My 3rd Pour le Merite .... finally a textbook one

[Seewolf]

Hi gentlemen,

at first many thanks to Nigel who stood back in getting this one. You all know this version was still missing here.
But it was good to get this one because so i was able to make some nice comparisons with the "non flawed" versions ..... and it is interesting

So here´s my textbook S&L PLM, the version with the flawed eagle. It came with a 60mm wide ribbon and is really light. 19,98 gramm without loop and 21,80 gramm with loop ring. Weights that we know from other flawed versions too.

As ususal there are many pics following, i´ll let you know when i uploaded them all.
P.S. the shoulderboards are from the IR 163 that was stationed in my hometown till 1918,glad i could get these ones.
So here´s my new beauty

[Seewolf]

Ususal front and back shots. Perfect enamel and no chips anywhere

[Seewolf]

Some nice side shots, note the wonderful pillow effect reverse

[Seewolf]

Well done suspension averse and reverse ..... just what i expected on an early version

[Seewolf]

The flawed eagle and the ribbon, all very well done and great looking

[Seewolf]

Now it´s getting interesting
Remember that my other pieces are unflawed at the eagle and that they are much heavier. We didn´t knew why but here´s the explanation ........ it must be another die. Note that the flawed one ( in the middle) is much thinner that the other two.

Left is the normal late version and on the right the one 800 marked on the suspension

Really seems that S&L had another die that was thicker.

[Seewolf]

And as last shot all my PLM´s on one pic

It was great to get these and study them in detail. I hope that with this one we could enlight/solve another mystery about the S&L PLM´s.

The PLM´s are very nicely made pieces and if you buy an early flawed one or a later unflawed version ...... in hand all versions look great and a difference in quality can´t really be seen. You´ll be happy with every version, i am sure

Thanks for looking and interest, friends

[Patrick08/15]

Congrats Rüdiger that´s a fantastic PLM .

[xmember]

Wow Rudiger. Your pictures sure make the PLM's very interesting and appealing to collect. Nice of Nigel to let it go. Always good to have friends like that. Thanks for showing and keep up the great research.

Regards,
Rudy

[Nigel N]

Hi Rudiger!!
I am very happy to see you got this one, not only is it the missing type from your PLM collection, but look how much we learn from your comparison's!
It is virtually identical to mine, right down to the weight, so a side by side comparison between mine and this one would tell us nothing, as they are the same!
I remember talking about a big weight difference between mine and some others, someone said it could be down to the amount of enamel used, but I think we can now see the difference in thickness is the cause of the weight variance!!
So... not only a great and stunning piece in its own right Rudiger, but your new PLM, and your comparison's have again taught us a lot!!!
Great result all round I think!!!!
Congrats on your new PLM, and thanks for showing clearly the differences between the flawed and un-flawed versions!!!
-Nigel

[ethreecee]

wow

Beautiful acqusition! By the way, you mean "obverse", not "averse"
averse means repugnant and obverse means the opposite of reverse.
Whatever words you use that are weak compared to the beauty of the piece!
Congratz

[Steve 5]

Rudiger, is this the one on E-bay last week ? if so I unfortunately bid you up substantially ! As you say text book ! Its gone to a good home, congratulations ! Your deliberations over the dies used by St u L seem credible, as I to have noticed a difference on the thickness variations on these awards !
Prost ! Steve.

[Borzadow]

WOW !!!!
Now I'm very jealous .......... they all look GREAT !!!!!

[Tom B]

These are beautiful ! I know only what has been posted here about these, but if I were young and still collecting, I would be on the hunt for one !!!!!! Tom

[Tony T-S]

There is in the Imperial forum a link in the pinned references thread to a series of four threads about each of the PLM types. These S&Ls get discussed in a positive way. The four threads are well worth the read. Mate, these are just beautiful, the last being the best of all. Oh WOW

Here is the link

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=239515