view it as destroying a real form of history to create something else(by me anyway)."

I mean, I never felt it would hurt to simply remove the rings and medals, keeping each with it's pair and putting them on the new bars... at least for the common unnumbered stuff. I'd keep the original single mounts with their ribbons intact and would leave something with them, in case God forbid anything happened to me so that my family would know what I did and that it could all be passed along intact with those instructions/notes to them or anyone they might sell them too.

I honestly would "never" do anything even approaching dishonesty, fraud, etc., and of course that was never my intent and I'm sure that's not what anyone meant. To me it was just a way to display a bunch of the common medals and of course restoring what I took to be good ones back to their former glory.

And yes, the "numbered" Orders gave me a problem as well, one due to the cost of the RB's but also that I'd almost have to get unnumbered versions of the medals and probably versions of the RB's where the owner is not known and the numbers had originally been filed off or otherwise removed to hide the original owners identity. Would take me longer and be harder, although perhaps a bit less expensive if my guess that such RB's would be a bit cheaper, but would be much better than doing it with numbered ones that obviously did not belong in such a group.

But if they just plain don't make sense the way they are then I wouldn't want to do it.

But if I understand you correctly, it would be considered "okay" for display purposes to put, say, my anniversary medals all in a row like that on the big bar, etc. for display in my riker mount? If so then it would definitely serve a purpose, have made it worthwhile for me to get the bars and at least they'd not languish in a parts drawer or something.

Again, just want to make sure I "do the right thing" and "don't destroy any history".

It's like another group I posted that I got from Alexei M. waaaaaaay back when. It's not mounted... it's a 20th victory, 40th victory (military version) and 50th victory along with a Chernobyl medal. I've always wondered about why he would not have also gotten the 30th victory as that would seem more sensible to me... perhaps his grandkids couldn't find that one to sell as that's where Alexei said he'd gotten them. I also wish I had a picture of him, especially wearing at least some if not all of the awards as that of course always brings such things closer to home. But sadly it's all I got along with his award books.

And even then, even though I think they'd look better on a bar, and if he was entitled, to add the 30th albeit with a note attached stating that it was not original to the group, I didn't want to do it as the way I got them is the way Alexei got them from the grandkids and presumeably the way the old gent had them himself. And I would not want to do anything to dishonor the memory of this obviously brave individual who fought the nuclear hell of Chernobyl.

Again it's always been a temptation to "make it look better"... even down to one of the ribbons that is soiled... but again, it's how I got them right down the chain so was loath to change anything. I simply keep them together with the info on him and that's it.

Just a confusing, frustrating situation all around. As I know there are extreme purists, there are those who defraud and then there are a ton of other shades of those two extreme colors in between.

More to ponder...

Thanks,

Dan

Hi Christophe,

Many thanks for the link. Do they have an English version of the site by chance? I was going to check via google or yahoo as they often have a "translate this page" option if nothing else, but for some reason I can't get them to work right now. No idea if they're having problems of if it's something else.

I'll keep trying.

Thanks,

Dan

Hi Terry, Joe,

Thanks for checking it out. I take it it looks okay "other" than the poor paint job someone did? And can this/should this be corrected if done right and carefully?

It burns me up that especially such a potentially nice award got screwed up this way. Would love to see it back in all it's glory but not at all sure if I'd be the one to do it. Of course I most likely could not do worse than it is now. Those brush strokes especially kill me every time I see it.

Oh, I just checked the little ring and there's no sign of an extra mark. Don't know if that matters or not.

Thanks,

Dan

Hi Rick, Alfred,

Many thanks for the comments and the explanations for all this. I'd have had absolutely no idea. I "think" it was an Ebay one and if memory serves I don't think I have much in it at all. It's one that no one bid on if I remember correctly so I grabbed it at minimum bid. Was a looooooooong time ago early on in my Soviet collecting. Just wanted an example of an award book and one with an OoL in it seemed a good one to have.

Am extremely sorry to hear what they did to this. Wish it could be undone. It's a crying shame the history that has been damaged due to greed or sheer stupidity. It's like while watching a documentary the other day they mentioned the Dead Sea scrolls and how the mother of one of the finders used some of them as firelighters! ARRRRRRGH!

And I can't imagine how much useful reference material was destroyed in the final days of WWII when between the Germans burning stuff, things being destroyed in battle and then vengeful citizens and occupiers finishing up the job. It's a wonder we have anything left!

As much as it pains me that it's less than it should be I'm not going to get too broken up over it as again it wasn't a huge investment... upsetting for the loss of history but at least I don't have a ton it it.

But glad I posted it as again I'd have had no earthly idea.

Thanks guys! You're the greatest!

Dan

Hi Dan,

There is no need to feel like an idiot. It is the fault of the criminals who want to take advantage of people who dont have the experience.

You definately need to get that book. I have 1,000s of dollars worth of reference books. (I have several collecting fields). Although the McDaniel's book is expensive, how much did you spend on the bad items you have posted here alone? Over time, that 100 dollar book will save you so much more than your intial investment.

Before you buy one more item, BUY THE BOOK!

Hi Paul,

Sorry... guess it just caught me on a low eb that night along with some other things going on in our lives right now at work, etc. It's been nuts. And I guess it just threw me back to my early days in TR and all (read my post on my cased 1939 1st Class IC). Had kinda hoped I was beyond that sort of thing after all my years of collecting. Felt I was getting a handle on the Soviet stuff. And I've also got a ton of refs... been lucky in finding them on good sales and such over time. But the thirst for knowledge physically hurts at times! I kid you not. Of course you probably understand exactly where I'm coming from. As supportive as my wife has been over the years, and the fact that she heartily approved the Soviet move as A) it didn't have quite the negative connotations of the TR plus B) she also is a big fan of enamel. She saw these Soviet pieces and was sold! But still, to put out $100 on a reference she thinks I'm nuts. Granted, I'd love to find it cheaper used (who wouldn't) as I'm one who will haunt the bargain book sections in bookstores looking for deals. But these being so specialized plus going out of print fairly fast makes for an expensive book.

Sigh. Just one of those things we all have to get through. I'm hoping against hope I'll have enough coming in tomorrow that I can go ahead and go for it. Was supposed to do it back in October when I sold a bunch of my TR stuff. But 95% of that got sucked up into household and things for my wife Kim and son Nick. Wasn't supposed to be that way but you know how that goes. Family comes first, household comes first. So been waiting and trying to get enough saved up ever since.

If nothing else I'm contemplating selling a bit more TR stuff in order to have enough to get ahead of the game hobby wise again. My biggest problem is pricing... I've been far too out of the loop for way to long on that stuff. I have a very nice SA buckle... did a google search and found one that looks awful by comparison and that was like $130... saw them down to the $70 range I believe. No idea if this is correct or what. According to the pricey one, which mine looks identical to, it's an early 1st type... I believe that's what it said. I never specialized in buckles... I've always gotten whatever I liked at the time. So never even knew they had types, etc.

I'd just want fair prices for anything I sell but want the buyer to be happy to. I've had to sell off things that were near and dear to me in the past when times got hard for whatever reason and we needed the money. And of course when one does that in those circumstances you're at the mercy of others. Let's just say most were not terribly merciful. I'm at the stage where I'd rather keep something than give it away for a tenth of what it's worth. Am sure you are with me on that.

Anyhow I'm right there with you on the refs and will continue to make a concerted effort to get Paul's book asap pdq.

And many thanks for making me feel alot less idiotic than I felt the other night.

Dan

There are a couple of things about this plaque that might need investigating. It was only given in blackened iron. The clarity of the piece is a little fuzzy.

Hi War Lord,

Many apologies on the pic. As I've explained in many of my posts I'm struggling with our digital camera and saving towards getting a small scanner so I can do a better job with all this.

I'd originally joined and then didn't post anything for fear the pics would not be good enough with the DC but at a point the other night I just couldn't stand not posting anymore and I had to jump in.

But I'll be happy to answer any questions I can on the piece. As I said I found it in a pawn shop... the owner had no idea on any history, etc. Just a piece he'd taken in. It was an accidental find... came along with a German helmet which was quite original and in fact that was also confirmed by Jack who became the next owner after me.

The only "authority" I've taken it to or shown it to is Jack Angolia and as he #1 wrote the book and #2 owned several we compared it to, and #3 he had no problem with it at that time I just assumed it was okay. He did not seem bothered by the fact that it was gold and again seemed to think it was simply a variation.

It's very heavy as were his and just seems a nice overall piece. I figure I've got about $50 in it so don't think I did too bad... and I don't even have the slightest idea what they sell for, now or then.

There is and even at the time was absolutely no smell of paint and just no indication that it's anything but what it should be. It has a beautiful rainbow colored toning on it that IMHOP adds to it's beauty.

Wish I knew more but that's the extent of what I know. But if you know of something more specific to check for I'll be happy to oblige as I'm just as anxious as anyone to know for 100% sure. I can't imagine that long ago someone making one up that's good enough to fool the experts... I've never known it to be a desireable piece (correct me if I'm wrong) so doubt they'd sell many or make enough to make it a worthwhile project to go to the lengths I'm sure they would have had to go to to do it. Knights Crosses yes, this... I just don't see it happening.

And I definitely don't want to like try taking solvents to it to see if the gold will come off or anything as I don't want to damage a potentially scarce piece.

Anyhow any suggestions are most welcome and I'll do all I can to provide any other info on it I can.

Thanks,

Dan

Hi Claudio,

Many thanks for that very interesting info on these. I'm simply dying for more info since I've been starved for it since getting this piece. This was not one I sought out... I kinda fell into my lap very unexpectedly and boy am I ever glad it did!

And very much appreciate the additional picture of it being worn. This place RULES!

Thanks,

Dan

Hi Rick,

Wanted to thank you both for the "Major's only" piece of info as well as the beautiful picture and info on that recipient. Thanks for posting that. I've "never" seen one in wear.

Again would love to know more about it if you could recommend any references in English that would help. Everything I have is sooo sketchy on this one.

Mucho thanks,

Dan

Those are two very nice late WWI Godet pieces. Here the Rose made cross with the seperate griffin:

[attachmentid=34511]

Very, very nice! Many thanks for posting her. One question though, you say "seperate griffin"... mine has a "medallion" with the griffin which seems to be a separately attached piece. Is this what you mean.

Just trying to make sure if I'm understanding correctly that mine is a Godet as again it looks identical to the cased example that was posted.

Sooooo much to learn!

Also does anyone know if there are any good references "in English" (I'm not fluent enough in other languages for an entire reference) about the Griffin Order? There's scant mention of it in the ones I have and I'm not even entirely sure what it was given for... shoot, I didn't even know this grade was only given to Majors!

Definitely would like to know all I can about this beautiful Order.

Thanks!

Dan

Hi Dan!

Everything looks good about your Steckkreuz! Constuction of the needle system on the bag, details of the Griffin (medallion), type of enamel, etc.

I have one (cased "Godet") for your comparison.

Ciao,

Claudio

Hi Claudio,

Outstanding! Now, I've got to ask... mine looks the same... so does this mean I have an honest to goodness, dare I even hope to think it much less say it... Godet in my collection? If so then I am truly in heaven at this moment as with all I've heard they're one of "the" makers for such things. And granted, I've always seen this as having excellent old world craftsmanship and being beautifully put together... but never dreamed it was a Godet.

Now if only I could find a case even near as nice as your's as especially if she's a Godet she deserves that so much more than just a simple small riker mount. She's protected, but not in the style to which she's I'm sure accustomed.

Dare I ask... what would such a fine case cost? Daddy has got to start saving for his little girls future!

Thanks sooooo much for posting your's... you have literally made my day!

Dan

Very nice Officer's Cross!

Hi Stogieman,

Thanks for stopping by and many thanks for the compliment! She sure is perty ain't she!

Thanks,

Dan

The Griffin Order has always been one of my favorites. Beautiful design – elegant in its lack of fussiness in my opinion.

Not sure of the statistics but considering the size of the Mecklenburg Duchies I imagine it is rather rare. Anyone have distribution stats for the various grades?

Ooooh, many compliments me gets on this one! Me like dis!

I absolutely could not agree more on the design. And the underlay beneath the enamel adds much to it I think... a design in and of itself in this instance. And there's just soooo much enamel to love.

Would also love to know the stats. In fact I know next to nothing about it period. Just what I've seen on here in replies this morning has been an education. I think, value wise, the last one I saw on Ebay went for upwards of $800 some odd, but please, everyone jump in and correct me if I'm wrong... hopefully in the even more expensive direction!

Thanks so much for the compliments. My beauty also appreciates them. She's feeling very self satisfied and contented, purring away, which is the way I like's her.

Thanks,

Dan

Hi all,

I was told when I got this quite a number of years ago that it was a fuse or timer for a naval mine. No idea if this is correct or not but figured if it is this is the place to put it.

Hope someone out there can help to put a more positive ID on this one.

Thanks,

Dan

Hi all,

Here's my only remaining 1939 IC 2nd. Once upon a time I had another... in beautiful shape but ended up having to let it go.

Sadly someone has done a not so professional touching up job on the center. Only thing that's ever bothered me about this one.

There is a makers mark on the ring... I believe it's a 24... the lower portion of the "2" is not there but I'm at least 85-90% certain it's 24.

How I wish I could do a decent restoration job on the iron center of this one as it's a nice cross other than that.

Thanks for lookin'.

Dan

So there you have it. No makers marks that I can fine. Passes the magnet test. Looks good... a good, decent example. No fancy pedigree... didn't belong to Hitler's pool man or anything like that. Just a plain old ordinary cased IC 1st class. But oh what it cost me... and I suspect it cost the last owner a good deal more.

I love it just the same. In a way it was one of my first real loves in this hobby... not just alot of glitz but true love. I guess in a way most things we truly love turn out to be pretty expensive one way or the other.

Dan

Now don't get me wrong. I love this IC as much as I did the day I first laid eyes on it. But again, it means alot more to me as a reminder... don't be that stupid again. I know I'll always make mistakes but I think it's helped to keep me from making really big ones since then.

Okay, now that you know what it cost me and what it means... here's the rest of the story... the picture part:

As soon as we went out of this guys house (I was giving his other friend a ride home) he told me that I was an idiot... he did it nicely and to teach me a lesson. He told me what I'd just given up and what I'd given it up for.

I'd no idea at this stage that cased awards were not at all uncommon or particularly special. Nice, yes, but not nice enough in this instance.

Well, I've never again owned an original 50 year FSC. And I've never let go of this IC... it's a reminder of just how stupid and short sighted I can be.

And let's just say my trust quotient went down a good deal after that. He's this guy who has been teaching me about all this stuff. And had he been honest with me and told me what it was worth he would have still gotten a deal... not that good a deal but a good deal none the less. But instead the teacher decided to take advantage of the student. And the student was not a happy camper.

So the dealing got farther and farther apart. I mean this guy had eaten dinner in our home as our guest. He'd spent time with us as a friend. He'd come over and watch movies and now I just couldn't trust him like I once did.

Then he did it again. Another friend came over out of the blue one day. He had no interest in militaria but he was carrying a WWII Japanese helmet... in absolute mint condition and as complete as they come. Turns out his dad had sent it home from the war and it ended up in his mother's attic. She was going into an assisted living facility so they were cleaning out the house in preparation for putting it up for sale. He'd found it, given it to his son who then decided to give it to me... yes, that's right, give!

So my friend and teacher see it next time he comes over. He shows a passing interest. Talks it down a bit along with Japanese helmets in general. And of course he has things I "really" had to have so he decided to be nice and cut me a deal and take the Japanese helmet in partial trade for what I wanted.

Well, he took the helmet and took me again. I later found out what that helmet was worth... I don't even want to know what they run now... haven't seen one that nice in my entire collecting life since then.

And I started to regret trading it off even though the friend who gave it to me didn't care and said it was mine to do with as a pleased.

I tried to buy it back... even through others... no luck. He would not budge on it.

That and a few other minor things that had happened was all I could take. It ended then and there. I bought references, I read, I studied and needless to say his free ride ended. Hope he had fun and hope it was worth it.

Hi all,

Okay, this one is very special... to me. It cost me dearly and not in money... in trade. And in a lost friendship that I guess I never had.

It was well over twenty years ago down in Florida. We were living in Dunedin at the time and I'd decided, after studying and reading about military history and military for ages that I'd jump in and start collecting. In my travels I met a dealer at the Wagon Wheel Flea Market in St. Petersburg. Got to know each other over time, did a bunch of deals, etc., and so I thought became friends.

He had taken me under his wing and was teaching me the in's and out's of the hobby. Got alot of very nice pieces from him and spent I don't even want to know how much money with him. He went to Europe with his wife one year... my wife and I didn't... should tell you something.

I trusted him. Big mistake as he got greedy.

We went to a show in Ft. Lauderdale... my first really big show. I was like a kid in a candy store. And he'd warned me... don't buy anything until you've walked around the entire show one full time and then go back around and see what you really want. Well, the temptation was too much. I found my treasure... a 1st pattern Luftwaffe dagger... no chain, leather had problems... just an okay example so I got it. Then just three tables over was another one, in excellent condition complete with the chain for around the same price I'd paid for what I got. I learned.

Late in the show after finding a few more smaller "treasures" my friend and another friend of his he'd brought along came over and got me and took me over to show me something they'd found. It was a small plastic box filled with what looked to me as a newbie like tons of TR goodies, some rare. The guy wanted like $700 for the box, marked down from like $1,500 then $1,000 and so on. So we huddled... we discussed and decided that if I bought the box that when we got home we'd divy it up as I wanted certain things, as did each of the others.

So I bought it, for a bit better price.

Sure enough, we got back to my "friends" place and started to divide the booty. Since it was still my box I got first dibs on whatever I wanted. We got a ways into it when he mentioned that he liked one of the pieces I had chosen... an "original" 50 year Faithful Service Cross. Now keep in mind... I'm a newbie at this stage... and I wasn't yet into Civil awards. Had nooooo earthly idea what I was holding in my hands. And the other friend was like kicking my ankles under the table and big dopey me I had no idea what his problem was.

And so stupid me... I decided I would consider trading... but I wanted a particular treasure. I had admired his IC 1st class in the case for months. To me this was "the ultimate" IC... because it had a case... had to be the best, right?

So we made the trade along with them paying me for all their goodies from the box. And I thought that I did pretty darned good and got the cased IC 1st to boot.

It's the first time I see a 1995 jubilee medal with a used ribbon like this. Normally they are all new.

Really? Have had this for ages... came just this way. I keep them all together and haven't changed a thing. Wanted it just like the original recipient had it.

My biggest question on his group is why he wouldn't have received the 30th Victory medal? With the 20th, 40th and 50th I'd think he should have gotten it. But perhaps he did and it just didn't come with the group.

I'm not positive but I think he died and his grandchildren were the ones that sold it to the dealer I got it from.

I wish I knew more of the history and better yet had a picture of him. Had to have been a brave man to face Chernobyl.

No problems here - looks perfectly good award type to me.. rather straight arms, but I wouldn't get too hung up on that.

Congratulations.

And it would look better with the original ribbon, whatever its condition...

Marshall

Hi Marshall,

Well, that's one! Probably when I get up to five or six I'll then start the celebrations! But the old ticker is feeling like... no heart attack tonight... definitely a good thing!

Seriously thanks so much. I'm beginning to feel much more at ease. As I say I've had this one forever and a day. I've actually had a ton of offers, but I've always wanted to hang onto it.

I'll never forget a story I heard before I got mine. There was a militaria club meeting down in Tampa or St. Petersburg Florida, can't remember which. Meeting was running late and everyone was at a point where they were sitting at a table and tossing out stuff for sale or trade. One young man... probably early 20's who was a visitor... had never been there before, tossed in an IC 2nd.

Several folks gave it a cursory glance but in those days they were so common and cheap that interest was not high. There didn't seem to be anything special about it... just a common, ordinary IC 2nd from WWI. Finally one gent asked what he was asking. $25 was the reply. Seemed a bit on the high side but he decided to go for it.

So the meeting finally started to break up. Everyone took off. Only a few of the old time core members were left, including the one who had purchased the IC. He'd just stuck it in his pocket. But he decided to take it out and look at it again.

You've probably guessed by now. It turns out it was an 1870 sans the 25 year device. No one, including the buyer had thought to turn it over to check on the date... probably because of it's being so inexpensive.

Well, he asked around about who the young man was as he did not want to take advantage of him and wanted to offer it back to him for the same price. No one knew him, they couldn't locate him and he never showed up again.

No idea if this is true or not... but it's what I was told many many moons ago.

I heard that and just knew I "had" to have one of those "legendary" 1870 IC's no matter what.

As I say I got this one in trade. Was at a reputable militaria dealers in Tampa at the time. A friend of the owner came in to meet me as I had some things he was intro'd in. Basically I had three cased Italian Orders of the Crown in various degrees... I think it was like a couple of the ones that hung on ribbons on the chest, one with the rossette and one without and one of the neck orders. He had several pieces that interested me including the 1870 and the owner gave his opinion that everything was fine both ways. We came to an agreement and made the trade and I've had this ever since.

I do hope to someday obtain the 25 year oaks but even if I don't at least I have my very own 1870.

Can't thank you enough for getting the ball rolling on this. If nothing else I think I'll sleep better tonight than I have in a long time as this has just been nagging away in the back of my mind forever and a day. I always seem to see the black cloud in every silver lining so glad that it seems as if the Bundy luck has passed over me this day.

Thanks again,

Dan

Hi Dan,

That's the most important.

To make you an idea of what we meant regardong the suspension, please have a look at Soviet Dealers websites... You will find here a lot of examples that will help you making your own opinion.

And don't forget the Mondvor website!!!

Hope this helps.

Cheers.

Ch.

I'm not familiar with that site... I don't think. Unless I've seen it and haven't heard it referred to that way. Could you send me a link?

Mucho thanks!

Dan

Dan,

Thanks for claryfying the S/Ns.

Anyway I guess that doesn't change what I said before about the possible dates, as the #s still match the info I have.

Maybe some other member can give more precise details. Or you should perhaps have a look at the Mondvor site, maybe they have more detailed info.

On this site here (hope it's ok to post the link!) you'll find a lot of info as well:

http://www.soviet-screwbacks.com/

Hope it helps,

Dolf

Thanks Dolf. And I didn't know about that site so double triple thanks on that one! Methinks I've got some reading to do. All I need now is a tad more free time!

Thanks,

Dan

Hi all,

Okay, this is "the" post I've dreaded... even though I have no reason to suspect any problems with this I know I generally have the Bundy luck (if you have seen Married With Children... you'll know what I mean) and I'm just terrified of hearing anything but good things on this... at least as to originality.

I've compared this to God only knows how many pics of what were supposed to be real ones and I can't see any difference.

I've done the magnet test and it passes. The core is iron. There are no maker or silver marks or marks of any kind that I can find on the frame or the ring. The ring is solid... no sign of a join. And the frame does indeed appear to be silver and is the standard type used on IC 2nd's.

Now before anyone jumps in on the ribbon... no, it's not original to the piece! I have the original... or at least what originally came with it. It's not in the greatest of shape so it's safely stored away. The non-combattant on it was originally in much better shape but somehow it's become tattered at the end like this over the years. But I put it on to make it stand out so it couldn't be accidently confused with a standard WWI of which I used to have about twenty.

So just disregard the ribbon. I probably should have just taken the pics with it off but I was in a bit of a rush to get all my pics done so it just ended up being left on.

Also, please excuse the lack of scanner quality photos. I am planning to get one but for now I'm stuck with a digital camera which considering has been doing a pretty good job with all that I've posted so far.

Okay, now that the apologies are over... here go the pics. Keep in mind I'll be on my knees wearing out the carpet praying for the blessings of all the expert members that this is A-Okay, no problems, nice piece, etc. Pleeeeeeaaaase don't let my prayers be in vain!

Okay... really, here goes...

No... really, right now...

Okay, okay, I've stalled enough... now for sure:

I've even shown this one to Jack Angolia... he saw nothing wrong with it but admitted he's far from being an expert in Imperial... his specialty having been WWII items.

Alot of folks have seen it... none have ever had any problems. But none have been as expert as the members of this club. But I figure if ya'll give it a good, clean bill of health then I can finally and completely sleep the sleep of the dead at night, at least on this subject.

And keep in mind I obtained this in a trade over twenty years ago. I do not have a ton in it. I am not going to jump off a cliff "if" God forbid there is a problem. I may start to seriously mumble to myself incoherently and have to be put into a home... but that's beside the point.

Point is... I need to know for once and for all, for sure, absolutely positive so I can stop this nagging doubt in my head that seems to pervade all German militaria these days.

Okay... enough lunatic raving... oh wait... saving that type for after the results are in... depending on the results... I leave it to you oh wise judges of all that is good and all that is not.

Pleaseeeeeeeee be merciful with me! I beg thee!

Thanks,

Dan

... prayers starting.............. now!

Hi all,

Decided to take a break from Soviet for a bit and come back over here to Germany... or in this case the German states.

Here's one I picked up a number of years ago. I looooove enamel and this has it in droves. I also love gold and it's got the gold color so what's not to like?

Just a good looker! Heavy as all get out too. And built like a brick battleship. I think I paid $100 and not positive of value now but think I've seen one go on Ebay for many times that.

Just one I couldn't resist when I saw it... kind of draws you in.

Thanks,

Dan