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This is a pretty rare grouping with two Queen Carola Medals Saxony War Merit Cross, Civil Merit Medal - Knight’s Cross 1st class, Carola Medal in gold, Carola Medal in silver and Prussian Red Cross medal 2nd class. Carola-Medaille was instituted on 17 Sep 1892 by King Albert on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Albert club, whose patron was Queen Carola. The Medal was awarded for charity during the war and in the peacetime. Awarded in three classes: gold, silver and bronze. Totals awarded - first type: 46 gold, 1000 silver and 1000 bronze; second type: 6 gold, 300 silver and 860 bronze. Diameter - first type - 27.9 mm, second type - 27.95 mm.

I had a denazified Iron Cross 1st. Class, the swastika had been strongly hammered down without damaging the surrounds, the swastika was still quite visible, a bargain for 50 Marks in the old days. I added it to an early Unteroffizier fieldblouse, which I unfortunately later traded on.

Here is a grouping of the best of my campaign shields, I have about 16 in total but here are the best :- A Krim Heer shield A Demyansk Heer zinc shield A Cholm panzer shield A Kuban Heer shield A Narvik KM shield A Lappland shield (complete with all the other citations from the family) A Lorient shield with field citation and provenance. It’s taken a long time to get all of those with the correct background and authenticity People say the Cholm is hard to get that’s real but the last two are even harder to get with the appropriate background!!!!!

Ooops, should upload the photo

Newly acquired WW1 era Austrian M16 helmet. These were similar in design to the German models with slight differences. The KuK made models typically only stamped their models on the exterior dome of the helmet with heat lot codes, while some factories used ink stamps to mark the interior of the helmets, which is often worn off or missing today. This particular one is stamped "L 82", the "L" stood for Ludwikow which was a steel/rolling mill. This one has been repainted prior to getting to me, I also have a newly made authentic liner and chinstrap being made to complete the helmet.

Hi all, I have this photo of what appears to be a Scottish soldier of the First World War period - but it's very hard to identify the regiment. Does anyone out there know? ... all info appreciated. Cheers.

Once again, thanks fellas, it's very hard to say for certain, I thought the cap badge appeared a little as if it might have a saltire incorporated in it but I can't swear to it. At least there's a few good suggestions to work off there.

Wow! what a great man. He got back to me within a few hours with some great information. Badge no 43869 remains unattributed but he gave me some additional information about Erich Rappe badge no 77650. He can be reached here - rmcdivittjr@yahoo.com

This badge has a very distinctive fault line to the rear. Is it real? Many thanks

Another of my GPBs. A small one by Deschler. Sadly unattributed. I believe that the numbering style is unusual because it is not in a straight line but follows the contour of the edge of the badge.

Kenny is probably your best shot at identifying anything Scottish related.

I have a friend that has a 1917 WW I matching DWM German Artillery luger unit marked on the strap of the grip. Does any one have any idea what unit this marking belongs too? R.J.4 M.G.K. 6.

Good afternoon. I am a new collector of German medals and badges and some Allied medals too. I've recently retired and given a life long interest in military history, collecting original medals appealed. I've started with the Iron cross having obtained one WW2 2nd class and two WW1 2nd class examples. I've used information from this forum and bought from dealers only. I've also obtained two honour crosses as they are relatively inexpensive but we're manufactured by many manufacturers and sometimes have the original issue document. I find them an interesting area to collect. My question. I have seen several de nazified medals and for completion would also like to include versions of these in my collection. What price should I be looking at for these? For example, there is a WW2 Iron cross 1sr class I have seen with the swastika removed from the centre which is priced at £120. That seems a reasonable price too me but I would be grateful for any guidance. Thank you Gerard

They where made to remove the cooling fins from the barrel and for protecting the breach in the wooden transit chest

Hi, I recently found 4 of these brass Lewis gun barrel jacks at an old British weapons depot. They are an armourers tool for removing the cooling fans from the barrel. Seem to be extremely rare as I can’t find any other examples online. Does anyone know what they might be worth ? Thanks

The maker and batch number do not coincide with this being an SS helmet, Heer and Luftwaffe HKP M42's dominate this series.

Very impressive collection of shields Eddie, you need to keep an eye out for the Dunkirk shield. I've never even seen one, but apparently about 50 were awarded to Luftwaffe ground troops, it was more of a tradition badge than an arm shield, must be one of the rarest items out there if you can even find one.

Jasta 11 was the Red Barons squadron, made up of Air Aces. I can't find any mention of a Lt Heinz, even if there was, that type of engraving would not be what you would expect to see for a member of such an elite squadron, I don't like the look of the cross either.

The inscription does look very suspect, certain letters especially.

You can always add a cockade which was not always attached, your oakleaves are similar to the first pattern, which I had on an early naval peaked cap.

Nice collection. Some good examples. I recognise the blue tags from a couple of them , lol.

WW2 Wehrpass

Militarpass

Ernst Weichmann was my great grandfather born in Germany in 1895. I bet this was his.

I think it's Gordons, the badge is too round for an Argyll cap badge

This one is original

Found him. Thanks

PS - how do I get hold of Robert McDivitt?

On the other hand, here is a period photo of a Gordon Highlanders piper, looks similar.

OK Cheers Eddie, so far my best guess based on similarities is one of Royal Scots,Scots Guards or Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders ... that is unless someone can definitively say otherwise.

Thank You

Reserve-Jnfanterie-Regiment 4, Maschinengewehr-Kompagnie, weapon Nr.6

Nachrichten, Leutnant. Collar patches just arrived, although they look more like golden yellow than lemon yellow.

I would not buy a broken item, still plenty of undamaged belts in good condition available

Hi, I agree with Fritz, £120 for an altered/de Nazified 1st class iron cross in otherwise good condition isn’t too expensive, unaltered ones range from £150 upwards depending on condition/ maker and completeness.

Hello Leon and GildWiller, As we talked about yesterday, « AC » may be for « Allen & Co » but since this supplier only used « A » on my knowledge, it could be a transitional marking, or anything else, but anyway it should have been applied for a short period of time I guess.

Yes we think the Maker mark is for W & E Viener Ltd of Sheffield.

Definitely British or commonwealth made, not US, you can tell by the chinstrap lugs, US ones were riveted. From 1917 onwards they used the rubber ring for cushion, not familiar with the codes. Leon might know more.

Thanks for all the information everyone

I kinda like items like this that have some wear on them. It shows they have actually been there and used. These knives were given to kids so no surprise that they played with them and bashed them about a bit. I had a tartan sheath knife back in the days when kids were allowed knives. My mum confiscated it and I only recently found it on top of her wardrobe along with my catapult!

Can still be found, if you search through the internet, but do include the word "original" in your search. There are still quite a few lengths of original unused ribbon cut from the roll on offer.

Have no idea, but it doesn't look like a Gordon Highlanders badge, more like Argyl & Sutherland

I'm sorry it was this name 'Fedricv/Picininv. My bad

I feel like maybe that isn't the original hilt. Like the blade is original but the hilt replaced perhaps. That might not be correct at all but I feel like maybe that might be the case.

Also as I was researching I noticed most blades have the groove for like the blood run off or something. But this blade is flat and has no groove at all. Which I haven't seen a whole lot of. Any reason why that might be?

I was thinking from my research which is limited and in no way certain that it was a late 16th early 17th century running wolf? But that isn't certain as it's hard to make out the marks on it.

Nice items! Both on my wish list. Lucky enough to own a silver EB monogrammed silver fork with the Speer designed butterfly and also a silver AH drinks coaster.

It's the detailed knowledge of specific maker characteristics I lack. I'm a bit in awe of folk who can spot the different maker characteristics, differentiate one unmarked, or even marked cross from another. Years of handling experience and taking note always pays off, I guess. I've always liked EK's, especially 2nd Class ones. I've had a few over the years, mostly all gone, but somehow I never quite got round to seriously collecting them, I just didn't look into them in as much detail as I now wish I had. They're lovely medals, I can understand why folk want to collect the variants etc.