Buntmetal RK

[Franco]

Hi,
This looks like another early second type RK by S&L except for the metal its made of.
The frame is a very pale gilt and the core and loop are a darker yellow.Theres about 20% black paint remaining on the loop.Paint has been removed from the high points of the leaves and tops of the numerals for effect.
Ive never seen one of these before so can only guess why it was made.I think it could have been a very limited issue for Kriegsmarine vets.
Just a guess.Cheers

[Franco]

another

[Peter Wiking]

Franco
The cross is made by Steinhauer & Lück in 1980's/1990's. The buntmetal as you correctly describe it was often used in the core of both RK's and EK's in the late 1957 production.

Peter

[DavidM]

Hello

Franco, that 57 RK looks extremely familar to me. Can I ask where you bought please. No issues or problems, just idle curiosity as it looks exactly, (ok, identical in every respect), like the one I sold on E-Bay in October last year. If it is, and I'm pretty well certain that it is, I can tell you it's whole history.

Regards
David

[Franco]

Hi David,
I recently got this cross from an e-bay member from Dudley,via a circuritous route,which at the time seemed a bit suspicious but turned out OK.
Ring any bells?
Franco

[DavidM]

Hello Franco

Even without that information, it is, without doubt the one I sold on E-Bay in October last year. The E-Bay member who purchased it, along with a couple of other items, was from Sedgley, Dudley in the West Midlands.

Regards
David

[Franco]

So David,when you owned the cross,what did you think it was,a variant?
Cheers

[DavidM]

So David,when you owned the cross,what did you think it was,a variant?
Cheers

Hello

No. It is a late 2nd pattern made in 1989 by S&L. I started collecting Third Reich and Imperial EKs in 1988, and knew of the 1957 reissue items but had never seen any. In late 1989 a friend showed me a copy of Nicholas Moragi's catalogue - the UK based purveyor of replica awards and badges - who at that time was offering these. I made enquires and discovered that the 57 RKs he was selling (at that time anyway) were current manufacture direct from S&L. Out of curiouosity I ordered one, but had to wait about a month as he was out of stock and waiting for a new batch to come from S&L. The cross was freshly made in 1989, along with many others using the same materials etc. In the very late 1980's and very early 1990's Moragi sold hundreds exactly the same as this one.

The loop was originally a silver colour, and has never had black paint on it. It was originally much larger than it is now as well. As time progressed, (ok, about two years after buying it), and I became knowledgeable about Third Reich, Imperial and 57 pieces I relegated this and upgraded to an early first pattern S&L 57 RK. Given the value of it, the fact that it was a 'made for the collectors market' piece, I played around with it. The first thing I did was shorten the loop. In the process some of the silver colouring, (it was some sort of coating), came away. Once it started flaking it was simply a matter of time - quite a short period as well - before the rest came away leaving it exactly as it is now.

The colour of the rims is the result of more curiouosity. Basically at that point in time I knew that some of the 57 RKs, (admittedly normally the earlier manufactured 2nd pattern ones), can be found with silver rims but without any content stamp, e.g. '800'. So I polished the rims to see if they were silver or not. They aren't, but with the somewhat over zealous polishing they recieved, the rims lost their rough look, became smoother, but also took on the slightly golden or gilt look that they have now. The paintwork on the core was also coarse and bit rough so that too was given a good rubbing, producing the loss of paint on the highlights. So the paint wasn't, I'm afraid, removed for effect, it simply a result of polishing. Today, fortunately, I would never dream of doing anything like this to any item.

The cross hasn't altered at all since I disposed of it last October. I had it, quite literally from new in 1989. The materials are very common and correct for late produced 2nd pattern, non magnetic cored S&L 57 RK. When I sold it I described as just that, an S&L made 57 RK, 2nd pattern late production, because that is what it is.

Regards
David

[Franco]

Hi David,
Thank you for the explanation it was very interesting.I might re-silver the rims and leave the core as it is.I like the yellow metal showing through.
Cheers Franco