EK 1914 Question on an iron cross with a brass core

[Georg of Ohio]

I have a question on a so call “Navy Iron Cross” (an iron cross with a brass core). I have read about them, But it just do not sound right to me. If it is an iron cross, the core should be made out of iron. Was there such a cross, or is it just a way that some dealer can sell such crosses.

[joe campbell]

yes, there were brass cored EK's.

no, they were not specific to the navy.

not sure i can tell you why they were made

that way, but their manufacture was well documented.

joe

[Eric Stahlhut]

georg,

there were no regulated/enforced guidelines concerning the materials used for manufacturing ek's during ww1 and the postwars years, except for the dimensions of the cross. it's highly likely that the scarcity of metal during a wartime economy and the following postwar recession dictated that the many makers had to implement whatever they could obtain at any specific time. as a result, one can find crosses with cores made out of iron, brass, steel, zinc, german silver, tombac, and of course one-piece ek's that have no separate core.

and on the other side of the spectrum: cores made of glass: a rare luxury item!

hope this helps a bit

Edited November 20, 2010 by Eric Stahlhut

[Gordon Craig]

Georg of Ohio,

There were also black wound badges made of brass which probably indicates the shortage of materials, as has been previously mentioned, more than anything else.

Regards,

Gordon