Rk kvk 1957

[Zheleznyi]

Hi guys!
How do you like this cross? Who is the manufacturer? The years of release? Does the ribbon correspond to the time when the cross was made?

[Nigel N]

Hello!!
It is an S&L piece, looking at the finish, I think it is from the 1970's, and the ribbon appears to be from the same period too!!
Nice RK KVK!!!
-Nigel

[Tom B]

Yes, I agree with Nigel. Condition looks very nice ! These are getting harder to find every day. Most I see are total fakes . Tom

[Zheleznyi]

Thank you guys!

[Zheleznyi]

Guys, but how to distinguish between the earliest period of manufacture from the 70-2000 years? Can show examples?

[Nigel N]

Guys, but how to distinguish between the earliest period of manufacture from the 70-2000 years? Can show examples?

Two main things to look out for.......
The crispness of the details, pebbling, sword handles, dates etc.
The early ones always have crisp details, which get softer over time!
The other thing is the silver finish.....
On the early pieces, the raised parts (date, border edges, sword handles and spine of the blade are polished like a mirror, and the pebbled area's have a more matt, silver/white finish...
On the later pieces, the crosses have the same semi-shiny finish all over!!
-Nigel

[Zheleznyi]

Two main things to look out for.......
The crispness of the details, pebbling, sword handles, dates etc.
The early ones always have crisp details, which get softer over time!
The other thing is the silver finish.....
On the early pieces, the raised parts (date, border edges, sword handles and spine of the blade are polished like a mirror, and the pebbled area's have a more matt, silver/white finish...
On the later pieces, the crosses have the same semi-shiny finish all over!!
-Nigel

Nigel It seems to me that these parameters are very subjective. Scanned the RK KVK. Have you changed your mind?

[Zheleznyi]

What years of manufacture is this cross №2?

[Nigel N]

Well, first let me say, these can be the hardest of pieces to date from photo's, as the lighting can make them look different to what they actually are!!!
I haven't changed my mind on the first piece, it still looks to have the "all-over" silver finish I talked about before....
The second piece looks to be of a similar date looking at the scans......
Again the finish doesn't look to have the matt silver/white pebbling and the mirror highlights, but the details are good, which is why I think both are neither early (late 50's/ early 60's) or modern (1980'S+)
So 1970's approx. for me!!!
-Nigel

[Zheleznyi]

Well, first let me say, these can be the hardest of pieces to date from photo's, as the lighting can make them look different to what they actually are!!!
I haven't changed my mind on the first piece, it still looks to have the "all-over" silver finish I talked about before....
The second piece looks to be of a similar date looking at the scans......
Again the finish doesn't look to have the matt silver/white pebbling and the mirror highlights, but the details are good, which is why I think both are neither early (late 50's/ early 60's) or modern (1980'S+)
So 1970's approx. for me!!!
-Nigel

Thank you Nigel.
There are examples of the early (late 50's/ early 60's) or modern (1980'S+)? Perhaps visually it will be clearer.

[Nigel N]

I will have a look tomorrow and see what photo's I can find!!
-Nigel

[Zheleznyi]

I will have a look tomorrow and see what photo's I can find!!
-Nigel

Nigel thank you, I will wait.

[Nigel N]

Here's a couple of photo's which might help!!
Notice the raised parts are polished to a mirror like finish, while the rest of the cross, is in a matt, almost white looking finish, the contrast between the two finishes is very noticeable!!
All the details are very crisp, and notice also the early ribbon, with its rounded edges!!!
untitled (30).jpg

untitled (31).jpg

[Zheleznyi]

Here's a couple of photo's which might help!!
Notice the raised parts are polished to a mirror like finish, while the rest of the cross, is in a matt, almost white looking finish, the contrast between the two finishes is very noticeable!!
All the details are very crisp, and notice also the early ribbon, with its rounded edges!!!
[ATTACH]4580228[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]4580229[/ATTACH]

Thank you, Nigel.
It is early.
Show photo modern (1980'S +)

[Nigel N]

Thank you, Nigel.
It is early.
Show photo modern (1980'S +)

I don't think I have saved any photo's of the more recently made KVK RK's!!!
I think S&L have only made a few production runs of the KVK RK down the years, unlike the EK RK which has been in constant production since the late 50's!!
S&L made a fair size run of KVK RK's in the early days of 57 production, and I reckon that alone was probably enough to cater for all the veterans who needed a replacement piece? I would imagine any unsold crosses were sold on the collectors market.
A second sizeable production run was made in the 70's, those are the type we see most of!!
Then I think they maybe only made one or at most a couple more smaller runs of the crosses in later years, I don't think they have made any for a while, and indeed, may never make anymore, they have never been as desirable or collectable as the RK to the EK... which is a shame as they are nice pieces in their own right, and much scarcer than the EK RK's, especially the "without swords" version!!
-Nigel