RK S & L "B" Type 935 Markings??

[AFF96]

[ATTACH]1591670[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]1591671[/ATTACH]

[AFF96]

Hi guys!
I bought this RK on estand to 1.) add to my S & L collection of RK's etc and 2.) to study it in hand to further my education of RK's & EK's.
In looking at it, the dent rows & 935 marking, the "painted" frosting and roughly clipped loop seems to correctly mirror the photos in Dietrich's wonderful book and other's posted.
BUT, it was pointed out to me by a good friend that the 935 mark maybe a bit "off"??
The photo's aren't the best, but I'd appreciate your comments as I'm in the 7 day return window and want to make sure is a good post-war "B" type 935.
Thanks a ton!
Greg
Knight's Cross S&L B 935 004.jpg

Knight's Cross S&L B 935 017.jpg

[Leroy]

Greg,
This is a real S&L 935 cross. Some believe they are wartime, some believe they are postwar. Some believe some are wartime and others are postwar. Whatever is true, this one is a legitimate example of this type from S&L.
Best,
Leroy

[streptile]

Some believe they are wartime, some believe they are postwar. Some believe some are wartime and others are postwar.

Hi Gentry,

I know you are a believer that at least some 935s are wartime.
Is it your personal belief that there are any non-magnetic wartime 935s?

[Leroy]

Trevor,
I actually think (and I don't care at this stage who wants to laugh) that only the non-magnetic (brass) cored versions of this type cross are wartime.
Best,
Gentry

[AFF96]

Thanks Gentry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was really hoping you'd take a peek!
Greatly appreciate it!
Greg

[ekhunter]

Trevor,
I actually think (and I don't care at this stage who wants to laugh) that only the non-magnetic (brass) cored versions of this type cross are wartime.
Best,
Gentry

Gentry,

I'm curious what makes you think that? Is it a 'gut' feeling, or something else? I'm not trying to throw a hand grenade or anything, I'm sincerely curious why you think that!

R.

[Leroy]

Gentry,

I'm curious what makes you think that? Is it a 'gut' feeling, or something else? I'm not trying to throw a hand grenade or anything, I'm sincerely curious why you think that!

R.

It is not very scientific in terms of differentiating between the different cores (and, by the way, I should have said "only the non-magnetic (brass) cored versions of this type cross could be wartime"), but, based on the ones I have actually seen and handled, the iron- and zinc-cored ones did not seem to be finished as well as the brass-cored ones. Very subjectiive, I know, and I would want to personally handle a particular cross before even trying to make a statement about it. There may well be zinc- or iron-cored versions of these which I have not seen which would make me change my mind.

While we are on this controversial subject (even though it's not really the place for it), I wanted to touch on something which has come up in a number of e-mails I have received over the last couple of months. I want to make it clear that I am NOT at war with Dietrich and that I consider him a friend. He has written the best reference to date on the RK and higher grades and no one who is serious about these things can afford to be without it. The only difference between us is that if 20 (non-935-4 and 800-4) "B" crosses were put in front of us, he would slide all 20 to the fake side of the table, while I would only slide 19 over to that side.

[Marc Garlasco]

Gentry,

I have only always seen you and Dietrich as two men passionate about their hobby and willing to debate in the open. This is a quality sorely lacking from most. There are so many "lurkers" grumbling about this and that but unwilling to place their cards on the table. You and Dietrich are like two mad scientists looking for the truth!

Regards,
Marc

[Leroy]

Thanks very much, Marc. I truly do appreciate the comment.

"Two mad scientists" pretty well sums it up!

[AFF96]

Gentry,

I have only always seen you and Dietrich as two men passionate about their hobby and willing to debate in the open. This is a quality sorely lacking from most. There are so many "lurkers" grumbling about this and that but unwilling to place their cards on the table. You and Dietrich are like two mad scientists looking for the truth!

Regards,
Marc

I closely follow all of the mentioned threads & I, for one, 100% agree
2 great gentlemen!!!!
Greg

[streptile]

Interesting.

I had a look at this 935 on the eStand and almost picked it up after reading that famously long S&L RK thread we had recently. Perhaps I didn't read it carefully enough, because I passed on this cross precisely because it was non-ferrous

So, insofar as you can tell from these photos, would you place this cross as a wartime piece? On the understanding that this is your opinion only, etc. etc.

[Leroy]

Again, Trevor, to me it is an extremely dangerous thing to give an opinion without actually handling the piece. I can only say that it has great potential, but I would want to look very, very closely at the paint and the frosting in person and under a loupe. It has been said that the frosting on these pieces matches the very nice frosting on the early 57 pieces, but I personally think that, when looked at under magnification, it is different. The paint, on the ones I like, is certainly not the rougher paint encountered on most "A" types, but, quite frankly, I would not expect it to match. On the ones which show some wear to the paint (at least on the ones I personally like), the paint is clearly in two layers, with the top coat being slightly different in texture and appearance from the underlying coat.


P.S. - Greg, thank you too for your nice comment. I hope Dietrich reads this.

[Thomas Durante]

Gentry,
I have only always seen you and Dietrich as two men passionate about their hobby and willing to debate in the open. This is a quality sorely lacking from most. There are so many "lurkers" grumbling about this and that but unwilling to place their cards on the table. You and Dietrich are like two mad scientists looking for the truth!
Regards,
Marc

I can only echo this comment. Its great that you guys can professionally argue a point and one of you not "pick up your ball and go home". The fact that both of you can continually voice your opinions and theories logically and answer difficult questions speaks of great character in my opinion.

Tom

[streptile]

Again, Trevor, to me it is an extremely dangerous thing to give an opinion without actually handling the piece.

Thanks Gentry. I understand and agree. It seems that Greg got, at the very least, a very interesting cross there.