KVK2 opinions please

[kale010]

Hi Guys,

As I was looking for a 65 marked KVK2 o/s for quite some time I finally found one. The cross was already looking a bit strange and wasn't the cheapest, but I still wanted it.

Today I finally received it and now it looks like some sort of metal eating bug has been chewing on my new aquired KVK.

Does somebody has any ideas?? And if anymore pictures are required please let me know..

Thanks in advance.

Bob


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[blutundehre]

Looks like zinc pest to me. Do a search on it and post this also in the conservation section.
Dave

[Andy B.]

Shame about the zinc pest. Vasaline does the trick to keep it in check.
Good luck.
I'm still looking for a 65 (both with and without swords)
Andy

[kale010]

Thanks for the reply guys, but are we sure it's zinc pest. IMO zinc pest looks way different then what is seen here.

I got this cross from the collectors guild and this is their physical description:

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Die struck alloy, construction service award with a bronze finish is in the form of a Maltese style cross with a circular centerpiece with an embossed, canted, swastika encircled by a nicely detailed oak-leaf wreath to the obverse. The reverse centerpiece has the embossed date,"1939", also encompassed by a nicely detailed oak-leaf wreath. The background field of both the obverse and reverse centerpieces is smooth while the arms of the cross have a pebbled background field with raised, smooth, outer edges. The ribbon suspension ring and medal loop are both intact and the suspension ring is well marked with the impressed manufacturer’s numerical code, "65", indicating manufacture by Klein & Quenzer of Idar/Oberstein.The cross comes complete with a roughly, 1 3/16" wide, 9 5/8" long, piece of original ribbed rayon ribbon. The ribbon is in overall good condition with minor age toning and a couple of small picks and pulls. The cross only retains about 45% of what appears to be a fired bronze finish with moderate to heavy age tarnish and spots of wear to the base alloy.

You tell me: fired bronze finish?

It just doesn't look like a full zinc award.

Bob

[blutundehre]

Hi Bob,
From what I can see it looks like a zinc medal from where it has been eaten away
Please keep in mind that I am also not holding it in hand so I may not be seeing something that you can. Can you post some more pics?
Dave

[kale010]

Hi Dave,

Well zinc was my first thought as well, but then I figured that the cross hasn't got that common grey zinc look.

I will get some more pictures today when in good daylight.

Bob

Hi Bob,
From what I can see it looks like a zinc medal from where it has been eaten away
Please keep in mind that I am also not holding it in hand so I may not be seeing something that you can. Can you post some more pics?
Dave

[kale010]

Here are two more picture. I don't know if it is as clear when holding it in my hand. It looks like blue, green and gold. Like looking at oil in water.

I am not really sure if it's zinc. Although it is not that heavy, the cross is very small

Bob

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[kale010]

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[blutundehre]

Hi Bob,
I am still thinking that this is a zinc medal with a very thick bronze wash on it.
You are right though that it does look a little strange as you will usually see them with all the finish absorbed, but it looks like it is in the process.
The border around the pebbling still has a strong finish, but the pebbling itself is turning gray. If it were a buntmetal it would not be gray at all.
Just my opinion though, let's see if anyone else chimes in.
Nice looking KVK though
Dave

[kale010]

anybody else perhaps....

Bob

[evilmike]

could be its had severe pest thats been cleaned away leaving the missing finish eating into the medal. hence no sign of any zinc pest just the damage caused by it.

have alook for the way late zinc 65 kvks were attached to the ribbon ring, arent they usually cast in and not soldered after like early ones? Does yours look to be soldered?

[R.R.]

Seems to me too it's a zinc alloy based medal beginning the "pest" process and absorving the bronze layer. Is recomendable to use Renwax to protect it before entire bronze layer will go.

[kale010]

could be its had severe pest thats been cleaned away leaving the missing finish eating into the medal. hence no sign of any zinc pest just the damage caused by it.

have alook for the way late zinc 65 kvks were attached to the ribbon ring, arent they usually cast in and not soldered after like early ones? Does yours look to be soldered?

As far as I can see it seems to be soldered to the cross. And the color is rather more black than grey except for the clear grey spots.

Still this is the funniest looking cross I have ever seen regarding the color. It sucks when you cannot find a good reference to compare with.

What technique can I use to determine the material... go to a lab?

Bob

[Douglas 5]

I would say also a zink core that has been bronzed .

Douglas