Kinghts Cross/War Merit W/O swords

[militariacoll]

Another item from an old collection...This was found at an estate sale inside a period WWII German map case....It is not maker marked...Dimensions and weight appear to be within limits....Photos taken with flash and outside in natural light...Any and all feedback welcome...

[michael leone]

Knights cross

I'm not sure the ribbon is correct. May just be the lighting ,but it looks just a little different from the norm. On these crosses, I prefer 900 1 or 935 4 markings. Usually the ribbon is gathered and stitched at the middle where the cross rests. Just my opinion from what I can see here.

[mloppkit]

Hello Militariacoll, Many Congratulations on finding an absolutely original 'textbook' early Deschler RK KVK. Some early Deschlers were not marked with the 1/ 900 so this is perfectly normal for this outstanding cross. Absolutely lovely to see a very, very rare, early 1st Strike/ 1st pattern Deschler RK KVK without swords like this one- it also has the added bonus of the characteristic 'die-flaw' on the right-hand side of the lower arm of the obverse side. Very few of these crosses were awarded- it is more rare than the version with swords. Great condition as well- beautiful cross and completely original- see crosses in this previous thread. http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...ghlight=kvk+rk Thanks for posting great photos of a very nice cross, Best Regards, Michael

[Tony T-S]

Its a stunner isn't it.

[shaneos3]

Hi Tony,

It certainly is a stunner and a perfect match for the early Deschler in Gordons book. To say such a medal is rare is an understatement indeed. A little research into this award shows that somewhere between 48 to 70 of these RK KVK without swords were awarded almost certainly all made by Deschler unlike the version with swords that was also made by Zimmerman and Steinhauer & Luck which were marked with the 935 as pointed out by Michael Leone. It seems that only 100 or so of these first pattern Deschlers were made between 1940 & late 1944 before the 2nd pattern Deschler appears in far smaller quantities until the end of the war.

I have to agree with Michael Leone though, that although the cross itself is undoubtably a wonderful and scarce original example, the ribbon should have a stitched gathering in the centre and certainly doen't seem to look the same as the period ribbon examples that I have seen but yes it could be the light.

militariacoll - I agree with mloppkit, Thanks for posting such a rare award,

Cheers,
Shaneos

[militariacoll]

Here are more photos of the ribbon....

[Ludwig]

Looks very good!

[hkusp40]

Stunning! Congrats. -Ger

[Ralph Arndt]

A very nice looking cross and rare. Thanks for posting.

[mloppkit]

Hi militariacoll,

Thanks for posting additional photos of the ribbon, Although the cross is a great original with no problems - However Michael Leone is absolutely correct in that the ribbon is not an original awarded ribbon. It has three problems:

1/ It doesn't have the white border thread on each of the outer red stripe sides

2/ The width size does not correspond to any of the original awarded ribbon sizes- it is a quarter inch too narrow

3/ It is not sown up in a bunch with black cotton in the centre

As it is very hard to believe that an outstanding cross like this would be paired with a reproduction ribbon, the most likely explanation is that the ribbon is a period example of a private purchase ribbon - just not the original ribbon that the cross was awarded with,

Best Regards,
Michael

[RonR]

Another very informative past thread....


http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=223222


Best regards,