opinions on these items

[aenobarbo]

I ask your help guys.
What do you think of these items? Real or fake?
Thanks

[Dez H]

G'day aenobarbo

All these items look fine to me, they are well worn and show allot of character. The Russian front medal looks like the third, latter type, see the thread on Russian front medals. Are any of these items maker marked? Again no I have no problems with any of these pieces. Nice find!


Dez

[aenobarbo]

Thanks for your reply!
The only one marked is the EK2
Here it is

[Warren O]

Hello,
Like Dez stated they all look good but I would check that ribbon on the Ost medal with a black light. The color and weave don't look right.
Warren

[ERIC S.]

Hello,
I agree with the previous members comments - all look like original period decorations.
ERIC

[Dave Suter]

I'd have 'em in my collection.

[Seppl]

Everything looks ok, except for the EK2, is it marked"333" on the ring?If so, it is a Fake which surfaced in Germany about 5 years ago.Most of your pieces are fairly common awards and original ones are pretty easy to find.
However,eventhough these pieces are common Souval reproduced them all after the war right up until the late 1980's.I still have Souval catalogue from 1985 which has every award of the 3 Reich listed for sale.It's good that Forums like this one does exist,so we can keep the hobby Honest!

[Kevin Sienkiewicz]

Hello,

If that is 333 on the EK II then it is a fake.
Another way to check with these type is the arms are very sharp and pointy. Also, I've noticed with these EKs uneven gaps between the swastika and the frame.

Cheers and Roo
Kevin S

[don]

I guess i failed,i thought they were all good.Nice set,I have them all too.

don

[Bill M]

--Yep, the 333 is a fake.
--I wouldn't discount the ribbon on the Eastfront, I understand that the colors varied on these a little bit even without considering aging. Untrue photography can change colors too. The weave is something that I can't comment on unless dealing with Imperial ribbons which generally had a much tighter weave than 3rd Reich ribbons. It looks OK to me though. For an Eastfront, is it that important anyway if it were a replacement?
--Does anyone think the swaz looks a little funny (asymmetrical) on the Wound Badge? Could be the photos...

[Dez H]

Bill the wound badge looks ok to me, particularly around the swastika the black finish is coming off and you can see the base metal, brass? Detail all look fine, I have an unmarked piece, which looks exactly like this one.


Dez

[Bill M]

Dez,
--Just got home and checked mine out (marked 71) and you're right - same deal, but in steel.

[Mike Kenny]

333 repro

Hi,

At this late stage, I'd agree that everything looks OK from the images (including the Ostmedaille ribbon and black Wound Badge, EK2 aside).

The 333 EK2 is interesting. I have seen one of these in the hand and it was excellent - dimensions, finish (no gaps as mentioned above), patina, everything. It looked like a standard period gablonzer EK2. Unmarked, this one would fool everyone. I actually came to doubt the instant response "333 EK2 = repro" was correct. From memory, the main reason they were initially thought to be a repro was that there is no known LDO maker above around 135 (no references with me at the moment so my apologies if I'vewritten the wrong number).

Joseph (Seppl), do you know who popped the repros in the mid 90's? More interesting though, do you happen to know if they used original tooling? I've heard of some of these EK2s with provenance older than 5 years. Has anyone else heard anything like this?

Regards
Mike K

[McCulloh]

We actually discuss this about once a year. The "333" EK 2s are Fake. Made in England @1992-3 and sold via Spain and Germany, usually in unmarked blue paper packets with oil paper and ribbon. They were sold to many dealers-including some of the best. Now many people have filed the numbers to "33". Also, beware of "666" or "999) numbers, some of which have also surfaced-exactly the same medal:sharp points, light magnatude etc.etc.
Cheers,
JeMc
p.s. I have an extensive correspondence file on these going back to 1995. We first discussed these on the old AOL Militeria board.

[Bill M]

--`95? Yes I knew that I'd heard of these being around for somewhat longer than 5 years, just couldn't say it with any real authority. Thanks Jeff.