achern

Paul those FM slides look really familiar!

Thank you John. Indeed the top rivet seems to have been worked over, but it does look much more rounded in real life than in this photo. Somehow I fail to get the lighting right to show its convexity.

Does anyone have a similar piece to share?

If I recall correctly the Logohu ODM are made in Singapore.

Gents, here is an aluminium unmarked Heer parachutist badge with all hardware intact for your comments please:

Gents, here are some ranks I'd wager you might not have seen before, the five-star rank for the Sultanate of Brunei, worn only by the Sultan himself. The highest operational rank for this country is Major General in the army.

On that note, does anyone happen, just happen, to have a 1936 USSR Master of Parachute Sport badge for sale?

Gents, If anyone has spare Grand Cross breast stars alone for the Thai Order of the Crown and the White Elephant, preferably the earlier types in very good shape, please let me know. I need these two to dress up a uniform. Thanks, achern

Itchick0404, I'm sorry but they were sold nearly a year ago.

Gents, does anyone know what these gold anodised aluminium badge and title is for? These are from the 1970s Singapore era and read "Universities Air Squadron". -achern

This is just what I need, thanks for the link. There is just one small problem - they don't ship outside France! Anyone from France here able to help me out?

Gents, I am looking for an original ribbon bar to the Legion d'honneur for the grade of Commandeur, with the red rosette and silver wings. Does anyone know where I may buy one or two of these please? achern

Gents, I need help to find an inch or two of these original ribbons with their devices (if any) for a ribbon bar I am trying to reconstruct for a uniform display. Any help would be greatly appreciated! -achern

Our friend here apparently has a Firmin example for sale: http://www.elitemilitaria.com/orders-medals-and-badges-great-britain/ww2-british-australia-arctic-star-medal-by-mod-firmin-w-pin-clasp Although the thickness of the suspension loop looks exactly like the other reproductions.

Thanks Paul, for the analysis. I wonder why they have so many flag officer grades.

From my past visits to Bangkok, ribbon bars and medals up to the Knight Grand Cordon both the orders of the Crown and Elephant are readily available. I have also handled boxed sets of the higher orders, for sale at very high prices, up to the Rajamitrabhorn itself, but never seen the ribbons or the devices. Even so, the currently issued ribbon devices are made of a lightweight metal with enamels, nothing like the silver metal and enamels with exquisite detailing as in the early example David posted. In Thailand, there are two types of ribbon bars. The first type uses actual silk ribbons cut from a reel. The second uses individual threads to make up the colours on the medal ribbon. -alf

Dear Paul, Paul, and Paul, Thank you all for your recent comments and insight on this topic. In the meantime, I have managed to obtain several more of these interesting ranks and would like to share them with you all: First, a modern Nepalese Army four-star general rank worn by the Chief of Staff. These have heavy brass devices pinned to the old-style epaulettes which are still stiffened with plastic cut outs inside, just like in the good old days. And then, three sets of cloth ranks made by a Kathmandu tailor for the Royals: The late King Birendra, the late Prince Nirajan, and the late King Dipendra. All died in the royal massacre in 2001. Apparently, these ranks were ordered by the palace but never collected. -achern

Gents, Here are two links to a video and a gallery of some rarely seen footage of the Singapore Armed Forces static line parachute training for your enjoyment. http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/singapore/story/green-go-20130615"]http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/singapore/story/green-go-20130615 http://www.straitstimes.com/through-the-lens/story/sky-troopers-0"]http://www.straitstimes.com/through-the-lens/story/sky-troopers-0 Alf

These are replicas.

Oh no, gents, I merely decided to try and get one of each as I encountered them in my British shoulder board collection. They are interesting though. How far back do these cyphers go, I wonder?

Gents, here is my collection of royal cyphers: Victoria, Edward VII, George V, Edward VIII, George VI and Elizabeth II: Comments are most welcome. Alf

Gents, Here is a single rank insignia for the Marshal of Mongolia, supposedly belonging to G. Demid, but without any provenance whatsoever.

Gents, the piece is in my hands and here is what it really looks like:

These were purchased independently of each other from two different collectors in the USA several years apart.