Spot on: IMPERIAL FAKES!

[Doug See]

Another seller hawking the Latvian fake 1870. They are getting better at faking the hinge, aren't they. Dirtbags....
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=6509007922
Seller is ww2militarisch

[Peter Wiking]

Here is another thread about this fake: http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...ad.php?t=87250

Cheers.
Peter

[Peter Wiking]

Another fake: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...513020036&rd=1

Cheers.
Peter

[Doug See]

Oooops. It seems eBay ended that Latvian auction and suspended the seller.

[Doug See]

I need to make something clear. In fairness to all Latvians and Latvian Americans, these crosses are NOT made in Latvia. There are a couple of people selling these FROM Latvia, but one is actually an American citizen. Plenty of the so-called Latvian fake Nazi badges also come out of South Carolina and Indiana from American sellers. It's too bad Latvia gets a bad rap simply because of a couple of guys who like to rip off collectors and export them from there.

[coastie]

I need to make something clear. In fairness to all Latvians and Latvian Americans, these crosses are NOT made in Latvia. There are a couple of people selling these FROM Latvia, but one is actually an American citizen. It's too bad Latvia gets a bad rap simply because of a couple of guys who like to rip off collectors and happen to live there.

Do we know who the American is? I didn't think the Latvians had a Laser Die machine.

[Doug See]

Do we know who the American is? I didn't think the Latvians had a Laser Die machine.

Yep. More than one "American" is involved. No big deal anymore. These fakes are easy to spot once you have them in hand, or once you see them often enough. Judging from photos is tricky. You need to be very wary of any 1870 EK1 sold on eBay, from the US, the UK, or anywhere for that matter. In 6 years, I've only seen one or two originals, but I've seen hundreds and hundreds of $$ lost on the bogus ones. It's amazing how so many stupid, gullible, too-lazy-to-research, people buy these things. Original 1870 EK1's are RARE. Does it ever occur to people that when a seller keeps offerring one 1870 EK1 after another, week after week, or when there are 3 or 4 on ebay at the same time, that just POSSIBLY, they're not real?

[Peter Wiking]

All three crosses are fakes. They are not produced before 8 May 1945. They show the types of patina used on fakes. This includes the 1870, 1914 and 1939 Iron Cross.

Take care.
Peter

[Peter Wiking]

Hardware In Use On EK Fakes.
Ebay is sadly full of reproductions of the 1870 and 1914 Iron Cross. Here are a few samples of hardware in use on those reproductions. If you plan to bid on a cross with this type of hardware, please be a bit concerned. It might not be original after all.

Take care.
Peter

[Peter Wiking]

Here is another 1914 fake to stay away from.

Take care.
Peter

[Peter Wiking]

Iron Cross 2 class 1813 fake.

Title: RARE IRON CROSS 1813 2ND CLASS
Item number: 6516273900
Starting bid: US $300.00
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...516273900&rd=1

Here is a compare with other known fakes. Note in particular the rust.

Take care.
Peter

[Peter Wiking]

Some sellers will try to convince ignorant bidders and buyers by using lies.

Take care.
Peter

[Frentebro]

Auctionarms #6395676. Sturm-Baon 13(?). Not the greatest pic, but apparently no originals on the Net.

[Bob Hunter*]

Very good thread. Thanks to all for the pictures and commentary.

[emaroli]

Thank you all for your efforts.

Ed Maroli