Klein '134' DKiG

[Rich G]

I have had this DKiG in my collections for donkeys years. It was my first DKiG.

It has minimal wear and never cleaned.

[Rich G]

detail





The tarnish has that speckled effect often seen on untouched RK Oakleaves.

These must have had a high silver content or are they neusilber?

[kraut72]

with great patina

[Tom B]

Very nice 134 ! Tom

[Jean-Claude]

Very nice 134 (Klein Hanau) DKiG Rich and very similar to mine except for the toned back. Wait for more knowledgeable feedback but from what I understand the back plate on these was made from cupal (thin copper layer on aluminum) not tombac or nickel silver and these are late pieces so I doubt there is true silver plating involved. No relation whatsoever but I have seen a number of luftwaffe cupal summer eagle that have toned that way when the copper (instead of the aluminum) side was exposed so it could be the case here

Best regards

JC

[AndyC]

Great looking DKiG


Andy

[Alex Bolotnikov]

Perfect cross! Awesome patina and condition

[Tony T-S]

Perfect cross! Awesome patina and condition

It's really striking isn't it.

[Rich G]

Thanks for the comments. If this is how they are untouched, makes you wonder why so many are completely untarnished!

[Rich G]

Very nice 134 (Klein Hanau) DKiG Rich and very similar to mine except for the toned back. Wait for more knowledgeable feedback but from what I understand the back plate on these was made from cupal (thin copper layer on aluminum) not tombac or nickel silver and these are late pieces so I doubt there is true silver plating involved. No relation whatsoever but I have seen a number of luftwaffe cupal summer eagle that have toned that way when the copper (instead of the aluminum) side was exposed so it could be the case here

Best regards

JC

Hi JC!

I am not sure what the back plate is made of. If it were cupal it would not be tarnished as aluminum does not tarnish that way so there must be a layer of either silver plating or neusilber there, right? What else could tarnish like that?
Rich

[Tim Calvert]

Rich, get out the solvent and polish that baby up.
Sell it as "never issued, found in the Klesshinder Whord"
Some guys here will pay quadruple the $$!!!!

[Ludwig]

Very nice!!!

[Sebastien T]

love it

Seb

[Jean-Claude]

Hi JC!

I am not sure what the back plate is made of. If it were cupal it would not be tarnished as aluminum does not tarnish that way so there must be a layer of either silver plating or neusilber there, right? What else could tarnish like that?
Rich

Hi Rich!

No idea of comparative weights between light & heavy DK and experts can chime in to correct me but from my understanding all "134" and some "20" marked Deutsches Kreuz are considered "light" compared to earlier specimens made of tombac because they use a cupal backplates. IMO the copper side (of cupal) with exposed silver plate would tarnish exactly like yours over time.

I only have 1 DKiG but, based on my (limited) experience with summer uniform eagles where it is often used, cupal is a very thin layer of copper on a thicker base of aluminum for rigidity (and light weight). The copper side usually faces outward to accept a thin silver (or gold) plating that can then be polished on the highlights to give the appearance of richer metals (than aluminum).

Attached is a cupal summer eagle which, for some reason has the copper side on the back. While the silver wash seems to have been completely worn off (or cleaned) on most of the back traces of the original toned finish remain on the wing tips around the hardware where it was less exposed

Regards

JC

[Rich G]

@JC - Okay that explains it...there must be a silver plating on the cupal.


@ All - Glad you like it. I've got the tooth paste out now so in a few minutes it's going to be the mintiest (see what I did there?) DKiG on the market.

Rich