Spanienkreuz without swords- Last purchase

[Brian S]

Agreed Dietrich. And as far as my cross is concerned it is an absolutely mint cross. As for the comments and questions regarding it, it's becoming a bunny trail I no longer have interest in pursuring in this thread.

[Thomas Durante]

Pure S&L wartime catch.

No its not Brian, sorry to say. It is far from textbook, that piece under the catch is not something we see on original S&L awards. You say you have seen others, please show some examples.

The finish on you cross is also suspicious, more similar to 57ers imo. Maybe some others will chime in with their opinions.

I would be interested to see if its really made from 900 silver as its marked.

Sorry for the bad news, but several things just don't line up on this one.

Tom

[Brian S]

whatever YOU say

you are the expert

got a 4 in your toybox do you

[Thomas Durante]

Not an expert, but I know a messed with S&L catch when I see one.

Don't take it personally Brian, lets just focus on the badge. I have never seen an S&L catch with another piece of catch underneath it like yours, please correct me if I am wrong with some examples that you have seen.

Additionally wondering why this cross has Schickle-like hinge and pin on it. Not something we normally see with S&L awards.

Thanks

Tom

[Brian S]

there is no other catch beneath

i dont collect photos of every badge

when i see another i will post

there is no"finish"

its highly polished

no finish

start w that fact

[Norm F]

Hi Guys,

I think there's a misunderstanding about which cross Tom is referring to? It's not the "4" marked cross but the one marked "L/16" and "800" with the unusual setup.

I have to agree that the hinge and main pin are the type used by Schickle, Mayer and Deschler but not S&L, and the photos as presented do seem to show a "bronze" finish? From the reverse, it's an S&L cross and the catch is typical S&L but soldered in an uncharacteristically crooked fashion. Without knowing its provenance, that unusual combination of features suggests either post-war assembly of leftover parts or replacement of the hinge and pin, resoldering of the catch and refinishing.

At any rate, it doesn't look like unfinished silver, although I appreciate that some photos can be deceiving.

Best regards,
---Norm

[Thomas Durante]

Hi guys,

Norm, thanks for your thoughts on this cross.

I also think there is a silver finish on it, especially the rear it appears to have a matt silver on it, and its clearly different compared to the pin which is shinier.

Just to be clear on the catch:

Tom

[Brian S]

OMG

[Norm F]

Found Brian's 2013 thread on his cross with better photos:
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=699777

The interesting thing there is the posting of jacques' with another cross with the same hinge and pin (unfortunately small photos). Note the strikingly different appearence of the finish in the two photos of the same badge. These are the only two postings I've ever seen over the years of an S&L product with this setup. It's impossible to know when exactly these were assembled but they are intriguing for sure.

Best regards,
---Norm

[Norm F]

And before we re-invent the wheel, he also posted additional photos of the same cross for discussion in the epic 2014 25-page discussion/debate on S&L's post-war production:
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...11#post6490411

Best regards,
---Norm

[Brian S]

It's so pointless to post or photograph once some of you have made your judgements however uniformed. Thank you Norm for at least going a little more distance. The cross is not zinck. It is not tombak. It is highly polished silver. Believe it or not, I do not care.

[Brian S]

Here Norm, an "unusual" setup.

[Brian S]

Side view. Again my only explanation is they did this to keep the pin tighter on the cross. You are free to think anything you like. And say it too Tom if it makes you feel better.

[Brian S]

Most amazing cross I have ever held.

[Brian S]

Take away from this whatever you want.