Carl, you're right... I mainly smoke a pipe (talking about tobacco here ), and some of the better quality pipe tobacco is really nice... smooth, good tasting... I had to quit smoking cigarettes- I was up to at least a pack a day in college. So now I only allow myself a bit off the pipe now and again, and the occasional cigar. The 'other' pipe gets more use than tobacco! (I hate to preach, but quitting cigarettes is really the way to go. I know it's a cliche, but you really do wind up feeling SO much better-and richer) Martin- I imagine you don't get into football too much 'over the pond', but what a sunday- that last Cohiba to accompany the N.E. Patriots whupping the N.Y. Jets. Now THAT improves any cigar!
Ryan--be aware--airports are installing gigantic magnets too! just to catch the rest of the folks with extra metal in their system. Crazy--glad your not smoking. I think of two things that keep me from smoking--well actually more than two things. Anyway--I look at smoking this way: At current prices for a carton of Cigarettes = a mint Black Wound Badge that I could have instead of burning up the money. Two cartons = that nice Iron Cross 2nd class I could permanently enjoy instead of dumping butts and ashes and empty cig packages in the trashcan. Can also get good stuff like: A boxed Hamburg Soldiers badge, A Hamburg Hanseatic Cross, a nice set of Officers Collar tabs or shoulderboards (to about the rank of Hauptmann) Three cartons = a nice Silver Infantry Assault Badge I COULD have instead. Also, a nice set of ww1 officers shoulderboards. Four cartons = a mint Bronze Panzer Assault Badge. Five cartons = a mint Gold Wound badge (1940) or a mint Silver and mint Gold Wound Badges from ww1. Six cartons = a 1914 Iron Cross 1st class, a mint Heer/W-SS Artillery Badge, a nice ww1 or ww2 Iron Cross 1st Class. Seven cartons = a Kriegsmarine Destroyers Badge. Eight cartons = A Uboat badge or your first Wehrmacht Schifchen. Nine cartons = a Luftwaffe Air gunners Badge, Silver Close Combat Clasp, or a Panzervernichtabziechen (Single-Handed tank Destruction Badge) cased Iron Cross 1st class, 1870 Iron Cross 2nd class. Ten cartons = a cased Luftwaffe Flak Badge, or a very nice M-43 cap. Eleven cartons = an Enlisted mans peaked visorer cap. Twelve cartons = A Luftwaffe Officers Dagger with portepee. Thirteen cartons = an Enlisted mans tunic. Fourteen cartons = a Luftwaffe Paratrooper Badge, 1870 Iron Cross 2nd class with 25 year Oak Leaves. Fiveteen cartons = a Luftwaffe Pilots Badge, an Officers M-43 cap. Sixteen cartons = a nice all matching numbered P-38 pistol. Seventeen cartons = a cased Luftwaffe Pilots Badge. an Enlietedmans or NCOs Parade tunic. Eighteen cartons = an Enlisted mans tunic with schiffchen, two Officers Swords, Mint Officers Peaked Visor (depending on branch of service) Nineteen cartons = a cased Luftwaffe Paratrooper Badge. Twenty cartons = an Officers tunic with the rank of Hauptmann. Twenty One cartons = A mint High Seas Fleet badge and a Destroyer Badge and a mint set of hauptmanns shoulderboards. Twenty Two cartons = A Cased Luftwaffe Para badge and a Silver Infantry Assault Badge. Twenty Three cartons later could have resulted in your having: A minty Heer Majors tunic (depending on Branch) and a Black Wound Badge. Twenty Four cartons later = Majors tunic with Infantry Assault Badge. Twenty Five cartons later = You need to quit smoking along time ago. Look at all that was smoked away. [ 19 September 2002, 03:22 PM: Message edited by: C.Evans ]
Well Carl if you put like that I am missing allot of medals....I need to quit one addiction to feed my other!
I HEAR ya, I hear ya. I need to quit buying so many books so I can keep on buying medals. I FINALLY got my book on The Freikorps in, all $61.and change but, it seems to be worth it. Guess who helped the author of the book on RIBBON BARS? no--not stogiman rick but, Rick Lundstrom.
Thank God I don't smoke!!! Choosing between buying cigars and those things and buying militaria: obvious response, but choosing between buying books and buying militaria? AAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGHHHHHH!!! That's a difficult one!!!!
ARGH Greg you took my avatar!! BUT i pardon you! It is a nice one isn't it! HA I have skimmed a couple posts and was like...I DON'T REMEMBER WRITING THAT?! heh heh [ 19 September 2002, 08:36 PM: Message edited by: Ron ]
Greg, I think there is another sniper avatar--one of the German soldier in Saving Private Ryan--the one who took the round through the scope and into his eye. Ill bring the Freikorps book and the two nes additions to the book family: SS-Leibstandarte: "The History Of The First SS-Division 1933-1945. And SS-Das Reich: "The History Of The Second SS-Division 1941-1945. Plus my newest piece of German military history. My 1914 EK 2 from Blackcrossmilitaria.