This guide will address only the ST.QUENTIN clasp which was worn on the 1870-1871 Kriegdenkmünze. The ST.QUENTIN clasp was authorized in 1895 and made available for private purchase for 35 pfennigs to 1 Reichsmark, depending on the salesman.  ST.QUENTIN is often seen listed on the market as a loose single clasp but indepth investigation reveals that the majority are not contemporary clasps.  The clasp ST.QUENTIN was awarded for the battle against the French in 1870 during the Franco-Prussian War.  The German recipients were mainly from the 1st Army (although there were a few exceptions).   

(photo pending)

ST.QUENTIN clasp

Currently, there appears to be less than 20 manufacturers of official clasps.  It should be noted that the prices can vary considerably from dealer to dealer - especially if accompanied with other medals or documentation.  Some jeweler's copy clasps have been hallmarked.  Each clasp has different manufacturing styles:  (1) flat single ribbon width, wide lettering  - ca. 3.1 cm long, .5+cm tall, .05 cm thick (2) flat single ribbon width, narrow lettering - ca. 3.1 cm long, .5+cm tall, .05 cm thick  (3) flat 1 1/2 ribbon width, wide lettering  (4) flat 1 1/2 ribbon width, narrow lettering  (5) thick single ribbon width, hollow back, "fat" wide lettering - ca. 3.1cm long, .6cm tall, .1cm thick (6) flat single ribbon width, tall & wide lettering and ca. 25% taller than the official clasps - ca. 3.1 cm long, .6cm tall,  .05cm thick.  There are 2 different attachment methods:  (A) slip-on (B) prong back - and there are different styles to the prongs.  It's important to note that the clasp background is pebbled (some manufacturing styles convey the appearance of a cross-hatch background) in all cases and is not flat or smooth (a good indicator of a copy clasp).  Another tip is that if you view the edge, it is smooth, there is no ridge showing the mold separation because the original clasps were struck from dies.   It does not appear that there is a 1892 unofficial version of this clasp.  A ST.QUENTIN clasp was manufactured for wear on various veteran medals which is readily distinguished by having a flat background and/or long flat prongs which are beveled at the end and almost touch each other.   This clasp is currently unknown in Type 5 but probably exists as a manufacturers examples. There are 3 other clasps which require comment.  ST. QUENTIN can be a manufacturer variant and is often used as a pattern for copies.  St.QUENTIN and St. QUENTIN are known only as copies or as clasps for post-WWI veteran medals - these 2 spellings require careful inspection prior to purchase.  The following is a list of clasps which have appeared on the market.

• ST.QUENTIN  Type 1B (1993, €51), German dealer. 
• ST. QUENTIN  Type 2B (1993, €51), German dealer.
• ST.QUENTIN  Type 3A (Sep. 2005, €70), German dealer. 
• ST.QUENTIN  Type 3A (Jan. 2006, €100), German dealer.
• ST.QUENTIN Type 3B (Feb. 2006, €60), German dealer.
• ST. QUENTIN Type 3B (May 2008, €125), German Militaria Show.

There is a series of clasps bearing this name that are made for the various WWI veteran medals.  They are typically distinguished by having a flat (or relatively flat) background or with the wording +ST.QUENTIN+ and +ST. QUENTIN+ (or one of the spelling variants) or made of a type of metal noticably different than the 1870-1871 KDM (and very often it's very similar to the Kyffhäauserbund Medal) and are very rarely Type 6 while a Type 5 has yet to be documented.  They are normally similar to Type 2B, 3B, and 5B - with longer than normal original prongs which are typically flat and slightly beveled.  While these clasp are collector items in themselves, they are not original official clasps for the KDM.  There are a few exceptions to these general rules but these are best left to a specialist collector. 

My best advice is:  purchase this clasp from a dealer who specializes in Imperial German or Prussian medals and who has a good knowledge of these clasps.  For your convenience, other associated guides can be found at:    http://reviews.ebay.com/Imperial-German-Medal-Guides-Index_W0QQugidZ10000000002386112.  Please visit my blog (http://blogs.ebay.com/tsa-li) and/or guides for further information.  Thank you for your visit!