The "steal" in your collection?

[johnrtse]

I found a WW1 EK2 (without ribbon) at an antique store a couple months ago. In terrific condition and marked "K", I paid $35.

Not a great deal, I know, but I should also mention that this was a part of a vet lot that also included a virtually MINT WW2 black wound badge- marked "3" for Deumer ($30), and a really nice zinc KVK1, also marked "3" for Deumer ($45).

I also picked up a scarce solid Assman Infantry Assault Badge in silver at another antique store a couple months ago for $25


John

[Rick Research]

I've had many good buys in my over 35 years at this. Some were pure flukes when even I had no clue, like my 1913-14 DRA sports badge in silver gilt. Others were plucked from Manion's etc. And don't I wish I could travel back into the 1980s again when Jeff didn't have to worry about which tie went with what socks and medal bars came up by the dozens on every mail order list!

But I haven't had anything approaching a "score" since 1997, when I literally pulled this baby out from our local monthly show swarm... literally snaked my arm through the throng pawing opened Ryker mounts, grasped it, pulled it in through the locked arms, past behemoth rumps, and around the jumble of medals, daggers, and helmets being jostled, read the price tag, did little silent, motionless Dances Of Joy, and paid ever so cheerfully.

But even THAT was... six looooooooooooooong years ago. (Six years and 28 days, literally to the day today. But who's counting? )

PS Total cost (no haggling from Ricky!!!!!!!) was less than what the beautiful Jakob Leser gold centered MMO4X goes for now. And like my cats at mouseholes where they caught something once before, I've been watching for the father and son "fresh meat" dealers to return... ever since. And they naver have!

[Rick Research]

But sometimes the "story" is as interesting as the item. That nice medal bar COULD NOT have come home with me August 3, 1997 if I hadn't just sold my "4" marked KVK1 without swords out in the parking lot for 50 bucks I wouldn't otherwise have had.

And then the guy I sold it to disappeared for a couple of months... and when he next showed up, as I gleefully bought my KVK1 back from him for ten dollars more than he'd given me, he shook his head and asked me, "Well, what'd you sell it for, then?"

THIS is what for:

[Jason1]

The best 2 "steals" in my collection are a nice early CEJ marked Luftwaffe Obversers Badge (AU$300) and a medal bar with a 1914 EK2 and a Wurttemberg Golden Bravery Medal marked 835 on it (AU$160).

cheers

Jason

[Rolf D.]

Rick,
What did that medal bar cost you?

[Frosch]

eBay windfall

One of my best buys on eBay was a miniature Hessian warrior honor badge in iron (Hessen KEZ in Eisen), at least that is what I bid, won and paid for.

The image shown in the auction was poor and the description referred to an "ANSTECKNADEL ERNST LUDWIG". From the quality of the image, the description and the coarsely woven cloth used as a background for the photo, I thought I was getting the stickpin miniature.

When it arrived, I opened the packing and, to my delight, found that it was not the miniature, but the full size award. It took me about 2 hours to wipe the smug grin off my face.

For less than half of the current OEK list price and less than a third of the price being asked for the same award by the only German dealer who is offering one, this definitely qualifies as a "steal" in my book.

/David