EKI - fake or authentic?

[mcchartman]

Ok so I'm a bit afraid of the result this post will yield. I have acquired an Iron Cross First Class a few years back while I was in Austria. Now, I am no expert when it comes to identifying fakes and back then I was even worse. I've never had an expert look at the piece and so I have never been told whether that item I've been cherishing for years is in fact an authentic EKI or a piece of scrap metal but I guess now the time has come to face reality. Your opinions please - whatever they might be (Oh I sense I'll regret this).

Anyways, pictures of the cross can be found at the following link:
http://temppix.blogspot.com/

[mcchartman]

Oh and I forgot... it appears as if not a single part of this cross is magnetic. Don't know if this can be of any help but I thought I should mention it.

[Darrell]

I'm afraid you are gonna get some bad news. This one is bad. Appears to be a 1 piece correct?

[Øyvind]

looks like this is a fake, sorry...

Cheers
Øyvind

[mcchartman]

uh oh... well I knew the risks when asking the question... I guess... sniff sniff...

As for the "one-piece" issue, I'm really not sure how I could verify that for sure. The seems to be some kind of joint between the black core and the frame around but it's hard to tell with certainty. One thing I did notice a long time ago though is that there are some imperfections to the frame which appear to have been caused by the manufacture of the piece: look at the bottom and left arms of the cross - there is a small line which is continuous on both the back plate and the forward part of the frame which seems to indicate effectively that these are not two separate pieces at all.

Still, I would appreciate any other opinion anyone around here might have. As for the two who have posted already, may I ask you to describe in simple terms the features that have led you to conclude this was a fake?

(Baaaaaaaah somehow I had the feeling that this was a fake lately so I have no trouble believing you... may that crook who sold me this burn in hell )

[Darrell]

Tell Tale signs that it is one piece are these shiney areas indicating that the silver beading is in fact attached to or made out of the same piece as the core. You see this quite often with those Eastern Europe fakes. (However, just for the record there ARE original 1 piece EKs ... but this ain't one of them).

[Darrell]

2.

[mcchartman]

Indeed that was the "joint" I was referring to... Thanks for your time guys. As I've said, I had the strong feeling already this was no original. It's just too bad it took me so long to find out. I guess I'm not the only junior collector to have been tricked like this.

Any other things on there telling you this is a fake?

[Darrell]

Any other things on there telling you this is a fake?

Well the reverse setup is wrong as well. It appears they were trying to duplicate a Zimmerman or a Grossman EK1. However, the Hinge on these two does not have the block section under the hinge like yours. The pin is close but no cigar

Look here for a Zimmerman:

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/iron.../20/2/20_2.htm

And here for a Grossman:

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/iron...rers/11/11.htm

[mcchartman]

Ok so Darrell has more or less convinced me - that thing I've been carrying around is obviously (ok well not so obviously to me, I *did* purchase the damned thing) a mere repro. However, would anyone else be ready to say so? No offense meant Darrell, your help was much appreciated, but I just feel I need the opinion of several different persons before I definitely discard the item.

[DONDon1]

for me your cross is the newest fake with this Needle system fitted.Ebay is full of this Badges with this needle system.the one piece constuction is also an typical fake .
Thomas

[Mike Kenny]

Hi,

I can only agree that this is a definite repro. Every so often it iseven sold as such on auction sites by "honest" sellers for 20 or 30 Euro. The pin is the biggest giveaway - tapering with strong bevelling on the sides. The irridescent burn marks around the hinge and catch (hot solder process) are also normally a bad sign.

Regards
Mike K

[TerryG]

Ok so Darrell has more or less convinced me - that thing I've been carrying around is obviously (ok well not so obviously to me, I *did* purchase the damned thing) a mere repro. However, would anyone else be ready to say so? No offense meant Darrell, your help was much appreciated, but I just feel I need the opinion of several different persons before I definitely discard the item.

I totally agree with Darrel. Look at the hinge of a real 20 and compare to yours...Looks good though for a fake.

[Peter Wiking]

It is a reproduction. I have photos from another reproduction exactly like yours. Glossy core paint, reverse discolored around hinge and catch...

Sorry.
Peter

[mcchartman]

Well, now that it is pretty clear that it *is* a repro, I'd rather have a unanimous response from you guys so no doubt persists. That's too bad - I'll have to get myself another one from a trusty source this time, no collection is ever complete without at least an EKI (and that is the only one I have right now).