'57er Oakleaves and Swords, or...?

[Tim Tezer]

I have been considering putting this on the e-stand: what I think is either a '57er oakleaves and swords by S&L. Since I'm really an Imperial collector, I thought I'd put these up on the forum to see if they are indeed S&L oaks, or just some post-war copies by an unknown maker. Any thoughts greatly appreciated.

Sorry, the pictures are a little big, but I had to show the details.

[Tim Tezer]

and the reverse

.

[Bob Hritz]

This is a very nice and early 1957 pattern Oak Leaves and Swords. I wish you had the early 1957 pattern Knight's Cross to go with them, I have had no luck in finding the early examples.

Bob Hritz

[Grant Broadhurst]

Yep textbook early S & L

When are you putting these up as i,m after a set !

[hagwalther]

Did they come with case and ribbon?

I have an early cased set of Oakleaves and it would be of interest to me if I could see the case and/or ribbon that they may have come with.

Regards ...

[Dave Kane]

This award was of course incredibly respected....war time and I'm sure thereafter!

During the war the 'loop' was elongated to allow for the Knight's Cross to hang freely. However, I wonder why S&L chose to produce a piece as rude and crude as those proposed to be '57 'replacement' awards.

The early run of Knight's Crosses from this firm were beautiful and replicated the war time quality.....why not the higher awards???

[hagwalther]

The early run of Knight's Crosses from this firm were beautiful and replicated the war time quality.....why not the higher awards???

Very fair comment, Dave.

However, I have an early version of cased Oakleaves (S+L) with ribbon and whilst not up to the excellent war time quality they do exhibit a nice degree of finish and certainly are superiour to the later 'collectors' items.

I will try to post photos as required but all items are currently at the bank while we move house.

Regards ...

[Grant Broadhurst]

They were Dave ,

The early pieces were made with care and frosted and burnished just like their WW2 brothers , wouldn't surprise me if they have been passed off as WW2 one,s in the past .

It was only in the mid to late 70,s onwards that the original guys from the factories retired and they used lobotomised chimpanzee,s to make the stay bright collectors pieces we usually see .

[Okrach]

no mm on the loop?

As far as I know some RK made 'wires' (wires since they had been oddly cut off leaving the '800' in the middle of the loop) were then combinewd with Oaks variations

[Laurence Strong]

Here's another pair of early '57 oaks and swords

[Okrach]

Here's another pair of early '57 oaks and swords

Nice Laurence but.. Your crossguards are not soldered to the blades as on the picture above...

Much more - the swords on the first picture seems to be added to the oaks later on (another manufacturer?) - the difference in the finishing on the rear side is clearly visible

[Peter Wiking]

Tim Tezer
Nice set of 1957 oaks. I have sent you a PM.

Cheers.
Peter