Austro-Hungarian Medal Bar

[stross]

Hi guys, almost forgot I had this - bought it years ago at a flea market so it was cheap and therefore more forgivable.

Some obvious flaws include the uneven wear of the ribbons, the fact that several ribbons are mounted backwards, medals are backwards (not hugely uncommon though) and the mounting style (with hooks) and missing a long-service medal.

The stitching is all UV negative with the exception of two near the pin of the Salzburg Landeskameradschaftsbund medal. The medals all look good though I am not sure about the crosses.

Do you think this is a really bad fake, a Frankenstein or a misguided attempt by family to put together a family members bar? Opinions on medals?

Thanks in advance,
Steve

[stross]

.

.

[stross]

z

z

[stross]

q

q

[stross]

r

r

[stross]

f

f

[römischIX]

in my opinion a very good one.

[Don D.]

I agree. It is a little battered but the construction and awards look good and believable.

[VtwinVince]

Definitely not the sort of junk we see all the time on ebay. I would say it's period.

[stross]

Wow, ok then...good news, would it be a 6 years service cross that is missing? With this news I think I shall add the missing medal and display this with my other bars

[Elmar Lang]

I also agree that it's a nice medal bar belonged to an Austrian NCO. Interesting, the Bronzene Tapferkeitsmedaille of an unofficial, privately purchased type (without Tautenhayn's signature).

Best wishes,

Elmar Lang

[stross]

Thanks again, I see what you mean about the signature. The wear on the first 3 medals looked consistent when I purchased this, but the backwards mounting of the ribbons called it into question in my mind. What may have accounted for this mounting?

[eindecker2]

I will also say this is a good bar - I have seen many like this and have no doubt about the different wear / fading etc... is just a result of several manufacturing techniques... Secondly not all awards were given at the same time and an NCO would put his bar together as time passes. The commemorative medals at the end may have mounted wrong, but he also may have already been discharged from the service and may have put this bar together years after the war for a reunion and never wron it again.

[haynau]

A good one, possibly owned by a career NCO idicated by the missing 6-Year-Service-Cross and the Iron merit cross WITH crown.

regards

haynau

[stross]

I will also say this is a good bar - I have seen many like this and have no doubt about the different wear / fading etc... is just a result of several manufacturing techniques... Secondly not all awards were given at the same time and an NCO would put his bar together as time passes. The commemorative medals at the end may have mounted wrong, but he also may have already been discharged from the service and may have put this bar together years after the war for a reunion and never wron it again.

Yes, that makes the most sense. Thank you to all who chimed in. Now to find the 6-year to complete this