Interesting EK2

[Gordon Williamson]

I'll be back shortly with the other side soon as I scan it and upload. meanwhile, I wonder if anyone will be able to guess whats unusual about this one.

[Neil Howes]

EK1????

[Tyler Ramsey]

Its got the ribbon sewn together at the top to stop fraying???

[Darren C.R]

Hmm... its a K&Q RK converted into a EK2.Well only guessing

[Gordon Williamson]

Actually, Niel has hit the nail on the head. Well spotted. Its a converted EK1.



These aren't dents along the top edge, just discolouration. Note the stitching together of the ribbon and the location of the pin is on the "EK" side. It has been made to be worn with this "DRK" side as the front.
No sign of a hinge/retaining clip etc ever having been there, but the joint seam of the front and back frames is perfect, so its definitely an EK1 rather than an EK 2 which has been disassembled and played around with.


All the parts are original wartime but of course there is no way of knowing when the alteration was done, possibly -postwar as a commemorative piece ? Who knows.

Interesting curiosity though.

[George Stimson]

Very interesting!

[RoyA]

SUPERB Gordon!
Never seen anything like it....congratulations!

[Raul]

Greetings,
What got my attention was the suspension ring that attaches
to the cross is off center and thicker than what I have seen.
It is a sight to see
Raul

[Mike Kenny]

Hi,

Gordon, did this come off an auction site in the last week or two?? If not the same one (I don't think I saved the images), then it's the second "Red Cross" one I've in a short period of time.

Regards
Mike K

[monty]

re EK

Yes Mike. I saw the other piece you are referring to. I thought I might have the photos somewhere. I will have to look. From memory it had exactly the same layout of inscription - had a re colored DRK cross - and was awarded to a DRK sister. Even the script was the same from memory - but it was in better condition.

[monty]

re EK

Yes, I found them. Here is the reverse.

[monty]

re EK

and the obverse photo.

[George Stimson]

The plot thickens....

Hmmm....
What kind of "awards" are these? Perhaps they are post-war commemoratives of some kind. But in that case, what is the significance of the wartime dates?

[Gordon Williamson]

Very interesting. I'm not sure where the owner of this one got it from and will try to find out.
On examining the backplate on the "Gruber" cross, there are numerous parallel horizontal scratches, which suggests that after removing the original hinge block and retaining clip, it has been held against an emery paper belt to remove the marks where these had been. The lettering has definitely been etched using a template as they in perfect alignment, but the vertical spacing between the lettering, red cross etc, is different on the two examples.
It certainly doesn't look as if it has ever been taken apart as the edge seaming shows



I can't imagine how it could be cost effective today for a forger to mutilate a genuine EK1 (the Gruber piece is definitely an original cross) to produce something with is unlikely to be accepted as anything other than a curiosity, certainly not worth as much as an untouched EK1. If anything I'd imagine today they'd use a Floch EK1 that could be obtained cheap, but even then I can see much of a profit for all the effort. Mike or Monty, can you recall what sort of price was being asked at auction ?

The fact that more than one suddenly appear is suspicious, but then the hoard of "26" marked EK1s which were found proves such things happen.

I suppose it all depends on the price. Worth risking as a curiosity if cheap enough but not worth gambling a load of cash on. No way it could be "official" to mutilate a government decoration in this way.

[monty]

re EK

Gordon,
The Iron Cross concerned sold for 202.50 Euro.

If you want to get hold of the seller for more info - email me off the site.

dougrob@xtra.co.nz

Doug.