WMC Assistance Needed

[Larry Lipps]

Guys, I'm way out of my league when it comes to crosses and I need some help. I have an opportunity to purchase a 1st class War Merit Cross from a friend. It's marked L/58 which in Tuckers book is listed as Rudolf Souval while Iron Time lists it as Glaser & Sohn. If Souval is correct, I understand that they continued to manufacture crosses after the war ended. My question is whether or not this meets the criteria of a wartime piece or is there a way to tell the difference? Thanks for any assistance!

Photo of the obverse. It does not appear to be either tombak or zinc, but more like the metal EK1 frames are made from.

[Larry Lipps]

And the reverse,

[Larry Lipps]

And lastly, all the various aspects.

[Peter Wiking]

Hi Larry.
L/58 is indeed known as the marking for Souval. On file i have a few photos of a L/58 marked EK1 that in my humble opinion is postwar. It has the same hardware on the reverse as your KVK. What i have noted on both your KVK and the EK1 i have on file, is the randomly applied markings. On your KVK it is not well centered and why on the smallest part of the needle? On the EK1 it sits high up. On the EK1 the catch is sitting very low so that only the very tip of the needle fasten under it. Things like this puts me of. In my opinion the KVK is postwar.

Peter

[speedytop]

Hi,

in my opinion all L/58 are postwar.

But you must differntiate between "L 58" and "L/58".


Regards
Uwe

[Sonderkommando]

I feel that it is post war as well....

Here is a fake horse riders badge with the same style of pin.

[Peter Wiking]

Brett
That is a Steinhauer & Lück.

Peter

[Sonderkommando]

Hi Peter,
This is an original S&L.

As mentioned, the one above is post war. Note the oddball pin and lack of detail to the markings on the back. Two of them are currently for sale as collector's copies on Huesken's website for 35 Euro each, both having the oddball style pin seen above.

[Peter Wiking]

Hi Peter,
This is an original S&L.

As mentioned, the one above is post war. Note the oddball pin and lack of detail to the markings on the back.

I am ok with that.

Peter

[Larry Lipps]

Gentlemen, as always, I greatly appreciate your assistance. Thanks!