Red Eagle 2

[ccj]

Would like opinion from Red Eagle collectors

 

[VtwinVince]

I'm guessing it's hollow? Any hallmarks?

[ccj]

More

[VtwinVince]

I agree with the above, and as I stated on the 'other forum', I like this piece due to the eagle painting and the reverse chasing, as well as the typical Wagner mark. Very cool piece.

[ccj]

Thanks guys

[Komtur]

I don´t believe, that a "938" silver mark ist to be found on that cross. In this case the "W" would be stamped too.

After October 1916 the returned golden decorations or parts of it were reworked and awarded again. As most returned orders were without swords and in war time most of the awarded with them, you find sometimes this combination of golden crosses with silvered swords. Because of the hollow construction of the golden decorations a stamped mark "W" was not usable, therefore you will find on them always a scratched "W".

Here such an example of a Crown Order 2nd class with silvered swords, the golden cross also marked only "W" scratched in the same way, as the Red Eagle shown above:

[VtwinVince]

OK, that makes sense. I was wondering whether the cross arms are hollow or solid.

[GMU]

Ok so a golden cross, with scratched W, but with silver swords. I guess it does make sense. 
A nice cross. Congratulations.

I have a Red Eagle 3rd Class with Crown and Swords made by Wagner with basically the same eagle and letter chasing

[VtwinVince]

I would leave it. I have a KO2mS which looks like it got run over by a tank, with bent arms etc. I like pieces with that sort of 'patina'.

[ccj]

It looks rather nice in person and better on a tunic.

[ccj]

RAO2 on display-

Edited December 25, 2019 by ccj

[03fahnen]

It looks spectacular,
Both the jacket and the medal, two of my favorite pieces.

[saschaw]

A nice and not too usual cross, and Komtur already explained why.

Only one in (full) gold could be more desirable...

 

On 12/12/2019 at 23:31, Simius Rex said:

I'm still wondering what could be done about the bottom cross arm that's bent to the left?  Does anybody have any first hand knowledge about how it might be straightened out without damaging the enamel?  Simi

I have seen this quite some times before, especially with RAO and KO crosses in gold. Sounds odd, but I don't think this is a damage caused by wear, but rather a contemporary production flaw. When such a cross is assembled, from some thin gold sheet frames, it doesn't take much to get some asymmetry involved... 

  

On 12/12/2019 at 23:31, Simius Rex said:

The Red Eagle above unfortunately lost its original round gold medallion frames. They were replaced by gold plated silver ones.   

I wouldn't be too sure about that! For reasons I do not know, golden RAOs centers often have a rather strong gold patina. It might be their purity which might be lower than the cross body's, or they "suffered" from the way they were fixed to the cross... I really don't know why - but I wouldn't assume this centers to be gilt replacements.

[ccj]

Thanks Saschaw