Non-mag S&L EKII, how rare?

[Robert P.]

Hello gentlemen,

I've owned this non-magnetic (zinc core, I'm quite certain) S&L EKII for years, never giving much thought to it's rarity until recently. My question is, how rare is this cross? I've seen 'signatures' on various forums, like: "Looking for non-magnetic S&L EKI's and EKII's". Maybe I'm sitting on a gem and don't know it. Any thoughts? All opinions welcome.

[Robert P.]

rev

[Robert P.]

mm

[streptile]

Em, I don't really know. I've never seen -- or heard of -- another.

I also find it interesting to see that the frame has a jumpring lug. That's unusual for an S&L frame, right?

Nice one.

[Robert P.]

Em, I don't really know. I've never seen -- or heard of -- another.

I also find it interesting to see that the frame has a jumpring lug. That's unusual for an S&L frame, right?

Nice one.

A few of my S&L EKII's have a small hump, not nearly as pronounced as this example. I also wonder when this cross was produced. I know the S&L maker mark with the 'dot' in the intersection of the vertical and horizontal line in the '4' is early, but I don't see it in this example. The dates are not early either, so I tend to believe this cross is latewar when resources were becoming hard to come by, and zinc was a choice for core material in crosses.

[jodagger]

Non-mag S&L EKII, how rare?

John from Germanwarbooty.com had one stolen a few months ago. I have only seen a couple of others on web sites but all were sold when I inquired.
I am still looking for one to finish my S&L iron cross collection, I am sure one will turn up,
Interestingly a S&L L/16 2nd class IC in its L/16 mkd box sold on 321militaria for over 500 euros last week.

[Robert P.]

So, at best they're scarce. Thank you for this.

[ben bijker]

Interestingly a S&L L/16 2nd class IC in its L/16 mkd box sold on 321militaria for over 500 euros last week.

You can't compare an L/16 to a 4 marked ek, magnetic or not.

L/16's are VERY rare, and cased it is not a bad price at all.

I don't know if it is authentic, but I do know that they major part of non-magnetic S&L goodies ws made post-war.

Ben

[grueni1208]

IMO the non-magnetic S&L EK II's are post-war productions, but I'm not sure.

Regards

Daniel

[Robert P.]

Well,

This is a turn for the worse, Ben and Daniel. Possibly postwar, huh? This will have to go into my 'questioned' file. Interestingly, between the core and the black paint is a thin layer of nickel silver.

Thank you for your opinions.

[ben bijker]

Robert, there is no actual proof that these are post-war, but as already mentioned S&L knocked off a lot of stuff post-war, containing a lot of non-magnetic KC's as well...

And: most non-magnetic crosses have a brass core, except for a small number of (mainly unmarked) very early crosses.

Based on that I presume that it is post-war

[Adrian]

And: most non-magnetic crosses have a brass core, except for a small number of (mainly unmarked) very early crosses.

Ben, just to clarify, is the above relating purely to S&L or to non magnetic crosses in general?

[ben bijker]

Hi Adrian,

the other non-magnetic crosses I refer to are makers like W&L, Schickle, etc.
so non-magnetic crosses in general.

[Adrian]

Hi Adrian,

the other non-magnetic crosses I refer to are makers like W&L, Schickle, etc.
so non-magnetic crosses in general.

Thanks Ben, I was curious with respect to the non magnetic marked Schickle I posted recently with what looks like a zinc core?

[ben bijker]

Hi Adrian,

a number of early KC's also had a zinc core, Juncker ek's with a zinc core aren't unusual either.
Your schickle can have a zinc core, it's early.

An S&L would be possible as well, but not in combination with this mm

I should have been an unmarked example, but since it isn't, I think taht it is post-war.

Hope this clarifies it a bit.

Best regards,
Ben