Opinions - 1st Class Spange / Cross Combination

[collector5168]

Gents,
I would welcome your opinions on the attached seven images of this 1st class spange (first pattern) and cross combination. Many thanks, Jeff

[collector5168]

More images to follow

[collector5168]

One image to go.

[collector5168]

Last one. Thanks again.

[streptile]

It's two genuine pieces that were joined by a jeweler. In this case, it's a (presumed) Boerger 1. Pattern Spange and a nice pre-WWII SB by a maker unknown (to me, anyway).

The big problem with this type (as opposed to the two known factory-made types, Mayer and S&L) is that one never knows when the two pieces were joined. Was it 1941, or 2001? This piece has the benefit of having been prominently featured in Previtera's book, and that is a nice bonus, but it doesn't answer the fundamental question just posed. Therefore you have to ask yourself 1) when do you think they were joined? and 2) how much more than the value of the two separate components are you willing to pay? I personally think this one has at least a chance of being a period job, but, really, there's not much to go on beyond instinct.

In my opinion the case it comes in is a nice and 100% authentic type intended to house one of the factory-made examples I mentioned above, and perhaps available as a private purchase item separately as well.

[tinmantis]

I'd agree with that
I've looked at this combo for quite a while, I'm not sure if it was the price itself that made me find something wrong with it... but I'm not too happy with it
It's possible, but a big leap of faith
The spange looks very soft, especially around the neck, but I know this is supposed to be silver. WW2 L/57 spangen have been seen made of silver, very rare, but better details. This looks cast, which also is possible by a jeweller I suppose.
Has it just been polished to hell?
Too many questions for me, without water tight provenance

regards
jon

[EK-collector]

what about patina, it should be at least similiar

[ben bijker]

what about patina, it should be at least similiar

Not if the clasp was soldered to the original cross of the recipient.
But I share Jon's thoughts, the details are very soft and I think I see some traces of small pock-marks on the reverse.

[streptile]

I'm pretty sure the Spange is good. I had this piece in my hands recently, and it didn't seem to have any problems to me. It is highly polished.

[Flemming]

A few days ago there where shown two combo, and all was amazed by them.
What is it that makes you all doubt this one?

How do you determine which is real and which is put togehter?

/Flemming

[streptile]

The similarities with THIS one are striking. Maybe Boerger offered the service? Bring in your EK1 and let us fit our Spange to the top...

[tinmantis]

I'm pretty sure the Spange is good. I had this piece in my hands recently, and it didn't seem to have any problems to me. It is highly polished.

was it solid silver?

[streptile]

Yes, it seemed silver to me. I didn't test it of course...

I should also note that it does not fit well in the LdO case.

[streptile]

One more thing. The linked Combo (shown below) is, in my view, a WWI award-type KO EK1 and a non-silver (tombak?) Spange. Perhaps the "enlisted man's option"? The SB Combo under discussion here is a private-purchase, deluxe EK1, and a silver Spange. All high-end.

Maybe Boerger offered the service? Bring in your EK1 and let us fit our Spange to the top...

There's a consistency to the theory that is compelling to me.

[Lubo]

Hey guys, Trevor, Jon,
With all due respect I think that the combo that started the thread only the cross is silver, the spange is not made of real silver, it is just super polished!