This guide will address only the WEISSENBURG clasp which was worn on the 1870-1871 Kriegdenkmünze (KDM). The WEISSENBURG clasp was authorized in 1895 and made available for private purchase for 35 pfennigs to 1 Reichsmark, depending on the salesman.  This is probably one of the most rare of the clasps to the 1870-1871 Kriegsdenkmünze.  The clasp WEISSENBURG was awarded for the battle against the French on 4 August 1870 during the Franco-Prussian War.  The German recipients were from the 3rd Army (although there were a very few exceptions of attached men).  It's interesting to note that there is a very low market demand - it should be in higher demand and probably represents an excellent investment opportunity at the present.  The standard German refence number for this clasp is OEK 1941/27. 

WEISSENBURG 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  (2) flat single ribbon width, narrow lettering  (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 (6) flat single ribbon width, tall & wide lettering and ca. 25% taller than the official clasps.  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 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's also importantant to mention that one type of clasp has been mentioned in collecting circles which reputedly has the name WEIßENBURG - the collector should be on guard for this one since it's undetermined if this is an authentic manufacturer variant or a fantasy clasp.   A poorly made Type 3A (one example had the reverse cut in 1/2 to make it 2 flat beveled prongs, similar to a Type 3B) WIESSENBURG copy clasp has been noted on the market and was reputedly made in Poland in the 1980s but the collector should be on the lookout for other examples which are not so readily identified.  Another one which has been mentioned in the German collector circles is the clasp WEISSENBERG which most collectors classify as a fantasy forgery.  The following is a list of clasps which have appeared on the market.

• 1993 (Type 1, €33), German dealer. 
• 1993 (Type 3, €33), German dealer.
• Sep. 1998 (Type 3B, €50), German dealer. 
• Dec. 2001 (Type 3B, €75), eBay. 
• June 2005 (mounted KDM with WEISSENBURG, WÖRTH, SEDAN, PARIS, BEAUGENCY-CRAVANT, LE MANS, and PARIS - all Type 1B - clasps & Centenary Medal, €?), German auction house. 
• Sep. 2005 (Type 3B - KDM with this clasp only,  €100), German dealer.
• Sep. 2005 (Type 1B, €75), German dealer.
• Oct. 2005 (Type 3B, €80), German dealer.
• Jan. 2006 (Type 3B - mounted KDM with WEISSENBURG & Centenary Medal, €150), German dealer.
• Jan. 2006 (Type 3B, €51), German dealer.
• Jan. 2006 (Type 2B, €90), German dealer.
• Jan. 2006 (Type 1B with KDM,  €125), German dealer.
• Aug. 2006 (Type 2B with KDM,  €120), German dealer.
• Sep. 2006 (Type 3B, €100), German dealer. 
• Nov. 2006 (Type 1A, €95), German dealer.
• Jan. 2007 (Questionable - Type 1B, €30), eBay.
• Jan. 2007 (Type 3B - slightly bent on mounted KDM, €35), eBay.
• Mar. 2007 (Type 5B, €125), German dealer.
• Apr. 2007 (Type 3B, €127), German dealer. 
• May 2007 (Type 5B, €51) eBay

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 +WEISSENBURG+ or made of a type of metal noticably different than the 1870-1871 KDM (and very often it's very similar to the Kyffhäuserbund Medal) and are very rarely Type 6.  They are normally similar to Type 2B or 3B - 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. 

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!