EK 1 1914 Opinions

[Daniel Cole]

I purchased this EK 1 1914 sometime ago and am curious on opinions as to its authenticity. The piece constructed in three pieces, but unlike my KO marked crosses this one is silver plated with a brass center. The quality is OK, but the brass center and plated frame is what I'm curious about. Is this perhaps a 1957 piece, post 1918 manufacture, or an out an out fake.

I purchased it from a dealer in Germany.

Thanks,
Dan Cole

[eric]

Daniel,
I am perfectly comfortable in assuring you that your piece is 100% legit, albeit (I suspect) a post 1918 piece. This style was made well into the 40's as this type of EK was made in the '39 version as well (Schinkle). I have a mint 1914 version just like yours in the cardboard LDO case (without catch on lid). Also a few nicely worn specimens. I will post some pics of my examples once I am finished moving into my new digs.
Tchuss, eric

[George Stimson]

I agree with Eric. It looks fine to me. I have a brass-core 1914 EK 1 as well as both a Prinzen-sized 1914 EK 1 and an early type 1939 Spange to the 1914 EK 1 with that same type of pin and catch.

George

[eric]

Wow!
I have never seen a Prinzen with this sort of setup on the back. I assumed that Prinzen versions were special order items, and therefore
not mass produced like these were. Can you post a pic of it? I'd love to take a look-see! It would be a real treat!

Thanks in advance, eric

[George Stimson]

Here it is:




You can see this same type of Prinzen cross on page 137 of Bowen's "The Prussian And German Iron Cross." And now that I think about it, this cross doesn't have a magnetic core, so it could be brass also.

George

[Daniel Cole]

Thanks gentlemen for the feedback. I appreciate it. George, I have never actually seen a Prinzen piece. I liked the comparision to the quarter, really puts the size in perspective.
Cheers,
Dan Cole

[eric]

Neat!
Do you have any idea who popped these out? Had to have been one of the major makers. S & L ? Now that I think about it, I've seen the ads in their old catalogs, but I've never seen the reverse. I know they made lots of variants. What's your take on this subject?
eric

[George Stimson]

Eric,

I haven't got a clue as to who made the Prinzen-sized EK 1 or any of the other pieces I mentioned in my post.

George