Medal "For Combat Merits".

[Sergei]

Eric,
Great medal.
I agree with you, the ribbon and suspension are those extras that add to the spirit of time. Yeah, they are cheap and easy to change, and a lot of folk prefer them nice and clean. It is a question of taste. I like your choice.

I remember you were looking for one of those but somehow missed your post. Beautiful things these early medals are, aren't they?
Always wanted to know, was there one particular red cloth used for the ribbon or just anything they could get hold of?
Sergei

[EricFG]

The older and more experienced I get the more I say to myself 'don't mess with it at all'....But in this particular case this old (1944) medal came with a totally new ribbon and a very recent 1 piece aluminium suspension. It's obvious to me that somebody thought to make it "prettier" and more saleable by re-mounting it.
At that stage two thirds of the history of the medal was removed (IMO) (one third being the medal itself, one third being the suspension and the last third being the ribbon).
Now you might say that I've replaced a fake two thirds of the medal's history with another two thirds that don't belong to the medal. That would be true. :( I'm just trying to restore this to something like it was 10, 20 or 30 years ago.
I rationalize this all by thinking that what I do makes a more realistic or perhaps even a museum quality display. I certainly don't buy old medals on new suspensions, re-ribbon them and then sell them for more. 99% of what I buy stays in my collection.
The thing is that when I found out when this medal was awarded in '44 the ribbon and suspension made it look so fake and made up that it was not really that desirable to me. Now that it's been "restored" to it's former glory (thanks Paul Schmitt for hookin' me up with the ribbon and suspension) I feel it can be displayed with my Nevsky and screback ORB in my new WW2 display.
Only I know it's not totally 100% good. Is that bad? :confused:
I think this question might be worth a poll.

Always wanted to know, was there one particular red cloth used for the ribbon or just anything they could get hold of?
Sergei

That is a damn good question!
I'm guessing all of the pre-'43, suspended Orders and Medals, had a specific red ribbon but I don't really know.
Anybody?

[Lapa]

Eric,

If you like what you did, and did not irremediably damage the medal in the process, it's OK.

The red ribbon used on square suspensions as well as on hero medals is a specific one.

Marc

[Ruiz]

What type is this medal? The suspension is strange in this type ? Thanks.

[desantnik]

What type is this medal? The suspension is strange in this type ? Thanks.

Do you mean the suspension ring or the suspension body? Both are normally encountered.

[Ruiz]

The suspension body. What type is it ?

[EricFG]

Looks like an early, steel 2 piece suspension. It matches the early numbered medal. I'd say you have a nice piece there. :)

[Ruiz]

is possible that it is of type 2 var 1? or more early. Thanks for your opinion.

[EricFG]

is possible that it is of type 2 var 1? or more early. Thanks for your opinion.

Judging by the serial number it is a very nice T2V1 medal.
As far as I am aware T1V3 medals stopped at about 470,xxx.
Paul?

[ade stevenson]

Here is one I picked up at the weekend. I liked the really dark patina to it.

I have entered the serial number, 1,625,652, to the forum database.

Cheers, Ade.