EK 1914 1 piece EK2 opinion please

[gregM]

Here is a 1 piece EK2 that I just received and I would really some help with it. Any

and all opinions are welcome.----

The overall quality of this cross is very nice.The details are very sharp. It has the

look too me of the 1 piece EK1s that we attribute to the 1920s-30s. ( same style of

date and "W" however the crowns are close but slightly different.

[attachmentid=52470]

[gregM]

Here is the reverse---

[attachmentid=52471]

[gregM]

This was being sold as a cast brass cross. I do not think it is brass .--There is no yellow

showing. Plus I do not think it is cast. I think it is die struck.

This scan shows the side of 1 of the arms. It shows lines that I think are

shear marks from being struck. All of the arms have these marks.

[attachmentid=52472]

[gregM]

The size is 42.9mm X 43.1mm and the weight is 22.9g.

Thanks for any and all help.

Greg

[gregM]

Here is a comparison between the ek2 and one of my 1920s-30s Ek1

very close but not an exact match.

[attachmentid=52473]

[Paul R]

I did not think that one piece crosses were made...

[gregM]

I did not think that one piece crosses were made...

1 piece Imperial EK1s are not common but they do exsist. I think most are believed to

be 1920s or 30s replacement pieces. My guess is that this falls into that catagory.

I have been told that Gordon Williamson references a 1 piece EK2 in his book but I

do not know that for sure.

Edited September 1, 2006 by gregM

[TerryG]

Not an EK2 I know, but this is a one-piece model believed to be original.

[Motorhead]

There are a lot of "one piece" Eks from 1914.....the most common is the "clamshell"(but don't forget there's also a three piece variation) or the one I've sold here yesterday.Or the one with the strange catch(similar to some spanish crosses/woundbadges...) The 2nd class at the top of this thread is a typical "Spangenst?ck"from the late 20ies/early 30ies...and not so easy to find(rare is something different,but not so common coud it describe better...)

Micha

[Motorhead]

@Greg

-it seems to be that I've got the screwback brother of your 2nd class

[Motorhead]

Rverse

[gregM]

Micha,

You are right. Yours matches the crown bead for bead and the dates

are an exact match.

Thanks so much for the information. I see your screwback is marked.

Who is the maker?

Thanks again,

Greg

Edited September 2, 2006 by gregM

[Avitas]

Here is the reverse---

[attachmentid=52471]

Here is the reverse of my one-piece ww1 EK2 which is one from the mid to late 20's or early 30's and it is mounted with a Hindenburg Honour Cross with Swords. The reverse is very similar to mine so I will post the pic of the reverse first. I think yours looks fine and is from between wars period. My two clams worth,

Pat

[Avitas]

Here is the front of mine for comparison. I don't know the maker of mine but it appears to be a different one than yours Greg, as the numbers and the W are quite different. Nice crosses for sure.

Cheers,

Pat

[Gordon Williamson]

Here is another one-piecer from the same family, pinback this time.

[Gordon Williamson]

As for 2nd Classes, one piecers are also OK for 1939 Crosses. This Spangenst?ck is struck in zink, one piece.

[gregM]

Thanks very much to all who have helped me with this.

I am learning something new all the time.

Greg

[Bill Garvy]

unmarked, one-piece construction, non-magnetic core. . .

obverse:

[attachmentid=52599]

[Bill Garvy]

reverse:

[Bill Garvy]

Here's another in 1st Class similar to the cross posted by Mr. Williamson. . .

obverse:

reverse:

clasp (note the absence of a seam):