Whaa?? Could this solid-EK1 be real?

[Tony & Kaiser]

Need advice please. This came from a friend who has had it many years. I was expecting a post-WW1 EK with the hinge and pin, but when I got it...........its a solid die-cutpiece. Not magnetic, tarnished black, I think (?) it is silver. First thought was naaaa....but the quality is very high and the details are crisp and Meybauer made one-piece die-struck Commemorative Pilots badges after the war........could it be?

<img src=http://www.kaisersbunker.com/ek/silver_ek_1.jpg >

[Tony & Kaiser]

The front detail is quite crisp. the side of the cross shows clearly the cut marks from the die strike that I used to look for on stamped Nazeee badges. And yes, its heavy!

<img src=http://www.kaisersbunker.com/ek/silver_ek_4.jpg>

[Tony & Kaiser]

The reverse and that hinge. I am not aware of a hinge like this on any copy I was aware of when I collected Nazeee crap? The back is smooth and clean and as good as any other EK original back.


<img src=http://www.kaisersbunker.com/ek/silver_ek_2.jpg>

[Tony & Kaiser]

Under the hinge is a very clean, tiny, Meybauer stamp, the same as on a Pilot's badge, and not like the huge poor ones I have seen on Airship copies.

<img src=http://www.kaisersbunker.com/ek/silver_ek_3.jpg>

[Tony & Kaiser]

That's it

Anyone ever seen or heard of a solid-silver EK1. Could it be real? If its fake, why are there not tons of these around? My friend has had it for over 20 years. I just cannot decide.......Please help! Tony

[Rick Research]

I dunnnno... that "picket fence slat" pin's not at all like the otherwise universal "fish tail" Meybauer pins.

[JensF.]

Hmmm... That one is difficult. I don't think it is a fake in that quality. Can you make a closeup of the Maybauer mark?

I just found pics of one of mine one-piece EKs and it seems to be very similar to yours but it is vaulted. Also non-magnetic but seems to be silver plated:

[JensF.]

Nearly the same style of pinback:

[TerryG]

Ek1

This fat pin looks very similar to that seen on a 1914 EK1 recently sold on the Estand...as a copy. I think Chris Taylor was the seller.

[JensF.]

I can't find this post. Have you got pics of it?

[TerryG]

Ek2

I can't find this post. Have you got pics of it?

My mistake I think. It is described as a post war copy, so the word fake may not be adequate.
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...ad.php?t=41469

[Tony & Kaiser]

OK, I'm convinced. Thanks also to the good people who PM'd me to save me public shame. That is the same EK1, right down the elevated "9" in the date. I should have trusted my own instincts when comparing to my screwback Meybauer, which is phenomenal quality. But yikes; this one-piece EK is a very good quality item, and die struck. Ah well..............