Silesian Eagle Real or Memorex?

[Randy J]

Not my area of expertise ,so once again I come on my knees asking for advice. As I get closer to retirement I am going through the old boxed up items and came upon a second class Silesian Eagle. Before I list it for sale I would like to know if it is the real deal or a replica.

Thanks in advance.

http://www.sirpluswoodinville.com/images/silesian1.jpg

http://www.sirpluswoodinville.com/images/silesian2.jpg

[Brian L.]

Looks ok to me. But did you paint out the background? Or, is it missing its suspension loop?

[Randy J]

It has no suspension loop and there are no traces of one having broken off.

[juoneen]

I have one almost exatly the same...has no ring on the top or the connector, but upon careful examination I can see it was cut off expertly . These are made of a brassy type alloy of some type, and may have been treated with something to darken where it had the ring removed. I will see if i can find the one I mention, to show. Why anyone would do this is beyond me, but i got it out of a large estate , and is just how it came. (I didn't cut it).

[Jean-Claude]

From the pictures, it seems to be the same design as this eagle which can be found with either painted or affixed devices like yours. Attached are picts of 1st class solid back with affixed devices and 2nd class (semi-hollow?) with painted devices. I have also seen this same SE with folded clips instead of rivets and different hardware for 1st class.

They could have used the same base eagle strike for both classes and weld appropriate hardware for pinback or ribbon mount as a secondary process but I doubt they would have finished them (paint) before attaching the hardware. So eagle looks OK but not sure if unfinished or what the intended use was if there is no trace of broken or removed ring suspender

JC

[Randy J]

I have one almost exatly the same...has no ring on the top or the connector, but upon careful examination I can see it was cut off expertly . These are made of a brassy type alloy of some type, and may have been treated with something to darken where it had the ring removed. I will see if i can find the one I mention, to show. Why anyone would do this is beyond me, but i got it out of a large estate , and is just how it came. (I didn't cut it).

The top of the eagle's head has no dark finish, just naked brass as if someone had polished that one spot. So perhaps there was a ring that was carefully removed and then the spot was filed and polished smooth. There is also a small spot on top of the wing to the left of the head that is naked brass that was also accidentally polished. All this being pure speculation on my part.

[juoneen]

sorry just got back to the thread as I finally found the one without the ring. The vet had it in a large pile of stuff he brought home, but my question is : Why would anyone cut the ring off , like this???

[Bernie Brule]

The ring may have broken off and someone just cleaned it up.

[schönbeck]

or it could have been sewn directly on the uniform. I have seen it.

[Mainemilitaria]

They were also sometimes sewn onto Medal Bars in the same fashion (as 2nd cl. awards)...I have a nice 3 pl. medal bar that has a mounted 1st Cl. award sewn on (as a 2nd cl.)....the catch is still present (and used as an attachment point) but the pin and hinge have been professionally removed.....I believe this is because if normally mounted, the eagle would not properly aline with the other awards...

John G.

[Brian L.]

It's clear the ring broke off and it was filed flat, because the top of the head is missing quite a bit of the detail that this particular model normally had, such a pronounced brow, and a convex head. I'd say it's missing at least 1.5-2 mm off the top.