KM Breast Eagle

[We few...]

Hello folks,

I'm not into German items, but yesterday a collegue of mine gave me this item:











I was told on another forum, that this is a original KM breast eagle for a summer tunic. Can anyone confirm this?? Does anyone got any idea what an item like this goes for??

Thanks in advange!

Marco.

[Edelweisse]

KM Eagle

Confirmed...Naval Breast Eagle for summer tunic

[AndyC]

I have not seen this style before but its looks like a original to me.

Andy

[Pritch]

looks good to me

[Norm F]

I notice the same type/maker eagle is for sale on e-stand right now but with a broken hook and asking 85 Euro which I think is too high given the damage (at least for North American buyers given the exchange rate). I generally see these eagles go for between $80 and $125 U.S. with the upper value reserved for these maker-marked examples or lovely mint examples, higher if you're impatient and go with one of the high-end dealers, but then you'd run into re-sale problems.
Best regards,
---Norm

[Norm F]

By the way, I've seen this type like Marco's here with the "M in diamond" mark several times. Does anyone know what it means, i.e. a particular maker or perhaps "M" for Marine?
And has anyone seen an example with provenance? The very fact that some are marked "M in diamond" and others are marked Schwerin which look mighty similar makes me still undecided on their authenticity.
Cheers.
---Norm

[Norm F]

Previous threads on this topic:
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...ummer+eagle%22
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...M+summer+eagle
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...hlight=diamond

And even a reproduction of one!:
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...hlight=diamond

And can someone remind me, is there not a maker of buttons with "M in diamond", in which case who is the maker?

---Norm

[Military]

Hi Norm,

thanks for posting - the Breast eagle is astonishingly beautiful and is still for sale.
While these are not rare, good pieces have been hard to come by.

Check this link out:
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=408433

Sincerely,
Mil

[JustinG]

M maker is associated with Maedicke. Hope this helps. I have 2 eagles with this marker but mine have the flat oblong retining pins coming from the Swastika, not the barrel pins you have.
Interesting.

Regards
JustinG

[Norm F]

Thanks for the lead, Justin. So from a quick search now I see this M in diamond is seen on some Krim shields and the working theory is it represents J.C. Maedicke, Berlin, who also makes belt buckles.
Although unconfirmed so far, it's interesting that these eagles so closely resemble those marked Schwerin, another Berlin firm.
Regards,
---Norm

[We few...]

Thanks guys! Great info, I think this one will leave my collection. I think it's beautiful, but just not my cup of thea.
Again, thanks!

[Norm F]

more about Maedecke

I'd like to explore this M in diamond maker mark a bit more.
Although attributed to Maedecke, I gather the evidence is circumstantial.

To start, here are some Maedecke buttons from the Imperial era. No "M in diamond at that time", and known as I.C Maedecke instead of J.C. Maedecke. Note the style of circular arrangement of "I.C. Maedecke" and "Berlin" flanked by two small stars.

[Norm F]

Now here is the WWII era Maedecke stamp on a buckle tab. Remarkably similar arrangement with the 2 small stars, but now says "J.C. Maedecke" and includes the year.

[Norm F]

And finally, here are two KM buttons with the "M in diamond" mark. Note the 2 small stars flanking the year. From what I can see all these "M in diamond" buttons have the 2 small stars, reminiscent of Maedecke's mark. Sure the occasional Assman or FLL button has stars but in a different arrangement and most of their buttons actually don't.
Circumstantial evidence is all I can find so far but can be summarized as this:
1) The similarity is noted between marked Maedecke imperial buttons and leather tabs, and "M in diamond" KM buttons, both with the 2 small stars.
2) The fact that Maedecke is a Berlin firm and the the "M in diamond" summer breast eagle looks so similar to that of another Berlin firm, namely Schwerin (but bearing in mind we haven't yet seen examples of these with clear provenance to the period).

If anyone has any other "M in diamond" marks to cast light upon this topic please post.

[Norm F]

Sorry about the typo in the previous posts. I kept writing "Maedecke" instead of the correct "Maedicke".

---Norm