Observation on Imperial EK's for Sale

[ekhunter]

Have you guys noticed the lack of Imperial ek's for sale? Specifically, first classes. I'm not just talking about on the estand either, but other forums, dealer sites, etc.. I mean you have the occasional KO or 800 pop up every now and then, but a lack of really exceptional ones. The estand seems flooded by TR era Ek I's, but the Imperial stuff just isn't out there. I'm sure many are sitting on some incredible pieces, in fact I'm sure of it because I've seen them here, (i.e. GregM). It's just an observation, but I've noticed that the quality Imperial pieces just aren't floating around out there, and especially like the TR stuff. i'm sure this thought has crossed some of your minds too, so i thought I would bring it up. The last good one I saw for sale was on Ebay a few months ago, and it was a pinback KMST DRGM marked cross in really good shape. It was like sharks in a feeding frenzy when I bowed out with a minute to go. Anyway, just a late afternoon observation.

[gregM]

I was at a show in St.Paul last weekend and saw about a dozen
Imp EK1s. A few were screwbacks but for the most part they
were unmarked pinbacks ( one was a KO and and one was 800
marked) . Last fall at the same show, I saw only 2 Ek1s.

I think a lot of TR people are getting into Imperial and thats showing
up in the price and supply.

[Steve Campbell]

The real nice ones with the different attachments you never see. KAG's are suppose to be common but I rarely see one for sale. You can still see KO's around but not so much on the estand. This forum is more TR driven anyway, with days going by before any item is added to the Imperial sale section. Just wish there was an equivelent Imperial type forum with items coming up every hour or less.

[PaulChep]

It is not just a lack of imperial eks that I you have mentioned but quality imperial medals of all types or few and far between. I collect imperial medal bars and ribbon bars and the picking are slim. I find a good source to be the Thies Auctions but you have to deal with the exchange rate. Detlev Niemann has some good eks but recently nothing exceptional.

I used to collected imperial ek2s in a case and at one time had over 75 example before the dry up. I was luckily enough to move them all when eks really took off. Good luck hunting!

[Wild Card]

Perhaps this is so at the moment; but based on thirty years of collecting, I just can not agree. During the past two years the Seymour and Ludvigsen collections (Thies auctions) have provided many once in a lifetime opportunities to pick up some ultra rare items. Aside to Paul - Can you imagine ever seeing again as many top quality medal bars on the market during a two year period as you have seen in the past two? Lower and mid range items have been plentiful in these auctions as well. While I am not an EK collector, I must also say that I have never observed so many on the market as during the past two or three years.

Again speaking from experience, I would ask that you to keep the “I’ve painted myself into a corner syndrome” in mind. When we were beginners (novice collectors), our collections had more holes than anything else; but as those holes filled up, we painted ourselves into a corner; and now we wait endlessly for those few rare, and missing, items. I recently looked at the catalog of an upcoming auction (not Thies) one page of which showed about ten items that fell within my collecting interests. It struck me that of those of interest, either I have, or have had and since sold, them. At the same time, twenty-five years ago, I would have been most fortunate and thankful to have had any of them.

Then finally, for American collectors at least, there is the matter of the exchange rate. We have seen the days where the DM went from $.55 to $.38 then to $.60 and the Euro has gone from $1.00 to $.95 now to $1.37. It comes with the territory. If it’s about the money, take comfort in the fact that those items that the items which you bought with Euros at par value are worth over 30% (in $) more only because of the exchange rate.

Regards,

Wild Card

[ekhunter]

EK's

I agree with a good bit of what Wild Card said, especially the part about holes in the collection early on, and over the past thirty years, but my point is the lack of quality 1st class Iron Crosses for sale out there lately. I'm sure most are all residing in collections, and sure, when someone passes away, they may come available, but just take a look at D.N. on friday mornings, or the Estand on any given day. Three or four TR era 1st classes are for sale every day. Maybe one or two Imperial crosses per week. Not complaining, just making an observation. I mean, tell me the last time a nice AWS, KMST, or Meybauer that has popped up for sale in the last year. You won't need more than one hand to count, yet the quality TR pieces (minty) just seem to circulate quite a bit more. All I'm saying is it would please me greatly to see more Imperial Iron Crosses circulating. Yes, I guess I'm being a little selfish here, but then again, what collector really isn't just a little selfish? It's not like I'm asking for more porridge please, just more crosses.

[Motorhead]

Russel,there's no big different between good helmets and good Eks-really rare or extraordenary pieces won't come for sale in public! The hardcore EK collectors know each other very well..........
Good quality pieces are wanted,the rest you can get everywhere(exept the most wanted makers...).but from my observation sometimes the good ones are popping up every week-and a while later it's dead quite again for weeks......
Micha

[regular122]

I dunno. I think there are alot of very nice offerings out there. Just what you are willing to pay and how hard you look. Here are a couple right now:

http://cgi.ebay.de/EK-1-WK-1-Eiserne...QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.de/EK-1-Miniatur-im-...QQcmdZViewItem

Steve

[Steve Campbell]

What is this Thies auction you speak of?

[Biro]

What is this Thies auction you speak of?

Steve

This is Thies... http://www.andreas-thies.de/

And this was a selection he offered recently from the collections of Seymour and/or Ludvigsen.

Anyone hoping to collect one example of each attatchment device will want to look away now....

[Steve Campbell]

So how does it work? Do I have to bid on the objects, or what is the deal. Is any of it in English?

[PaulChep]

The Thies auctions are in German and you can download a pdf catalogue at: http://www.andreas-thies.de/deutsch.html

There is always plenty of EKs.

As a side note I have found it to be fun to expand my collecting interests. While I have centered in on medal bars and ribbons bars I am always on the watch for other interesting items. For example Imperial pre-1914 uniforms are still very inexpensive and plentifull in the US and Europe. You could collect the EK equivelent from the different German states. I would suggest that before you buy an piece outside of your current collecting area that you educate yourself.