joe campbell Posted January 8, 2007 Share Posted January 8, 2007 i bought a nice 5 place medal bar today at the raleigh show,including the following:1914 EK 2 - more on this laterKonig Ludwig Kreuz1904-06 Sudwest Afrika medal1898-1921 Rote Kreuz medal, 2nd Klasse1897 Zentenarmadaillebavarian style fold, green felt backing, professionally done bar.BUT!the EK 2 is a one piece cast affair. it is exquisitely cast.my question is this:i have heard - and have - a few of these, but would very muchlike to know what resources there are about these, or what information any of my EK collector friends can provide for me.any thoughts/info is greatly appreciated!joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gregM Posted January 8, 2007 Share Posted January 8, 2007 Is it cast or is it die struck?I have a very nicely detailed EK2 that is die stamped Nuesilber Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe campbell Posted January 8, 2007 Author Share Posted January 8, 2007 yes, i think die struck would be the more appropriate term.so there are others.... any references? anyone else? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avitas Posted January 9, 2007 Share Posted January 9, 2007 Hi Joe,I too have a mounted die-struck Imperial EK2 that is of extremely fine quality, and I thought it might have been silver but it is more likely it is neusilber after Greg pointed out that his was neusilber. Mine is discussed on this thread: http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=7884The consensus was that these were made in the 1920's and fairly scarce compared to other types of Ek2's. I would post pics but I can't right now due to the new upgrade on the site passing my tech requirements, but the pics are posted on the above-mentioned link. Does yours have the pebbled finish as well?Cheers,Pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gregM Posted January 9, 2007 Share Posted January 9, 2007 (edited) here is mine to compare against-- Edited January 9, 2007 by gregM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PKeating Posted January 9, 2007 Share Posted January 9, 2007 The strike quality of these 'ersatz' or 'economy' EK2s is indeed very sharp compared to some of the tradition crosses. I have a couple: an unfinished one showing the sharpness of the details to advantage and a nice EF example. Either made in the last year of the war or in the early 1920s. Here are a couple of old snapshots of the unfinished example next to a "KO", which was one of the best of the wartime crosses in terms of strike quality, before the dies began to wear out.PK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe campbell Posted January 9, 2007 Author Share Posted January 9, 2007 gentlemen-thanks for your pictures and reference threads!these are indeed generally quite well done pieces,as evidenced by the examples seen here.if anyone has more pictures, please post them,and again, if someone has any reference materialincluding mention of them, please let me know.thanks!joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev in Deva Posted January 9, 2007 Share Posted January 9, 2007 (edited) Hallo Gentlemen, could I trouble you for your opinion on this piece, its an EK II one piece casting.It weighs: 21 gramMeasures: 43 X 43mm not including the ribbon ?se mounts.Painted black pebbled core (the paint job does not quite meet the edge of the silver rim.)On the rear there is a fine line in the casting starting at the extreme right-hand edge of the crown, touch es the edge of the "W", follows along the right edge of the middke oakleaf and passes through the middle of the "3" in "1813" before continuing on down to the bottom rimAny opinions welcome.Front View:Kevin in Deva Edited January 9, 2007 by Kev in Deva Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev in Deva Posted January 9, 2007 Share Posted January 9, 2007 (edited) The Rear:even at this size its possible to see the line that runes through the cross from top to bottom, mentioned in the postKevin in Deva Edited January 9, 2007 by Kev in Deva Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PKeating Posted January 9, 2007 Share Posted January 9, 2007 That looks OK but could you post the reverse? Some of these were cast while others were struck. Regards,PK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev in Deva Posted January 9, 2007 Share Posted January 9, 2007 Hallo PK, I have uploaded the correct picture now, with regards the cross.Kevin in Deva. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Y Posted January 9, 2007 Share Posted January 9, 2007 Here's one that's definitely cast. I've always considered it an old fake. Interestingly, it came on a very fragile 1813 type ribbon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev in Deva Posted January 10, 2007 Share Posted January 10, 2007 Hallo Gents just a thought but is there any evidence to show that:A. there were Jewelers copies* made of the 1914 EK II for people who did not wish to lose or damage their originals. B. as oppossed to out and out FAKE items, I mean the WW1 EKII I & II Class were issued in the hundreds of thousands.C. that cast or stamped one-piece were manufactured near the end of WW1. Post WW1, during WW2 or Post 1945.The detail on the crosses posted is of a very good quality, and would have entailed some work, where as the faker has mostly, and admittedly not always, been shown up for sloppy hand-work on the smaller, finer details of the item.Any info would be appriciated,Kevin in Deva. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Garvy Posted January 11, 2007 Share Posted January 11, 2007 Here's a one-piece example. As you can see the detail is exquisite! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Garvy Posted January 11, 2007 Share Posted January 11, 2007 Here is the reverse. The ring is unmarked. . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Y Posted January 11, 2007 Share Posted January 11, 2007 One piece in brass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe campbell Posted January 11, 2007 Author Share Posted January 11, 2007 again, thanks for the numerous pictures!kev's questions are basically the ones i am trying to seekanswers for, although i think the differences between theselegitimate one-piece affairs and on up to even the modernone-piece repros allegedly from China still allow for cleardistinction.there just seems so little info on them....joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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