Peter Cornwell

Yup. And you cannot wish for better provenance than that! Pitched at an institutional purchase would be my guess. Beautiful collection of some historical importance but as I would only be interested in the medal & am not prepared to sell my car (nor my wife) to finance its purchase I will just have to pass. Thanks for the heads-up BlackcowboyBS. Now its Australian cousin could be an entirely different matter https://www.ebay.com/itm/115380630730?hash=item1add38b4ca:g:Wv8AAOSwGghifHsZ

Well one of the 1914 Godet 'fangs' mentioned in my earlier post eventually sold and although the cheaper of the two it was the better IMO. I sincerely hope that its new owner is happy with their purchase now in hand. The other cross on offer remains unsold so perhaps we collectors are following Eric STAHLHUT's sound advice and simply refusing to pay inflated prices. Perhaps we should offer sellers equally ridiculous low offers until they get the message? What a hope. The continuing absence of regular flea markets (certainly in my part of the world) does force one onto the www. where a seemingly ever-growing legion of fakers take full advantage of their distance & anonymity. So we must tread carefully as always - Holzauge. And as for on-line auction houses they are as reliable as they can be having their business reputations to maintain but their expertise is not infallible either. So check out their return policy before committing yourself to any purchase. Bedford Militaria Fair here in England last Sunday was a pale shadow of its former self but dealers were there, as were us punters, and money was changing hands so there's still hope for the future and a return to something akin to normality.

Ausgezeichnet! A really informative thread (no pun intended). Medal Ribbons 101. Many thanks Simius.

Epic! Enough to make you take up smoking again.

Nicomachean, Good solid basis for an extensive Imperial EK collection if that's what you're planning. There are some very knowledgeable collectors on this forum that may offer you an opinion as to the maker of your screw-back but I'm not one of them unfortunately. The stand-out in your trio for me is your We WERNER with its characteristic numerals - the extravagant 9 and the elongated 4 are typical. As Graf says - nice. Good luck with additions and thanks for sharing.

Sorry MIC but I don't have a note of the original source.

Thanks Graf. Every little helps I guess.

Michel, Good hunting. The closest match I have found to your pin is this WS stamped example. Houdoe.

Hello Michel, Sorry if my comment caused you any alarm for that was not my intention. What you have is an honest-to-goodness EKI with what others have already confirmed to you is a most unusual pin hinge. So kudos - well spotted. Hinges aren't my particular scene but DEUMER was the first maker that popped into my mind when I saw your photo. That said, a more considered opinion would better suggest SY & WAGNER or WAGNER & SOHN as manufacturers who both used very similar fixings. But no examples I can find of their output exactly match yours. My 'concern' with the obverse (bad choice of word - concern as in focus, not as in worry) merely reflects personal taste. I am no great fan of what Wernitz/Simons categorize as Core F crosses. The lack of detail on the crown and their skinny W simply don't 'float my boat' hence my comment on its craftsmanship - but everyone to their own and I do still recognise its appeal. The same source suggests that style of core is to be found predominantly on EKIs made by FRIEDLANDER or K.A.G. but their pins are nothing like that on yours. It would be good to establish the maker of your cross. You have brought it to entirely the right forum to do so. Thanks for sharing.

I've not come across that type of pin specifically but the style of fixing appears somewhat similar to that employed by DEUMER ? Collecting EKIs on the basis of their pins is a novel approach and, personally, I would be more concerned with the obverse details on this piece. I don't share your opinion on the craftmanship but I do understand its appeal.

Agreed. The market has changed thanks to www. What used to be a fairly niche interest creating a select & limited market is now a global mosh pit. And where there is any demand there will always be fakes. I don't believe that Andreas' 'hunters' are a dying breed but the game has certainly changed and the remote possibility of stumbling over one of Eric's bargains 'out there' remains a constant drive for most of us I'm sure. Train spotting starts to look like a more secure pastime?

BlackcowboyBS, I don't know of any exact English equivalent but 'keep your eyes skinned' is close. Sounds painful though. As for the crosses mentioned in my first post, no bidders as yet. And while I am keen to add fangs to my own collection, something about both these current offerings makes me chary and I can't put my finger on exactly why. It's not price as that is what one could expect to pay for a good example. Any pointers/comments will be welcome. https://www.ebay.com/itm/334359256549 https://www.ebay.com/itm/334355714032

A couple of decent prices achieved for desirable EKIs at recent auctions has provoked a mini glut of similar offerings on our favourite emarket website. And as you would expect, the offer prices reflect those reached in the more 'legitimate' marketplace. So no surprises there. Crosses currently on offer could turn a young collector's head but we shouldn't get corralled by the urgency of their Buy It Now (before some other schmuck does) pricing traps. Sei wachsam gentlemen as ever. My fond hope is that this flurry of activity may actually winkle out some real gems in private hands who decide to cash in while the market is high. Now that would be a real result.

BlackcowboyBS, Can you share any further information on this interesting piece? Or is your article still awaiting publication.

Bolewts58, Thanks for the clarification of KLIETMANN’s acquisition of the GODET presses etc. That is useful information to know. As for my comment about experts, of course there are very knowledgeable people on the subject, many of whom (thankfully) contribute to this forum, so if any offence taken - none was intended. Indeed, I consider Graf to be one such. The point I was trying to make was that given the ever-growing sophistication of fakes reaching the market today even collectors with years of experience need to remain vigilant and on top of their game.

Interesting enough to make me look twice. I've not seen a WERNER cross with this configuration before. But they did produce some quirky fittings from time to time. Difficult to judge from the photos but on first impression I don't like the clumsy lettering nor the closed 4 so would probably let this one go but then I'm no expert. Who is these days?

Simius Rex, Very helpful & informative as ever. Thanks again.

I've been watching this one myself and the only reason that I've not put in a bid is the vendor. Frankly, I still cannot see much wrong with it. Another EK1 with identical marks & fittings sold this time last year for $250 and yet another sold only last November for £420. So can anybody positively confirm this is wrong for I am now genuinely confused? But even if it were kosher, I wouldn't give this guy a single pfennig. Thanks again Simius for keeping us all honest.

And there I was assuming it was an outrageous fantasy combo by a rip-off merchant with cahones like coconuts. You examined it far more closely than I bothered to. Thanks again Graf. Happy hunting!

Really? https://www.ebay.com/itm/363671467496?hash=item54ac8235e8:g:aPkAAOSwiClhy4~2

Graf, A neat distinction but an important one. I wonder which category the 'Star of the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross' (currently on offer on a well-known auction site) would fall under? If that sells, I will display my arse in Harrod's window.

Thanks Graf. I guess that fakers occasionally embellish their offerings with strange 'extras' like this just to attract numpties like me. But I had hoped that somebody here might have recognised the 'chowhound angel' stamp whatever it is. Happy New Year !

Thanks Eric. That's a pity but it was worth a try.

Has anybody identified this stamp seen on a K.A.G. stamped EK1? All I can see is an angel enjoying a TV dinner but if somebody has met it before then it might throw some useful light on the identity of the maker.

Thanks Ashley. It's not unknown for the seams on older crosses to ease over time but I don't like the sound of 'filler'. Of course, this might be accumulated silver polish but it certainly would give me pause. At first, I did think this could be a 'ninth-bead' fake but there's no over-under 8 so maybe not. However, the horizontal terminals on the W are still a tad too heavy for my liking and a shame about the reverse flaking.