RK IAB - prototype design?

[pavels_2005]

4

[Stepdale]

Pavel,
Once again, a nice find! As you say, it doesn't provide evidence of who RK was.

I'm sure you've discussed it many times with Jiri, but I believe he is a fount of information for the local area since he has collected for so many years. I recall him telling me that he believed RK had to be Karneth, as it was the only Gablonz maker with those initials large enough to produce this number of badges, as Kreisel was a small firm and couldn't have done so much. Of course, with the AGMuK, it's entirely possible that many of the products, especially the unmarked ones, could have been spread out amongst various makers to manufacture using the same dies and hardware.

Nothing new for you, but these all being found in one house also lends support to what both you and Jiri told me - that while the badges may have been stamped/pressed/cast at one factory, in many cases they were farmed out to many small producers or workers in individual shops and houses to complete the fine work and hardware installation. I also remember y'all saying that this especially became true as the number of workers decreased due to so many being drafted into the military.

Keep up the hard work, one day you'll find the Rosetta Stone!
Dale

[Thomas Durante]

Hi Pavel,

Thanks very much for the background, much appreciated my friend. Even though it doesn't reveal exactly who the maker is behind the initials RK, it is still a very significant find and should certainly be a step forward for any remaining doubters out that that RK made all these badges. This find is singificant for several reasons:

1. It shows that we were correct all along associating this IAB design (Pebbled Obverse) with RK.

2. That both the Pebbled and Non-Pebbled Obverse IAB designs were both made by RK.

3. RK used both ball hinge and block hinges on their badges (in addition to crimped in hardware).

With all this variation in one maker, I tend to agree with Dale that it would have taken a relatively big firm to produce these numbers and therefore Karneth is the more likely candidate over Kriesel. One of the last remaining mysteries in our hobby!

Great find Pavel, thanks very much for sharing.

Tom

[Giel VW]

Oh wow what a find

The marks on the pin itself are completely similar to the JFS numbered awards too.

Thanks a lot for sharing Pavel!

[pavels_2005]

Hi,

I just got another items from the same source. The guy called me that he has few more pieces. Now the set is complete I hope. See the cupal veteran eagle – it is really interesting I think. I never realised that RK used cupal material. The most interesting one is the Kuban shield – see the prongs they were never bent. I think this Kuban was always refered as unknown maker. Now we can say it was made by RK :-)

All opinions welcome.

Best regards
Pavel

[Antonio Scapini]

Indeed a very great and important find Pavel.
Of course we can link these pieces with the Karneth firm, especially those like the Kuban until today from a totally unknown maker.

[Thomas Durante]

Hi Pavel,

Thanks for the additional information and pieces of the find. Its great we can finally identify this type of Kuban shield with RK, excellent discovery.

Also notice that the left portion of the IAB wreath is the Pebbled variant, which only confirms my earlier post that we can now be sure that RK produced both Pebbled and Non-Pebbled variants of the IAB.

Excellent discovery my friend, keep up the great work.

Tom

[pavels_2005]

Hi Tom,

thanks for your reply. Yes the Kuban shields are usually unmarked so it is not easy to attribute the maker to them. This find helped us identify at least one of them.

Here are better pictures of the RK marks on the items, it was not visible very well on the original pictures.

Best regards
Pavel

[Stepdale]

Hi Pavel,
A great find, and now I must add an RK Kuban to my list of Gablonz items to search for.

The unfinished veteran eagle looks like a perfect match to the finished one I posted in this thread - http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=889059.

Your patient search for solutions to the mysteries of Gablonz makers is paying great dividends!
Dale

[pavels_2005]

Hi Dale,

yes I remember your RK marked veteran eagle that you posted recently, it was the first time for me to see this design.

Best regards
Pavel