DavidM

Hello I think it's a genuine one, but my thoughts would be that it is possibly one made post 1918, maybe even just before the outbreak of WW2. As I say, only a guess. Either way, I like it, a nice EK.

Hello It looks to me to be a perfectly good EK1 bar by Wilhelm Deumer (maker '3' and L/11)

Hello Thanks for the comments Grodon Yours looks a nice piece as well. Is it real silver or silver plated?

Hello That's a very nice piece Uwe Many thanks for showing it.

Hello That looks like a nice item Laurence Not an a piece that you see every day either. Looking at yours I'd guess that it had polished / burnished highlights and is one of the better quality pieces. A very nice item.

Hello Laurence, could you please post some photos of your RKKVK without swords. I don't recall having ever seen a 57 version of one of those. And if any else has a 57 new form RKKVK either with or without swords, please post them. Thanks

Hello Thanks fo rthe comments. No, sadly it's not cased. It's not often that you see these for sale or even shown anywhere, so I suppose it may be one of the lesser encountered 57 pieces.

Hello Uwe Good to see you on the forums again - I've not seen you post anything for a while, well not in the sections I've been looking at or posting in. Yes, there is only the one shown, but then as they are only showing one side of all the new form items I suppose it wouldn't make much sense to put two identical photos on it.

A side view

Hello I have just received this 57 new form version of the Knights Cross of the War Merit Cross. Although it doesn't show up to well in the photos, this piece has polished highlights, e.g. the raised edges etc. The ribbon is a nice UV negative piece. As usual, any comments or observations welcomed.

Hello You are correct in saying that the 2nd class bar would be worn on a piece of ribbon, as was it's WW2 counterpart, and yes, the 1st class would be worn on the tunic above the EK. Size wise the EK2 bar is 29.81mm long, and the EK1 bar is 29.86mm long.

Hello As Dan spotted, the only difference is that the 2nd class has the two prongs, to attach it to a piece of ribbon, and the 1st class has the pin to allow it to be fastened to the tunic. Otherwise the fronts are the same. I agree Dan, not a patch on the Third Reich bars - those eagles are just something else - but still part of the 57 new form pieces.

Hello Great looking ribbon bar, and if it is attributed then even sweeter. :beer:

Hello Thanks for the comments Dan. Now, what's next.......................... :rolleyes:

Hello I've finally managed to track down an early 57 new form version of the Black Wound badge. So I now have a Black, Silver and Gold early 57 made version of these. The Silver and Gold ones can be seen in this thread: http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=26500 As usual, any comments or observations welcomed.

Hello I have just received a set of the 57 new form versions of the Bars to the Iron Cross 2nd and 1st class. The 2nd class version is to the left in the photos. As usual, any comments or observations welcomed.

Hello Tom, Eric, thanks for the advice and information. I'll see what my local bike shop has in store - and no, I've never used WD40 on anything in my collection.

Hello I see that the website Tom directed us to doesn't sell this outside of the USA. Is this anything like WD40? Or do any UK members know if this Boshield T-9 or an equivalent is available over here? Thanks

Hello As has already been said, a fake.

Hello Congratulations Dan on completing your 57 wound badges I know how it feels - I'm on the look out for one of the very early black ones. Nice looking silver WB.

Hello Thanks for the comments Phil The early versions of the 57 new form pieces are usually of a good quality and finish. I agree, and am the same as you - the more of the early 57 pieces I see, the more I like them, and at least they are, compared to their WW2 originals, still relatively affordable.

Hello I have borrowed Scotts photo and added a line which goes directly to the flaw. This is the small, raised shape to the left side of the high point / ridge. If you look at the other high points, or ridges, the lower, flat areas to the left or right of them are plain and flat. At the point circled by Scott, and where the line now points to, there is a small shaped raised area that shouldn't be there as it is one of the plian, flat areas. This is the so called star burst flaw.

Hello If memory serves, the die flaw as shown by Scott isn't seen on the earlier Zimmermann 'heavy' DKs. It is encountered on all the 'light' versions and I believe on some the later made 'heavies', indicating that it was something that developed over time.

Hello There's nothing wrong whatsoever with a bit self inflicted arm twisting, especially when it results in a fine speciemen like this one.

Hello Very interesting Chris. I knew, of course that both the British and the Germans had forces inAfrica during WW1, and saw some action, but I had no idea that the Germans had invaded South Africa. Thanks for showing this.