It is the opinion of many that the 'L/58'-marked Souvals are postwar, even though their construction is identical to a wartime-produced cross. I have one myself. Is you core non-magnetic? It looks to be brass where a little of the paint is missing on the swasi.
Your EK2 looks to be marked 24, and also looks like a 24
Trevor is right on the 24, have a very close look (Using a loop) at the small jumpring and see if it has a stamp on it, these were stamped with acorns, three leaf clovers etc.......
A brass core on the L/58 would be nice! as Robert asked does the magnet stick?
Can You shoot the obverse of the crosses again without flash, too much reflection to the the top row of beading on the L/58 is seen, natural sunlight or even overcast sky light will take a clear photo!
A good thing? No, not according to the Souval experts. Two of my Souval EKI's have magnetic cores. One is a screwback 'L/58', and the other is a magnetic-cored pinback. The only difference between my unmarked magnetic pinback and my 'L/58'-marked pinback is the brass core in the 'L/58'. The die flaw in the upper arm is present in all three examples. And, the hardware on both pinbacks is identical. I have yet to hear a really good argument as to why the 'L/58'-marked pinback is a postwar cross. All that has been said about them is "they are postwar".
A good thing? No, not according to the Souval experts. Two of my Souval EKI's have magnetic cores. One is a screwback 'L/58', and the other is a magnetic-cored pinback. The only difference between my unmarked magnetic pinback and my 'L/58'-marked pinback is the brass core in the 'L/58'. The die flaw in the upper arm is present in all three examples. And, the hardware on both pinbacks is identical. I have yet to hear a really good argument as to why the 'L/58'-marked pinback is a postwar cross. All that has been said about them is "they are postwar".
Robert
So Robert, turning the table... I wonder what the argument is for L/58 marked Souvals being postwar made? Seems to me this is an un answerable mess and is the reason for me having not bought a Souval EKI, even though I find them pleasing to look at!
seems that Brass core would be wartime? and any post war cross using Iron so as to use up any cores left over after the war ended?
Best Regards!
Kev
There are a number of ways to look at this. One scenario is (the most common): same frame (with wartime flaw), same core die (only difference non-magnetic), same hardware (but stamped 'L/58') = postwar. Leftover components could have been used to produce these. But, like I said earlier, who knows this for sure? I guess the answer lies in the fact that I haven't been around long enough to have heard really where these were proven postwar, and no one has really spoken on it much when I've asked. If there is a dateline as to when this maker mark was first used (postwar) it would be good as gold to hear this from someone.
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