The Poetschke Iron Cross

[Erich B.]

Yes, as long as you're happy with it, that's what's important!

Erich

[George Stimson]

Mikael,

Do you recall any of the sales info that was offered with that e-Bay "20"? Do you have any other pictures of it? Was it determined to be a repro?

[frankandfrank]

hello,

correct = Werner Pötschke!!
on the iron cross = Werner Poetschke ? (german?)
regards
ralf

[Calvin Hall]

George,

I handled one of these '20' marked crosses awhile back, and I didn't like it. It was for sale at a local antique store that has a healthy volume of fakes mixed in with the good. That was a few years back.

[Peter Wiking]

John M. Donovan.
Could you post a photo taken dead on at the obverse. Not from an angle.

Cheers.
Peter

[Stephen Previtera]

Andy makes a good point in his reference to the pieces in my book "The Iron Time" on page 262 which were later confirmed to be, well, not what they appear to be. As someone stated, if you are happy with them, as I once was with the examples on page 262, then let it rest there. I have seen many "original" documents sporting the Roman "SS" rather than lighting-bolt style. That might be a clue here as well. I think others are relating to the history of the individual listed, like rank at time of award. A pattern developes that either closes or opens ones eyes.
Stephen

[George Stimson]

Ralf,

I did a cursory Google search and everywhere it was spelled "Poetschke", even amongst other names that were spelled with umlauts.

[InfanterieSammler]

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[meriksson]

It was in this tread http://69.57.156.87/~admin1/forums/s...3&highlight=20

And i dont know what to think about this EK
Mikael

Mikael,

Do you recall any of the sales info that was offered with that e-Bay "20"? Do you have any other pictures of it? Was it determined to be a repro?

[wombat_21]

couldn't it be possible that in the war there was a maker of replacment pins who marked there pins with the 20.

And the fake "20" from e-bay is a replica cross with a original replacement pin solderd on to it.

[meriksson]

I dont think so. Beside the EK on Ebay was also a shinkel. As i did say if i did have the money then i would have got it. Just for fun and maybe a orginal case.
In some way this 2 EK´s are identical on the back side. The only thing i see is that the pin on the one here are a bit bent to the left, and not on the ebay´er.
Mikael

couldn't it be possible that in the war there was a maker of replacment pins who marked there pins with the 20.

And the fake "20" from e-bay is a replica cross with a original replacement pin solderd on to it.

[InfanterieSammler]

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[InfanterieSammler]

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[InfanterieSammler]

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[Erich B.]

John,
Is the engraving done by hand or with a pantograph? Can you tell or did the jeweler say? Pantograph engraving was done pre45 although not with this typeface. If it is pantograph engraving, a jeweler would not be able to tell exactly when it was done, unless he was going by the wear and scratching to the surface post-engraving. If it's hand engraving, you would need to take it to a hand engraver. There are only a relatively small number of skilled engravers left. I know there were a few in Philadelphia and New York, although they were very old in the 70s so I doubt that they are still around. It's pretty much becoming a lost art. Gun engravers are around, but a jewelry engraver is on a completely different level. An older, preferably European schooled hand engraver will be able to answer any questions you have about this piece, provided it's hand engraved.
Erich

Reverse shot, note the patina in the recesses of the engravings and the # '20'. When I had the cross inspected by a jeweler I specifically had him look over the engravings and the '20' and he said both were unquestionable done a very long time ago...John