1st Oktober Sudetenland Medal for Review

[avenger]

Hi folks.

I picked up this 1st October medal, and am not feeling particularly elated about aspects of it. I was hoping to see what everyone thinks.

The medal itself is lighter than I expected it would be and seems more like the weight of aluminum than a brass alloy. It is not magnetic, though the odd pin setup is, as is the metal on the case. The ribbon and case exhibit no blacklight issues for what that's worth.

I'm pretty sure that pin shouldn't be there, whether it's period or added at some point down the road. The ribbon color and width I'm not sure on either, making the ribbon as a whole suspect.

I'd appreciate any thoughts out there on this one. Thanks for your time folks!

[RonR]

Couple more for comparison.........


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[RonR]

23

[RonR]

45

[RonR]

67

[RonR]

89

[avenger]

Thanks for those nice pictures Ron. That's the ribbon color I see on most of these. I have seen a few with color like mine has, but I don't know if that's evidence it's good or not.

Judging by a comparison to your photos, the case matches up well to the lower design under 23, as does the medal compared to the one you labeled 89. The pin setup is junk, and the ribbon is still questionable. I don't yet have the experience with these to make a conclusive judgement, but if I were being asked about it, I would probably only be willing to say the case and medal is good and in very nice condition, but the value is hurt by the ribbon and pin. A burn test on a couple of strands from the frayed cut edge of the ribbon they folded under at the top burned like a natural fiber and not a synthetic, same with the loose thread that they sewed the weird pin onto the ribbon with. They left light gray ash behind.

Do you think I'm more or less on track? I can always remove the pin and maybe the ribbon and find an original loose one. I know they came like that too.

[Ian Hulley]

The pin setup is junk, and the ribbon is still questionable. I don't yet have the experience with these to make a conclusive judgement, but if I were being asked about it, I would probably only be willing to say the case and medal is good and in very nice condition, but the value is hurt by the ribbon and pin. A burn test on a couple of strands from the frayed cut edge of the ribbon they folded under at the top burned like a natural fiber and not a synthetic, same with the loose thread that they sewed the weird pin onto the ribbon with. They left light gray ash behind

Personally I'd say you were spot on with your assessment ... the ribbons can be different shades and widths and yet still be original. The case eagles also come in several styles, some far more detailed than others.

Mine ..



And my 1st October collection ..



you'll notice the different widths of the ribbons here.

Cheers, Ian.

[Antonio Scapini]

The set is original IMO. Case, medal and ribbon are ok, only the pin is not what I would expect to see.
There were more than 10 makers of these medals, probably around 20, so it is hard sonetimes make correct comparisons.

[avenger]

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I really appreciate it and your expertise. I'm relieved to hear things look okay. The eagle on the case is as bright as the day the gold leaf was laid, so I was hoping at least the case was good.

It seems so odd that they would have produced ribbons with such varying color. The darker red version seems the most common, and IMO is the most attractive. But, I'm fond of these flower medals overall. I'll probably look a little more before I leap next time though!

Thanks again,

Scott

[Ian Hulley]

It seems so odd that they would have produced ribbons with such varying color. The darker red version seems the most common, and IMO is the most attractive.

See my Anschluss medal on the left here ..



Loose and not cased all it's life and yet the ribbon has kept it's deep red colour.



And now look at the cased one on the left ... faded to a rose pink colour.

Ian

[avenger]

Thanks for those photos Ian. So, it's likely the ribbon was the deep red at one point, and has somehow faded over the years... I wonder what caused that on some of these? It seems less common to see them rose color than the deep red one would expect. I don't recall seeing this on anything like an EK2 or Eastern Front medal either...

[Ian Hulley]

So, it's likely the ribbon was the deep red at one point, and has somehow faded over the years

That would be my guess too.

I wonder what caused that on some of these? It seems less common to see them rose color than the deep red one would expect.

The only thing I can say is that all the pinkish ones I've seen have been properly mounted and the ribbon has the 'watermark' effect ... now whether that's more apparent because of the fading or that the ribbon has a higher silk content and therefore doesn't hold the dye as well .....

Ian

[RonR]

Another color comparison........


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