Two Brass Frame EK's

[Ammersee]

I bought two EK2s recently with brass frames. They were so cheap I couldn't pass them up. The first one is silver plated but the silver is worn and the brass is showing in many areas. It is unmarked. I think it is a Zimmermann but I'm not sure. The core is black, not blue, and is iron and heavy. What time period was this cross made in? TR era?

[Ammersee]

The second one doesn't look like it was ever silver plated. A nice wide brass frame with a Godet style core. Core is magnetic and the ring is made of copper. It's ugly, but I kind of like it. Gary

[Steve Campbell]

Nice variants. The first one is a real looker.

[kriztof]

You're lucky, the first one is a type 1 pumpkin crown, blue core or sheet metal variation, extremely hard to find. This one is complete because it has the matching cores halves, pumpkin crown both sides.
This is what makes this type so hard to find. If a person is lucky enough to find one, 9 times out of ten it has a type 1 and type 2 mismatched core.

Never seen one with Brass frames before, it's hard to tell from the photo's because of the yellow hue. Could you post outdoor shots please?

Brilliant find.

Chris

[kriztof]

What time period was this cross made in? TR era?

Can't say for sure, not certain if it is war time due to lack of info but they are supposedly from Zimmermann as some unfinished pieces were found in the fire hoard. Maybe Zimmermann purchased parts post 1918. I've never seen anything marked or described as made by this maker pre 1918?

My personal opinion, I think these might be wartime pieces as they can be found in different stages of evolution. Some are also marked with Silber on the ring but hey, who knows, I just love em!

Chris

[evilmike]

Nice one pumpkin king

[Ammersee]

Here are more pics. I just weighed the cross and it is 17g. It should weigh less than that if it was a 2 piece core, right? You can see the brass showing through, especially on the back. Gary

[kriztof]

Thanks for the extra pics Gary, nice shooting. Pretty impressive that you took the shot with one hand, I'm assuming your other hand is holding the cross. I would be wobbling Lol

Take a look at this thread....

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...t+heavy&page=3


Chris

[gregM]

Nice crosses, Gary. I especially like the pumpkin crown cross.

Did you get your book yet ?

[Ammersee]

Chris, I read through that thread again. My core is solid an not hollow at all. It passes the "hollow test". As far as the frame, all the alloys make things confusing but it looks like my cross is just simple brass with silver plating that is worn. I may be wrong.

Greg, yes I got the "Iron Time" and think it's a pretty good reference book. Lots of good info but it's too bad the Germans didn't make more of those Grand Crosses! Gary

[gregM]

but it's too bad the Germans didn't make more of those Grand Crosses! Gary[/quote]

I know what you mean. I've got the perfect spot for one in one of my display cases.

Here's another brass cross for comparison--

[evilmike]

this one may be brass framed, it has a non magnetic core also

[Ammersee]

Greg it amazes me that a high dollar pillowback like that would not be silver. I'm thinking the buyer wanted it in brass instead of silver, and it was not made that way because there was a shortage of silver. Gary

[gregM]

The cross was made by "AWS". They kind of marched to their own
drum when making crosses. I believe they were the only maker to
make the "pillowback" cross and they also used a few different materials
in their frames and cores.

It's this variety styles that makes Imperial crosses some much fun

[Roglebk]

All nice crosses! Still believe that most "Brass" frames really are Neusilber with not enough Nickel in it. But most Neusilber is also regarded a kind of Brass, semantics i guess. The alloy business sure is tricky!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brass

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nickel_silver