Early and Late West War medals opinions please

[Oakmast]

Hi All,

Attached are photos of my son's early and late war West Wall medals which he bouhtvthe other day. Do they look ok.

Thanks

Pat

[Ian Hulley]

Good afternoon Pat, the medals appear to be original but (as is often the case, especially with the zinc Poellath sets) both ribbons are fake.


Here are examples of 2 Westwall ribbons ... in my experience the more golden is early and the dark brown the 1944 re-issue.





Note the weft thread loops along the edges of both ribbons.


A few of my Westwall bits and pieces ..





Cheers, Ian.

[sniper11]

Ian is quite right.Medals are good but the ribbons are modern repros .

Troy

[Chet Sowersby]

The first ribbon is horrendous. It looks like it's made out of canvas.

Chet

[Oakmast]

Thanks guys

Thanks guys I did suspect the the ribbons were replacements.

Pat

[leigh]

Packet looks good to me.

[Guy smith]

Replacement ribbons are very common for these medals. If the price is right its still a good buy.

[Yubari]

low budget medals with even lower budget repro ribbons! Crazy

[Ian Hulley]

It doesn't need to be a Knights Cross to be interesting to some of us.

[Chet Sowersby]

I have to agree with Ian. I've a RK and it is not as interesting as some of the numerous smaller items in my collection that are considered common. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder....

Chet

[Jean-Claude]

It doesn't need to be a Knights Cross to be interesting to some of us.

Right on Ian! IMO each of these "low budget" pieces is a little treasure in its own right and should be appreciated as such!

JC

[Ian Hulley]

Replacement ribbons are very common for these medals.

https://www.weitze.com/militaria/97/...n__323597.html


'Original' Schutzwall ribbon 150mm long 25mm wide, has the correct weft thread loops and seems to match the late war colour just fine.

If the price is right its still a good buy.

I'm guessing as Pat is posting on behalf of his son that he is at an age where these are still fascinating and therefore not being bought with one eye on the potential investment side of things. Personally at 54 years old I still find things about them that interests me ... even the 'lowly' KVM or Westwall may have been the pinnacle of what a man or woman could attain.


The important thing is not monetary value, it's the originality of the piece and it's context within the period.


Ian

[Oakmast]

https://www.weitze.com/militaria/97/...n__323597.html


'Original' Schutzwall ribbon 150mm long 25mm wide, has the correct weft thread loops and seems to match the late war colour just fine.


I'm guessing as Pat is posting on behalf of his son that he is at an age where these are still fascinating and therefore not being bought with one eye on the potential investment side of things. Personally at 54 years old I still find things about them that interests me ... even the 'lowly' KVM or Westwall may have been the pinnacle of what a man or woman could attain.


The important thing is not monetary value, it's the originality of the piece and it's context within the period.


Ian

Hi Ian yes quite agree my son is 9 and he aim is to try and get one example of all the main medals / awards. He has 40 now so not doing badly lol !! Still a long way to go though !

Thanks for the link

Pat

[90th Light]

It doesn't need to be a Knights Cross to be interesting to some of us.

Well Ian after reading this, you have got me motivated to get my Westwall medals out and enjoy them again plus check the ribbons.

I think there a neat medal

Pay books and Wehrpass with this medal entered are always interesting too. I have a 12 year volunteer soldier picked up in Afrika with the early issue Westwall the early issue and a young paratrooper picked up in Italy with the later issue Westwall in their books,

Chris