Austrian Pair

[Nigel N]

@Tom!
The blank core Souval's were made from around the earlyish to mid 50's I believe, and made right through to at least the mid 60's!!
You can date them pretty well by the hardware they use, all Souval on the earliest, then S&L catches, hinges and pins, in a couple of styles!!
Finishing up with an S&L frame too!!!
-Nigel

[Nigel N]

Heres an interesting photo showing this type of Souval EK in pieces, here we can see the two part core.........
SCHINK~2.JPG

[Alex W.]

The Schinkel-B type crosses are indeed made by Souval. I have a few of these EK1's and EK2's in my Souval collection. Among other cross types, this Schinkel-B type EK1 was also used in a vaulted version on Souval's Star of the Grand Cross.

Best regards,
Alex

[novara]

Hello guys,

I don't know too much about Souval, only basic things. However let me deliver a similar example from Hungary.


I do agree with Nigel: maybe somebody enjoyed to make a funny example 60 years ago. In Hungary - for example - after the world war the Commemorative Medals (equal to the German Honour Cross) were awarded but the recipients did not get the medals, only the award certificates and they had to "contribute", if they wanted the medals too.... therefore there are many different versions were available for different prices, apart from the official Hungarian Mint version at least 10-15 different types are discovered - wide range of quality of course, from the poorest zinc to the nickeled tombac. There were two different types: "with helmet and swords" to soldiers and other combattants or "without helmet and swords" to all other war participants or to the nearest relative of a soldier. The obverse shows the weapon shield of Hungary surmounted by a crown and, if so awarded, with swords underneath the shield. The reverse bears the text "PRO DEO ET PATRIA / 1914-1918" (for God and Fatherland 1914-1918) and, if so awarded, with a WWI helmet over the dates.

I myself have seen not even one examples where the "with helmet and swords" type was made with the obverse of the "without helmet and swords".

These medals were handled as fakes until somebody found an official letter in an archive written by a "seller" of these medals to the Hungarian Mint that in the last delivery they found many "hybrid" medals and they wanted to return them....

Another thing: on 15 October 1944, after Horthy announced the armistice in a nationwide radio address, Hitler initiated Operation Panzerfaust, sending commando Otto Skorzeny to Budapest with instructions to remove Horthy from power. Hundreds of high rank officers left the country after that. Some of them managed to order an unknown jeweler / firm (who knows) to remake their missing awards, particularly the Hungarian Order of Merit. This award meant to Hungarians the same than the Iron Cross to Germans.

We don't know the maker but few of these (copies, remakes, whatever you call) where made in the US in the late 40's.

I have one of them, this is a Hungarian Order of Merit Officers Cross With Swords With Frontline Wreaths (Magyar Érdemernd Tisztikeresztje Kardokkal - Hadiékítménnyel).

This is a VERY rare award (awarded only from 1940 to 1944).

What I want to s ay: no idea who made it, no idea how many were made, unofficial, private issue. Some people say these worth less than the "original", some of them say it is even worth more considering the circumstances...