And Now For Something Completely Different

[Eric Stahlhut]

I bet you thought that this thread WASN'T going to be about EK1s, huh?

Ha! Fooled ya!

This is your average KO marked EK1. The first one I ever posted on this Forum back in the early months of 2001. Please excuse me for a moment... I'm getting nostalgic....sniff, snorkle....

[Eric Stahlhut]

During those early times there was this very helpful fellow who sort of kept an eye on things. He was extremely supportive and helpful to many new members (as he still is to this very day) and could spend a lot 'quality time' with many people-there were only about 230, mind you---and he was able to verify that the name engraved on the back of this cross actually existed in his records.

I was very impressed! This guy had probably forgotten more about Imperial things than In would ever learn....sniiffle, choke, gurgle.. sorry, I'm getting all emotional again....

[Eric Stahlhut]

I just wanted to include a note of thanks to Reecky for being such a great Forum member. Despite being a Left Coast Living, Latte Swilling, PC promoting, rant inducing, illogical fool, I am still able to recognize a fine person.


OK! I've gotten all of the sappy stuff out of the way!

Back to business. What are the opinions on the engraving job? Period or modern?

[Brian S]

I know, I miss him too. Maybe he got caught in a snowdrift... Lost, lost, forever lost.

[Bill M]

"...Period or modern?"
--You tell us, what do you think the method was? Looks like someone put a nail in a sewing machine aaannnd.... Is there rhyme or reason to those tiny indentations, does it look like it was done by machine or hand?
--My guess is period 'engraved'. . . . . . .using a nail in a sewing machine...

[Eric Stahlhut]

Or a Dremel tool! Seriously I don't know! That's why I'm asking you. I tend to think the worst on this one, though.

On the other hand, why would someone go to the effort of using a name that can be traced? Would it be worth that much time to find an obscure person?

[Tiger 1]

Eric,

I don't know if it's period or sometime postwar. The technique used is "walking" a flat graver across the surface corner to corner of the cutting edge. You will see this style of decoration on European and American shotguns some times as border trim. Low level engraving skills to accomplish this. Maybe an engraver's apprentice working to a set price.

Just some thoughts.

Tony

[Eric Stahlhut]

Tony,


Thanks very much for your thoughts on this one!