Two Brothers

[SLIM]

i have just recieved my second 26 marked cross , can somebody answer a few questions i have , first one is how many of this type were found in russia and where abouts in russia , did any of those found in this hoard have the outer case intact. and finnaly when were they found. These 26 crosses are as addictive as SS helmets but thankfully much much cheaper 100_0409 (Small).jpg

[Hank C.]

Hi Slim, great crosses!

From what I've heard, the crosses did NOT have the outer cartons.

I'm not sure how many there were, or where they were found. Possibly somebody here who has been collecting longer will know the answer to those questions.

Hank

[Paratrooper]

Hi,

This was posted by COL Everett in another post. Clears some things up:

The story was quite unremarkable. What makes it the more interesting is that many collectors felt it was too good to be true and claimed that these '26's were actually reproduction! (If these are fakes we are in a world of trouble).

Anyway, here's my personal knowledge and story.

I was stationed in Germany at the time (1997-2001) and made it a habit to call Helmut almost every two weeks to see 'what was hot'. In December of 1999 I called Helmut about three days before Christmas. He related to me a story that a 'Russian' had discovered the awards stockage of a German Infantry Division's EK1 supply. The foot locker conatined 300 unissued '26' marked EK1s and he purchased all of them. I, like most, was very skeptical but, asked him to send me two examples. When they arrived I was shocked. They were real and perfect. Eventually I purchased over 65 pieces at $275.00 each and eventually selling all but three to major US dealers.
I sold my last retail piece for $1000.00 three months ago.

The quantity that I handled consisted of the following:

Most were marked '26'
A very small number were not marked but, were of the '26' type.
All were in the square cases with the rectangular 'push button'.
A number of examples had paint bubbling under the core.
Alll had some degree of lacquer loss from 1% to 25%.

MIKE

I heard that this babys were all without the outer carton.

Regards
Andreas

[GELIS44]

What a nice pair!!!
You can't go wrong with a "26"!! I prefer the "D & B" dome cases but
the one on the left is classy. Where did you find these beauties?

Thanks for posting!!

[SLIM]

hi nate , i take it that all the russian hoard crosses were in the square type box like the one on the left , and these two came from members on this very forum , are 26 mm crosses the most desireable as it took me some time to get two of them and now i have two i need three so i can have a trio.......

slim

[Paratrooper]

Hi,

I am pleased to own a horde piece in mint condition.
I understand you Nate that you generally prefer this very nice "D & B" dome cases. But if you want to put a "26" horde into a D&B case it will fit very badly because of the very high catch on these pieces. My first one i bought was in an D&B case and it looked bad and because of the high-standing cross the cover pressed strongly on it.
They fit best into this square cases with the rectangular 'push button' in that the crosses were found. I was happy that me second "26" was offered in the regular case and some time ago i could buy a case for my first one.

Regards
Andreas

[SLIM]

hi andreas , can we see some of your 26 pieces cheers

slim

[Paratrooper]

Hi,

for sure i will show them in this thread. Because of my broken cam a friend of me will come this weekend for making pics of my actually whole pieces with a profi-cam.
For the moment I have only older pictures. I have only 3 pictures of the first piece in the D&B Case but be sure that one of the first things i will do if I have finally pictures of my current collection is posting a lot of pieces here. Sadly the second piece was not photographed before the accident with my cam.

Regards
Andreas

Here the two not so good pictures of the first piece in the old case

[SLIM]

very nice andreas keep them pics coming..........


slim

[GELIS44]

Hi,

I am pleased to own a horde piece in mint condition.
I understand you Nate that you generally prefer this very nice "D & B" dome cases. But if you want to put a "26" horde into a D&B case it will fit very badly because of the very high catch on these pieces. My first one i bought was in an D&B case and it looked bad and because of the high-standing cross the cover pressed strongly on it.
They fit best into this square cases with the rectangular 'push button' in that the crosses were found. I was happy that me second "26" was offered in the regular case and some time ago i could buy a case for my first one.

Regards
Andreas

Thanks for the information. This is the first time
I've heard anything about this problem. Did you have to
force the case to close? Stunning cross you have!!
I prefer "26's" like yours!!! Frosting more "cream" than "white".
I can't wait to post some pics of the "15" Fredrick Orth EKI I purchased
off the E-stand!! Should have it by Friday.

[Paratrooper]

Hi Nate,

Did you have to
force the case to close?

Yes. I had to exercise a little pressure at it to close. Therefore a small hole in the material in the hole for the needle in the inlett developed.
Therefore i never close the case completely still the B.H. Mayer was in the case.
And, it would had been harmful for the frosting to close and to open the case completely.
The reason for this problem is the very high catch from the horde pieces.
As I told other collectors the problem many of them said to me i should bend the catch flatter than like it was manufactured. Naturally i was afraid abou that opinion.

Stunning cross you have!!
I prefer "26's" like yours!!! Frosting more "cream" than "white".

Thanks for your opinion. It goes down like oil.
I agree your statement about frosting. I prefer also the creamy ones.

I look forward to the pictures of your "15" Fredrick Orth EKI. It's not often to see a cross from this maker.

Regards
Andreas

[Gary B]

Hi,

To futher add to this thread..

The 26s found in the Russian horde did not come with the outer cartons. Some were later sold with outer cartons that supposedly came from the horde but the cases were later discovered to be reproductions.

I believe all of the horde pieces have the square button release on the case.

One will note that most of the crosses have soem type of bubbling to the black core finish. It is very hard to find one with no bubbling to the finish.

Additionally, it was rumored that the same source who found the EK horde indicated that there were other medals in the find such as mint German crosses etc. Unfortunately nothing has ever turned up from this part of the story.

Gary B

[SLIM]

hi gary , are you saying that if there was german crosses in the hoard haul they would be MM26 examples ?? anybody reading this got a MM26 german cross gold or silver

slim

[Gary B]

Hi Slim,

No, I am not saying that the GCs were 26 MM pieces. The story has it that there were other mint awards present besides the mint EKs; as to their maker I do not know. Nothing ever appeared on the market from this supposed find.

Gary

[SLIM]

cheers gary.....

slim