UBB.threads Forums Uniform & Accessories Imperial German Uniforms, Orders, and Decorations Four Kings and a Queen ...

Gents,

Some of you already know that I have a penchant for old, German shooting medals. I'd like to share a small grouping of four that have a simlar Maltese-cross design and the fifth example being a stylized star. Two are from the Weimar-period, two are imperial and one is undated, but is also most likely from the twenties.

Starting at the left side we have an award that belonged to an Annie Oakley-type gal, the shooting-queen from Esserden. The face is engraved, "I. Königen 1927," in other words, the first-place queen of the shooting competition for that year. Next is a cross with a shield-shaped device that states, Emil Becks was the Schützenkönig of Obrighoven for the year 1921. The middle piece with crossed rifles also has a shield device in the center that is simply engraved, "I Preis." Other than a silver-content marking there are no other identifying marks or engravings to tell us either the owner's name or club origin. The fourth unit displays a star-like motif that has a gold-colored banner that reads, "B. Schütz.V. Broich, 1902." The central roundel is further handcut, "The King's." The fifth and last cross is suspended from an oblong plaquette that reads, "Schützenkönig 1912," while the center obverse reads, "Wurdenburger Schützen-Verein, e.V.," this being the abbreviation for eingetragener Verein, or registered organization.

As with so many of the pins, decorations and medals we collect, the history goes back a way in European culture, making it that much more interesting. Some of these well-established shooting clubs can trace their ancestry back to the Middle Ages, much the same as with the famous Holbein dagger-pattern.

No matter what field of collecting is your personal forte, I wish all of you much happiness and luck on your quest.

Best regards!

Bill Warda

Very nice Bill, Shooting medals on a theme,

Try these.

All are from the Dusseldorf/Bilk area and are dated L-R 1926-1927-1927/28.

SfK

G,

Three beauties to be sure ...

You gotta love all the neat variations, each unique and different. Those little metal ribbons/banners are something special and then, super engraving to boot. Do you know what a professional engraver charges for that kind of work today?

Super metal work!

Bill