Odd Souval

[lakesidetrader]

This is nonmagnetic, with a vaulted core and replaced catch.
Is this cross some features I'm not sure of:

[Eklipse]

Hand vaulted...Souval frame...Orth core.

[Eklipse]

...and not very nice repaired catch, left open soldered.

[Eklipse]

The heat from the catch repair soldering has melted some of the solder from the lower arm...
IMO catch an hinge was originally hard soldered (solder with silver alloy) to the backplate, cleaned with acid, and then electroplated, later the backplate soft soldered to the front frame already electroplated, with the painted iron core inside.
If a jeweler needs to reheat some point of the cross to resolder a broken part, he has to employ a heat control paste like "Heat Stop" to avoid overheating the whole cross and melting the soft solder.

[Eklipse]

Sometimes nickel (or an alloy with high nickel content) tends to turn yellow like this iron cross.
Electroplating to get a nice finish was common in the first days, later it seems it was omited by many makers.

[Eklipse]

This iron cross comes from a very used frame die (Souval type).
The Orth core shows some damage in the swastika upper arms, or it may be an overpainted swastika with the black paint sliding from the top (not very clear pics).
If marked with L15 (without the /), I would say it was postwar mounted by Floch from leftover parts...but it is unmarked, so original Souval or Orth wartime production, IMO...may be late war production as the dies are very worn, but it is only speculation.
I haven't seen postwar Souval made crosses with Orth core.

[Eklipse]

Not very nice iron cross with not very well repaired catch, but TR original EK1...IMO, of course.

[sanya13]

IMO This the piece a good Orth type and I think with a not magnetic Orfh inner core type (but this not saw the pictures)
the hook is was repaired ,of course
here is my mm Orth type