Frankensteined

[gregM]

We all post our new treasures on the forum hoping to get that
or shout of approval. I'm sure none of us want to admit that we've been
burned................Well here is one that I have had in my display box for
several years. It had received good reviews when I first posted it and
I have had no reason to doubt it's authenticity until I saw one somewhat
similar posted in the TR forum that got negative reviews.

[gregM]

I believe this cross started life as a good Ek2. It has good core details,
The right amount of wear and patina to the frame. The back of the cross
has nice patina to it and scratches to the back where the disc has been
tighten down to it. The disc is marked 800 for silver content.

Note--The discoloration to the top point of the 9 o'clock arm is from the silver acid test.

[gregM]

After really taking a second look at this cross, I believe it was a
perfectly good Ek2 that has been taken apart and converted into
a Ek1.

I decided to send it to a friend who could get a silver test done on it.
The front and back of the frame tested good for 800 silver content as
does the socket that the screw disc screws into. The disc (which is marked
800) has no silver in it. The patina on the back of the frame almost has a
stain look to it as if it were a liquid that was applied. The screw socket is
expertly soldered to the back of the cross. IMO it looks too good to have
been done by hand.

And lastly. looking at the obverse side of the 9 o'clock arm, I see were
there has been a solder repair or mistake. I believe this is where the
original jump ring was attached when this was still a 2nd class cross.

I have toyed with the idea that this was a good Ek2 - Ek1 conversion
however the 800 silver mark on the non-silver disc leads me to believe
this was all done to deceive.

[gregM]

I would like to here your opinions on this one.

A BIG_THANK_YOU to Tony and friends for their help with this.




Greg

[Tiger 1]

You're very welcome my friend.

The cross sure is mystifying to say the least. As I wrote to you, the question remains when was this actually done? Unfortunately we probably will never know for sure.

I wouldn't necessarily totally give up on the main cross assembly itself even though the disc is suspect. Who knows what the future may turn up.

All the best,

Tony

[gregM]

I wouldn't necessarily totally give up on the main cross assembly itself even though the disc is suspect. Who knows what the future may turn up.

It will go back into my display box. The obverse frame and core look
to be perfectly good and period so (to me) it's worth keeping as a
variant.

[morel5000]

Hi Greg,.

interesting cross. Why use a silver socket on a fake? Maybe the screw disc is only used as a stand in as it is a known fake on the polish crosses:

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...+ek1+screwback

This cross raises more questions as answers. How does the soldering look on the rest of the frame?

The fake disc on the 39 Deumer ek1 posted recently in the 39 section was the same as your disc. Bit it did fit on the ek1... How does the inside (softer) silver thread look on your cross? Forced/damaged or is this disk a perfect fit?

Best regards,
Michel

[gregM]

Michel,
The solder seam where the two halves join together is not real good.
But it was not bad enough to cause me any concern when I first received
the cross. I don't see any evidence of cross threading in the socket.

[Montgomery Burns]

I wood like to see some pictures off that soldering ,,

also close-up off the damage,,,, or suspected ring attachment ...
both sides please ..

I think otherwise a opinion is not so valuable in this case .

anyway ,,I do see a screw disc off a later design ( around 1930 )

and I must say that I am not so happy about the looks off that disc ,,,,

Deumer had them to ,,,also the typical 1930's screw attachment..
but those disc's look much better

and as old part are used up in the beginning off the war ,,this can be possible ,,,,,

only the quality off soldering should be ,,, OK ???...in that case






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Hard to judge this one

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