Iron Criss In An Unusual Case

[W. C. Stump]

I have an early cased WWI Iron Cross. The way it is marked leads me to believe it is of a first production run. Here is the top of the case overall.

[W. C. Stump]

CASED MARKING 1914/15

This is the first case like this that I have seen. It may or may not be common.

[W. C. Stump]

CROSS IN THE CASE

Here is the Iron Cross in the case. The cross is vaulted and produced in silver, but not marked with silver content.

[W. C. Stump]

REVERSE

Reverse of the Iron Cross.

[Dez H]

Hello Bill

You are correct in your assumption that this is a very early Wagner & Sohn EK, the official court jeweler of Wilhelm II.
Their earliest pieces are unmarked, then at some stage they went to scratching their W-S markings into the reverse of the pieces, to the right of the hook, some time later again they used a stamp to mark their pieces.
The Central Powers had this notion that they were going to repeat the speedy victory of the 1870/71 war and so they thought the battles were going to be over by 1915. That is why the case has the EK logo on the lid with the 1914/15.

This is a very nice piece and very hard to find one in such beautiful and original condition.

[Dez H]

Here is the reverse of a W-S marked EK, notice the mark to the left of the hook:



These images are not mine, just borrowing them from Ken from derrittmeister, hope you don't mind.

[Dez H]

Wagner & Sohn mark:

[Eric Stahlhut]

Hello Bill

Always a pleasure to view a quality EK1 in a nice case.

Here is a similar case so that you may compare. The top on this one is flat- yours looks to be domed perhaps.

[Eric Stahlhut]

Interior

Flocking is a different hue as well.

Cross itself is very different. Severly vaulted.

[Dez H]

Bill could you please show us a closeup of the hinge like this?
Here is a closeup from a non-vaulted Wagner piece.

[Eric Stahlhut]

Reverse of EK1

marked 935

[Dez H]

You want to talk cases hey Eric?

Well how about blue interior for a WS piece?

[Dez H]

Reverse for the hinge picture above:

[Dez H]

Obverse:

[Eric Stahlhut]

Hey Dez,

Can you show a pic of the interior of the case w/o the EK1 present, or at least describe it?

Is there a simple slit for the pin, or is there a 'hollowed out' section that will accomodate the hinge portion as well?