Oakleaves with swords

[Ludwig]

According to the seller, this set was stolen by a GI from a shop window in April 1945.

Of course I didn´t buy it as an original, but it would be interesting to know more about it, since I find Dietrich Maerz´article about S&L OLs and swords interesting.
Couldn´t find exactly this version among the sets pictured in the article.

[Ludwig]

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[Ludwig]

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[Ludwig]

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[Ludwig]

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[Ludwig]

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[AndyC]

Does it have the finish that we expect from a good one?

Andy

[Matthieu]

Front side shows two flaws which can be found on "1957 style" OLS ....

[Darrell]

According to the seller, this set was stolen by a GI from a shop window in April 1945.

Of course I didn´t buy it as an original, but it would be interesting to know more about it, since I find Dietrich Maerz´article about S&L OLs and swords interesting.
Couldn´t find exactly this version among the sets pictured in the article.

The question is what window, when and where. I'm sure it was true, likely not the date, time and place we would all think.

[Miro O]

It looks like good 1957 version of Oaks+swords worth around 100 euros.
57 swords are always plain on reverse side.
Miro

[vonStubben]

I can't see from these photos if there is the tell tale loop positioning "O" at the 6 o'clock position on these oaks (which is the tell tale sign of war time made S&L Oaks, OL&S, IMHO), but what it does not have is the off set, and smaller "O" (found @ the 6:35 position on many 57's), and since I know where another set of such OL&S reside, and were liberated by a GI from a uniform shop in Kiel (immediately post war), my feeling is that they are most likely good.

[Dietrich Maerz]

I did not write that very impressive and educational article, George and I only published it in the International Medal Collector magazine. The article was written by our esteemed member "Leroy" here and I am sure he will step in!

[Bob Hritz]

I do not have a set like this with the separate sword hilts from the blades. I like them very much, but do not believe they were ever accepted by the LDO or PK. The 900 is also a mystery to me as I have never seen a 900 marked set like this.

It surely is attractive and interesting, and of course, a void in my collection.

Bob Hritz

[Ludwig]

I did not write that very impressive and educational article, George and I only published it in the International Medal Collector magazine. The article was written by our esteemed member "Leroy" here and I am sure he will step in!

OK, I don´t have the magazine handy, so... Still appreciate any comment from you, mein lieber Dietrich! And of course from Leroy, too.

Thanks to all for comments so far!

[Leroy]

According to the seller, this set was stolen by a GI from a shop window in April 1945.

Of course I didn´t buy it as an original, but it would be interesting to know more about it, since I find Dietrich Maerz´article about S&L OLs and swords interesting.
Couldn´t find exactly this version among the sets pictured in the article.

Actually, it was my article.

This is, in fact, a set manufactured by S&L. As previously said, the question is when.

I would like to have the set in hand to really look hard for the large "O", which is many times almost completely obscured. There do exist what I regard as transitional, well-made, sets between the large "O" and the small "o" which have no mark at all (but every one I saw like this had the flaws).

That said, the question of when the "flaws" developed is an open one. The earliest documented set I found with the flaws was traceable to 1955-56 (the set
delivered to Steinbatz' widow by a member of his wartime squadron). Neither the Oakleaves nor the Oakleaves and Swords on the "barter boards" had the flaws. The set in the Imperial War Museum did not have the flaws. The set owned by Heinz Bar, who died in 1957, did not have the flaws. (Bar's set, obtained directly from his estate, was attached to a beautiful S&L "B" cross, and was accompanied by his award Godet set with a Juncker cross). All of the pieces found with the earliest "1957 version" crosses had the flaws.



P.S. I missed some posts while I was writing!