EK1 mm 26

[DaveNZ]

Nice cross

26 is my favorite maker for EK1

as it was, my first ever EK1 was a 26 as well

[streptile]

AAAHHH, Here is the link DEANtw that speaks of your cross pin type.
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...light=26+Mayer
And also here... http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...ighlight=Mayer

Thanks for the links Kevin. My thinking now is pretty much the same as it was then, when I wrote...

The early, swollen pin (1) is often found unmarked. The same style, in a different and cheaper material, is found both marked and unmarked. Then a second style (2) is infrequently found -- always marked. If we stipulate that makers began marking their pins later in the war, and that fine metals became scarce as the war progressed, then we can accept [that pin 2 is later than pin 1].

...but time has hardened my opinion of this timeline, and I am now fairly certain that the second pin type (2) is the later type. Not only is it found marked only, and not only is it made of materials I associate with later-war production, it just looks later. After looking at a lot of EK1s, I feel I have developed a (fallible) sense of the way designs progressed over the course of manufacture. Literally everything about this pin seems late to me. Incidentally, the same is true of the catch material: early on (1) and later on (2).

[Douglas 5]

Nice >....... does cross one have a crimped anchor or a solid one ?

Douglas

[WEISNER]

Trevor, I also agree latewar produced! as You stated when the stock of the early pins ran out..... this 2nd type was put in production! Until solid evedence comes along that proves otherwise I am in agreement with You! Just makes sense!
Kevin

[Douglas 5]

Number 2 is the later pin type , I agree with too ... but we have 3 pin types ...and 1- as shown above - is a variation of an earlier unmarked pin type .
The early pin is on the left .

Douglas

[fabri-online]

Nice Mayer but in my opinion this is absolutely a later Mayer, not an early Mayer.

For the reasons well explained I agree with Trevor.