Souval EK1 Variant

[Nigel N]

Got another Souval blank core EK1 today, this one has a mixture of parts, different to my others!medals 489.jpg

medals 490.jpg Again the wartime Souval style of frame, with non-magnetic core.

[Nigel N]

This one has an interesting mix of hardware, inc. an S & L style pin (unmarked)Souval hingeblock, and Souval postwar catch!!
Great patina to backplate too!!medals 491.jpg

medals 501.jpg

[Nigel N]

Heres a couple of views of the Souval hingeblock, different altogether from the S & L type.....medals 494.jpg

medals 493.jpg

[Nigel N]

A closer view of the Souval catch.....medals 492.jpg
And a final view of the EK............medals 502.jpg
-Nigel

[Seewolf]

Uh, a strange but great EK.
Frame and patina is only great, typical Souval (wartime?) frame and the patina looks old and honest.
Diffcult to see on the pics if the frame is frosted or only polished?? A polished one is IMO the later version and that would fit with the later catch.

But all in all a very nice EK for your collection, man i need such one with a blank core too

[Nigel N]

Hi Rudiger, the frame is polished, but no sign of frosting, i agree with your theory!!
I'm still looking for a Souval EK1 with the S & L frame, but if any more examples with Souvals wartime frame turn up, you should get one! You wont be disapointed, great crosses with loads of character!!
-Nigel
PS just remembered, i dont have an EK1 with magnetic core either

[Mike Yokum]

Nice cross Nigel! I like everything about it. I agree with Rüdiger that the patina looks honest and is very pleasing to look at!

Nice to see a more scarce variant. Is the core brass? I think I see a little area in the top arm that looks brass-like.

Another nice addition buddy!

[Nigel N]

Nice cross Nigel! I like everything about it. I agree with Rüdiger that the patina looks honest and is very pleasing to look at!

Nice to see a more scarce variant. Is the core brass? I think I see a little area in the top arm that looks brass-like.

Another nice addition buddy!

Hi Mike, well spotted!!
I'm not an expert on metals, but it is a bronze or brass color, so it must be some similar alloy, which surprised me, as i assumed the non-magnetic cores would be zinc!!scratchchin.gif
-Nigel

[DavidM]

Hello

An excellent example of the so called Austrian EK

Based on observations, the brass colour may not be representative of the actual metal used, but could be a coating to allow the paint to adhere to the core. Some alloys just won't accept the paint without a coating, which is what the brass colour might be - not definitely, but I have seen cores, especially on 57 EKs and RKs, made of none brass alloys (which were actually a silvery colour) with this brass coloured coating on them to allow paint to stick.

Regards
David

[Nigel N]

Thanks for that David, very interesting information!!!!
So if scratch deeply enough i might find a silver metal....party-smiley-042.gifONLY JOKING!!!!
-Nigel

[DavidM]

Thanks for that David, very interesting information!!!!
So if scratch deeply enough i might find a silver metal....[ATTACH]1532099[/ATTACH]ONLY JOKING!!!!
-Nigel

Possibly. There are, of course, some early ones with actual brass cores, but most I've encountered tend have some other alloy with the brass coloured coat.

But do you really want to start scratching at such a nice piece?

Regards
David

[Nigel N]

David, i think you must have missed the bit where i said i was only joking!!!
Dont worry, i'd never do that to a lovely old EK!!!
-Nigel