Bavaria - Cased 3rd Class Military Merit Cross

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German Empire, Kingdom of Bavaria, WWI - Bayern Militärverdienstkreuz 3. Klasse mit Schwertern (3.Form 1913) im Etui by Deschler & Shon of Munich. Reinstituted on December 22, 1913, by King Ludwig III as the fourth endowment, the Bavarian Military Merit Cross was awarded to enlisted soldiers for acts of bravery and military merit (with swords). It is constructed out of a multi-piece die struck tombak base that has been bronze washed. The obverse features a pebbled Maltese style cross, with a separately soldered-on roundel that has a centrally placed stylized “L” (King Ludwig) below a king’s crown on a smooth round backing which is surrounded by: “Merenti” (Merit) to the top and an ornate belt to the bottom. The reverse has a separately soldered-on roundel that depicts a rampant lion which is surrounded by “1866” (original institution date) to the top and an ornate belt to the bottom, which lies on that same cross. To the top is a rivetted on crossed broad swords, a decorative ball loop and a ring, which holds 2 1/2 inches of white, blue and black rayon ribbon that holds a black enameled safety pin. The award measures 2 inches tall by 1 5/8 inches wide. It comes housed in its original issue two-piece case. The obverse top features a faded impressed gold foil: “Bayr. M. V. Kr. 3. Klasse” (Bayern Militärverdienstkreuz 3. Klasse). The reverse is maker marked: “Deschler & Shon Munich”. The interior divider has broken off, and there is a tear to the padded base. Two edges of the lid are torn. The case measures 2 1/8 inches wide by 4 1/8 inches long by ¾ of an inch thick. A desirable maker.