Kev in Deva

Hallo Bob, just to add a very nice piece, 1mm out in diameter could just be down to the maker. Kevin in Deva

Hallo Gentlemen many thanks for your kind comments with regards this group, the original auction photo was very dark so I highlighted it a little. After querying the postage rates the seller has not responded as yet so I sent word I would pay for delivery to a German address, and then get a buddy to forward it on to me in Romania, the group sold for 5.50 Euro and the seller charges 20 Euro to post to Romania as a way the get some thing extra. I have at least 4 of the medals mentioned and will take some pictures to show very soon. Kevin in Deva.

Herr General Very nice items, err........ do you need any lacking done, medals counted, papers pressed, etc...etc.... Kevin in Deva

Hallo Gents, if you decided to make a repair, one option might be to ask a good jeweler if its possible to make a cast of the opposite sword handle to use as a mould for a replacement one. I think if it was mine I would repair it. Kevin in Deva

No Maradonna he of "the Hand of God" in the World cup, not she of the pointy bras and blonde hairdos Kevin in Deva

Hallo Ulsterman, Some nice pictures of the vets and their medals, the last posted is the unnamed version also Maradonna lookalike?? Kevin in Deva.

Close up view, I think it dates back to the 1970s ?? Kevin in Deva.

Hallo Tang Si, nice pictures, while outside my collecting area I have in possession this picture, showing the North Korean one-piece camo overalls. Kevin in Deva

The rear: Kevin in Deva

Hallo Gents The Russian area of my collection is very small, I do have this piece which so far identificarion eludes me, its 41mm in diameter, made of metal, weighs 21 grams. I once showed it to a lady at work in Germany (a Russian-German) and she said it had a connection with Kasikstan?? If I am in the wrong section please feel free to relocate it. Kevin in Deva

Hallo Danny & Joel many thanks for your comments gentlemen, hopefully we get some more imput, I know there are alot of fake iii Reich pieces coming out of Russia and Ukraine into Romania. Kevin in Deva (another 18? C today, wheres me sun-glasses )

Thanks for your comments Gentlemen, Another picture of the rear, it also has a "800" mark on the lower arm. Kevin in Deva

Hallo Gents, thought I would share this, my latest win on Ebay: I am familiar with some but not all the ribbons, the three large pieces, no idea at all, any suggestions please. While this group set me back a staggering 5 Euro 50 cents, the seller is looking for 20 Euro to post from Germany to Romania I sent a message suggesting they check out the prices on the Deutschepost.de web-site, I think sent Registered it should not be more than 5-7 euro. If and when it gets here I will post more detailed pictures. Kevin in Deva

Hallo Jim Basically the Army crest, was originally designed in 1913 for the Irish Volunteer's by Profesor Eoin MacNeill, and is still used in a modified form as capbadges, and embroided on the army cloth rank badges for Company-Sergeant. "F.F." stands for "Fianna Fail" - the first word is a ancient Gaelic term for an Army, the second word means Destiny. (It is also used as a Irish Political Party name going back to the formation of the Republic of Ireland.) The words around the belt in the center "Oglaig na H-Eireann" is translated to "Soldiers of Ireland". Sorry to say I dont have the correct Irish Fonts to render the words in their true form With regards the Button stick with the crest, these are very scarce to find, (Even I dont have one in my possession) like most brass articles in the army, spent bullet cases, artillery cases, brass fixings off web-belts etc... etc.. all were supposed to be submited for re-cycling, each unit sending in a "Brass" return each month to Command Head-quarters. Kevin in Deva

Hallo Leigh thanks for your post, there is a strong GMIC policy (one which I favour) to keep postings none political, our interest are in items of militaria, and not in the political reasons which lead to the conflicts, this policy is the same for all threads regardless of the place in history and tends to keep, the forum a user friendly place. My original posting was to show there was an opportunity being given to Argentinian families to visit the place where there family members are buried. Kevin in Deva.

Hallo Ed I have no intention of allowing that, any political ranting will be deleted straight away, out of respect for the dead on both sides. Kevin in Deva.

Hallo Joe And the fact that many iii reich iron cross II class pieces were machine-joined and not hand-joined together resulting in a much tighter fitting standard being attained. Kevin in Deva

Hallo Leigh, An internet search probably would give the history better than I could, as it tends to decend into a political debate, (and outside the scope of this Forum) as far as I am aware the Argentinians never settled the islands and showed very little interest into them, the turning point being the discovery of the large amounts of oil and mineral resources in the seas there-abouts, by obtaining the Falkland Isles the Argentinian National waters could be far extended out into the Atlantic. Kevin in Deva.

Hallo Gents, this was posted for comments on GMIC, soI thought I would help the owner Alex K, try to get some information, knowing we have some good judges of this particular item here Many thanks for any comments forth-coming, Kevin in Deva.

Hallo Dan, please see: http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=10851 Reading through it seems opinion is that single core were mainly used, but I have seen two piece as well. Kevin in Deva

The insignia is for the Irish Defence Forces, the design is also used as the Irish Cap-badge. Kevin in Deva

Hallo Dan, I thought most, if not all Iron Crosses II Class, were constructed from two Iron Cores, a front and a back, these held together with the silver rim?? Kevin in Deva

Hallo Hardy, great picture, looks like two are wearing the ribbon for the Iron Cross, and one of these sports a wound badge as well. Cheeky with "Great Germany" on the address of the postcard!! Seems they were still cocky in 1943. Kevin in Deva.

Hallo naoki matsumoto When Germany was defeated in WW2 it was forbiden to display the swatika and SS insignia on anything, including medals and decorations, German veterans removed the swastikas from their awards and badges to conform with the new regulations. In 1957 the German government allowed the issue of replacement medals and insignia, which were authorised in a new version without any nazi insignia, (only military awards) polltical and SS awards / insignia still being banned. Many veterans kept their de-nazified awards though. Kevin in Deva.

Hallo JimZ As far as I can recall we got matching sets, i.e. either it was all press studs or all "buckle" type, but I have seen Reserve soldiers being issued mis-matched sets. We used a commercial Blanco of a light-green colour, we had to buy it and the "Brasso" in the Barrack Canteen. And we used the famous "Button-Stick" to help clean around the brass fittings, but no matter how well it was done some poor bugger failed and had to leg it around the "Square". Irish Army Button Stick: Kevin in Deva