List of KVK 1 makers

[George Stimson]

Here is a list of War Merit Cross First Class (KVK 1) makers. I have based this list on crosses that I have in my collection, on crosses that I know other collectors have in their collections, and on photographic or other evidence that crosses were made by a particular maker. This list should serve as a reference point for those collectors who want to know which awards manufacturers made the KVK 1 during the Second World War. It is also intended to be a growing list, to be added to by any WAF participant who knows of any other examples not listed here. (The only requirement needed to add a cross by a particular maker to this list is that the person claiming the cross must present some kind of evidence -- such as a photograph of the cross or scan of a KVK in a contemporary awards manufacturer's sales catalog -- to substantiate a claim of a certain maker. Simply saying, "I once had one maker marked "XX" for Whatever company" will not be enough.)

So here you have it. I hope that this list will be an aid to collectors, and I look forward to discovering new makers!

(All crosses are pinback versions unless otherwise indicated.)

Without Swords --

Deschler, marked "1" (Tombak)
Deumer, marked "3" or "L/11" (Tombak or zinc)
Steinhauer & Lück, marked "4" (Tombak)
Orth, marked "15" (Tombak)
Otto Schickle, marked "L/15", Tombak
Hermann Wernstein, marked "L/17", (zinc)
Foerster & Barth, marked "L/21" (Tombak or zinc)
Gschiermeister, marked "50" (Tombak)
C. F.Zimmermann, marked "L/52" and "900" (silver)

With Swords --

Deschler, marked "1" and "L/10" (Tombak)
Juncker, marked "2" amd "L/12" (Tombak)
Deumer, marked "3" and "L/11" (many varieties, Tombak or zinc. Screwback versions exist.)
Steinhauer & Lück, marked "4", "L/16", and "4" + "L/16" (Tombak or zinc)
Meybauer, marked "L/13" (Tombak or zinc. Screwback versions exist.)
Orth, marked "15" (Tombak)
Otto Schickle, unmarked and marked "L/15"(Tombak)
Hermann Wernstein, marked "L/17"
B. H. Mayer, marked "L/18" (Tombak or zinc)
Foerster & Barth, marked "L/21" (Tombak or zinc)
Bauer, marked "43" (Tombak)
Kerbach & Österhelt, marked "62" (Tombak or zinc)
C. F. Zimmermann, marked "L/52" and "L/52" + "900" (silver)(Screwback versions exist.)
Hymmen & Co., marked "L/53" (zinc)
Funcke & Brüninghaus, marked "L/56" (Tombak)
Beorger, marked "L/57" (zinc)
Klein & Quenzer, marked "65" (Tombak or zinc)
Rudolf Souval, marked "L58" (Tombak or zinc. Screwback versions exist.)
Poellath, marked "84" (Tombak)
Wächtler & Lang, marked "100" and "L/55"
Carl Wild, marked "107"
Petz & Lorenz, unmarked (but I have seen one marked "L/18") (Tombak?)

The following makers are listed in Gordon Williamson and Josef Charita's book The War Merit Cross. I have not been able to verify these names as makers based on my own observation of maker marked pieces:

Ferdinand Hoffstätter, marked "8"
Jakob Bengel, marked "44"
Gottlieb & Wagner, marked "52"
Glaser & Sohn, marked "53"
Gebrüder Godet, marked "L/50"
Schauerte & Höhfeld, marked "L/54"

[Hans N]

L/15 Schickle w/o swords in tombak is missing from the list

[Hans N]

Pics of mine

[Hans N]

double mm´d

[George Stimson]

Hans

Thank you! I've added it!

[juoneen]

I am curious about the #3 mark. When you say its marked 3, its come to my attention that there are 2 different 3's, the flat top 3 kvk 1 wo/s and the rounded three..and rounded three with L11 ....so I have here a flat top 3 kvk wo/s Is it possible to add it ?

[juoneen]

[juoneen]

[George Stimson]

jouneen

That's a good question. And here's yet another "3" mark variation. Give me a few days to get these all sorted out....

[CroDegman]

This one is in Croatian auction site,it costs 130 euro,is it good and should I buy it?
Its marked 65.
http://www.aukcije.hr/prodaja/Kolekc...reiha/1835649/

Im new at collecting german medals and Im not good expert at this stuff.
I dont have credit cards so its easy to buy it in my country with cash.

[willow]

Thank you for sharing this information George, WilloW

[manu1972]

My KriegVerdienstKreuz 1 stuffe. V. Deschler wiht swords im buntmetall. very nice.

Deschler & söhne with swords. Buntmetall.



Manu.

[manu1972]

I agree with Douglas 5. So what's all the wipes??? Text should disappear, in my opinion.
Greetings.

Moderator please remove last post or the inoppropiate content .

Regards, Douglas

[manu1972]

My War Service Cross in first class without swords. guaranteed perfect piece. Numbering or marking "50", as shown. Corresponding to Karl Gschiermeister-Wien. From Buntmetall. From Militaria Berlin.



:

[jani_tiainen]

I have L/58 Screwback WITHOUT swords.