round 3 ek1 for opinions

[ben bijker]

Just ran into this ek1 r3, but I'm not really sure of it's authenticity.
I have never seen one with this needle system before, and I'm not really keen on it.
But ther are thing I do like about this cross.

Please let me have your opinions on this crosss.

Best reagrds,
Ben

[ben bijker]

reverse

.

[Biro]

Ben

The beading, date, hinge and catch all look absolutely textbook to me.... it is just the needle itself that is non standard. This wouldn't concern me at all.

From the photo, I would have no problems with this cross.

Marshall

[ben bijker]

Thanks Biro.

What puzzles me is that, although the first impressions are good, I haven't been able to find a similar core / date so far.

Could the needle be a replacement???

Regards,
Ben

[Anthony N]

The hinge must definitely be a replacement you can see where it's been attatched onto the back of the cross, maybe a field done repair. From the look of it the soldier may have attatched the original pin to a new hinge.
It does look like a nice field repaired piece to me.
Smeone who knows more will be along shortly though.
Ant.

[Biro]

Thanks Biro.

What puzzles me is that, although the first impressions are good, I haven't been able to find a similar core / date so far....

Ben

What is the problem with the core / date? To my eye the core and frame checks out just fine...

Marshall

[LuckyLuudje]

To me the cross looks tekstbook as well.
Core, frame, hinge, catch etc. looks good to me.
I think the needle is good too, maybe bent a little.
But from these pictures it's hard to see.

Maybe this R3 looks different because you compare this cross to your Deschler R3's you showed me a few months ago.

If you have the chance to buy this cross, go for it.

Here some pictures of my most common (vaulted and flat) R3's to compare.

Best regards,
Luud

[LuckyLuudje]

back

[LuckyLuudje]

needle

[ben bijker]

Ben

What is the problem with the core / date? To my eye the core and frame checks out just fine...

Marshall

the problem is that I probably need glasses....

But I stll dont like the needle..
It reminds me too much of "afrikaheld" ek's....

regards,
ben

[Anthony N]

Interesting.
I like the needle, but to me it looks like the hinge has at least been re-attatched at some point.
Opinions eh!
Ant.

[LuckyLuudje]

Interesting.
I like the needle, but to me it looks like the hinge has at least been re-attatched at some point.
Opinions eh!
Ant.

What makes you think that the hinge is re-attached?

Ben,
I looked closer at the needle and I think that your suspicioun could be right.
Replaced needle?

Regards,
Luud

[Biro]

Ben

The needle is definitely not part of the normal set-up... that is obvious - but so long as everything else checks out (which it does)... who cares?

If my needle broke on parade, I wouldn't troop all the way from Munich to Hamburg just so the original (unknown) manufacturer could replace it with one of his. If my local jeweller didn't have something that worked, I'd use a damn nail!

It's the unseen reverse and it's an otherwise very nice cross.

If the price reflects this very slight defect..... Do it!

Marshall

[Anthony N]

What makes you think that the hinge is re-attached?

Ben,
I looked closer at the needle and I think that your suspicioun could be right.
Replaced needle?

Regards,
Luud

When looking at Ben's there is a lot of black marking around the hinge (and catch), on yours there is not. Impossible to tell from a picture but it looks more than just a build up of dirt, if it was just dirt then surely the rest of the back wouldn't be so much cleaner.
Ant.