Help with Ribbon Bar...

[Bill Gracie]

I'm trying to get my teeth into identifying ribbon bars and their authenticity. I saw this bar on Ebay, although it is damaged I think I have been able to identify all the ribbons except the last one.

From left to right;

IC2 WW1
1914-18 honour X
South West Afrika
Military Haus Medal ( Mecklenburg schwerin- Strelitz?)
??? is it some sort of service medal

[Bill Gracie]

While using Rick's sword gallery I didn't see any swords that crossed in this fashion.

[Rick Research]

That is a funny type of sword I've never seen before either! Paul Chepurko has been accumulating original sales catalog material whenever he can, and I have the original January 1939 Steinhauer & Lück catalog and Assmann ca 1938 reprint... such weird little uniqueness may someday ID who made these things.

This ribbon bar is in too rough shape for my taste-- the 1904-06 Southwest Africa Medal in 3rd place has had almost all it's red threads pulled out, fraying the ribbon awfully. There is just too much damage to that ribbon!

The next one is the shared "war ribbon" for both Mecklenburgs (could be either colonial or WW1-- likewise the "EK" could also be a colonial MEZ2), and the last faded ribbon is probably Prussian/Reichs long service.

[Bill Gracie]

G'day Rick,

Thanks for the reply, I used this bar as a project to further my knowledge. Slowly getting there!

Bill