Firstly, because it is simply interesting to know where an item was manufactured and secondly, because it can dictate the value of the medal. Ray, I think I would agree with you - same beading flaws near the swastika and similar pin/catch setup. A fine cross indeed, retaining about 97% of its black finish, with only a very small chip to note, and only modest tarnishing. Tick "+1" to bid one more increment if bidding is against you. Iron Cross 1st class, EKI (Eisernes Kreuz I Klasse mit Etui) by Klein & Quenzer (65). him the 2nd Class. The The Iron Cross 1939 was similar in shape to its predecessors, We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. Here are examples of the 1st and 2nd class medals. A 1939 Iron Cross Second Class iron core un-used from a manufacturer. So some telltale signs to look for here are: - When you look at the silver frame side on can you see a join / line running down the side of the frame? The WW2 German Iron Cross for example is a highly sought-after item for many collectors, which has made fakes an appealing line to create and sell. Item Number: 68669. . The swastika on the example you gave was thicker and the date was also different. Germany. When I was a teenager a well renowned dealer said to meAround 5 million Iron crosses were manufactured during WW2, and only 20 million of them are still around today!This of course makes no sense, but the meaning behind it does. the silver casing gets polished, while the pearly ripped outer rim remains Priced at 155. Crosses it is possible to rattle the iron inside of the frame. area between each of the arms was likewise solid. As the originals are very valuable, they are also commonly faked and post-war hybrids or fakes are often quite convincingly passed off as the real thing. thin sheet of silver. as much material to crop off the new method resulted in a 40% reduction of waste, although The Iron Cross was normally a military decoration only, though there were instances of it being awarded to civilians for performing military functions. We also recommend purchasing through a credit card or PayPal goods and services. cross is a rare variation of this class. canals which Rare picture section). slightly lower than the rim. An Iron Cross 2nd Class of the First World war. Cl., - marked "L/52" "20" by a soldier, or one that was perhaps received, worn, and shows its age. If the frame is tight you can't always do this by the way, it works on ones that have become slightly loose over time. produce the crosses unabated for both veteran and collector alike. Militaria Today can take no responsibility for the shipping, sale or authenticity of the products shown in our posts. ethical grounds, that materials other than iron for the inserts must not halves together. and file marks of an Iron Cross. This, instead of the entire The reverse has a small barrel hinge and a tapered pin. Beware of less open and honest dealers who can pass off aged fakes as the real deal. A nice way to humanise the history. The fastening mode could Frame *Zero live bidding commission is added on in addition to auctioneers fees where the "Flat Fee" registration option is available and chosen. The first class award, however, was meant to attach directly to the front of the uniform. not outlawed in Spain after World War II, Spanish mints continued to This is an excellent quality reproduction of the best known award of World War II: the German Iron Cross, or EKI (Eiserne Kreuz I)! Service and a reverse silver frame. To see more on our policy in this regard. A genuine subject matter expert should be engaged and consulted before contemplating the purchase of a KC. Within these attributes, there is a spectrum of quality The pin-and-catch mechanism can very often reveal clues as to who present the manufacturer's mark is found on either side of the pin, or on the reverse of the cross Hersteller (Manufacturer) Marking Maker Location They were produced with either silver or plated rims and with pin or screw attachments. Now in most cases they are cheaper copies that are clearly modern reproductions like this one below the is currently available from Soldier of Fortune. The EK2 was hung from the medal loop on a medal ribbon and could be attached to the breast on the ribbon. From WW1 or WW2 veterans of the allied forces all wanted to take home this iconic medal and as such, the fascination has been passed onto us as collectors. 10. (a reasonable assumption, one can Markt (industry trade magazine) reading as follows; "Recently, three firms have used brass and tombak THIS CROSS HAS LIGHT SURFACE RUST ON THE IRON CORE AND AT SOME POINT THE PAINT WAS REMOVED FROM THE SWASTIKA, MOST LIKELY BY THE ORIGINAL OWNER. There were 5,196,000 awarded, this is almost 1 in every 3 soldiers in the Imperial German army receiving one! Thin Blue Line flags, thin red line flags, subdued flags. The end Division and the Blue Legion with Iron Crosses. The rim was now ready to accept the center core, Single piece moulded fakes can therefore have paint on the lower inside portions of the silver coloured frames that adjoin the supposed black painted iron core from being painted after moulding. As collectors and historians we are always learning more from original documents and research so please be aware there are a few unknowns on the lists. thereby advise all firms that the regulations issued the War (Lots 979 to 1978). Cross WW2 Iron Cross First Class The First Class medal is the more difficult one to find and as only around 300,000 were issued, they have continued to see a steady increase in value. This central piece of the award usually GERMAN FIRST WORLD WAR IRON CROSS 1ST & 2ND CLASS By Robin Schaefer 30th March 2017 Regulars Regular Britain at War contributor, Robin Schaefer, takes a look at these iconic and well-recognised German decorations of the Great War in our regular series covering aspects of militaria collecting. Iron Cross 1st. $399.Front view showing the 1939 date.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'militariatoday_com-leader-2','ezslot_7',705,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-militariatoday_com-leader-2-0');Rear view with the screw plate in situ.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'militariatoday_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_3',706,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-militariatoday_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0');Rear view of the cross with the plate removed. article. First Class German Red Cross Decoration, Type III . 10 Steps TOOLS I will be comparing the WW2 iron cross which is a fake to a WW1 iron cross which is real. manufactured largely by hand, the Iron Cross 1939 was mass (not justifying the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross but having already been awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class) 24,204 (24,190 German, 14 Axis allies) German Cross in Silver Kriegsorden des Deutschen Kreuzes in Silber: The EKII ribbon issued during both wars could be indicated on a combat uniform by placing a strip of the ribbon through the second button hole down from the neck. WW2 German Waffenamt (Waa) Markings, Codes & Manufacturers. The First Class 1939 Iron Cross came in a variety of styles with a flat or convex blackened iron or alloy body. Below are some makers that have manufactured this Welcome to the WWII Forums! Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 921(a)(16) defines antique firearms as all guns manufactured prior to 1899. in this article bearing that name, Steinhauer & Luck double An iron core may also have traces of rust after over one hundred years - or less, in the case of WW2 examples. It is for sale from The Collectors Guild in the USA. Below is an example of an Iron Cross 1st class from Malcolm Wagner Militaria. WW2 Iron Cross 2nd class - with envelope of issue with maker mark "Walter & Henlein" - full length, original ribbon stitched to the suspender ring Medal in excellent, undamaged, uncleaned condition - envelope in used, faded, very worn condition . The iron core was Early War crosses are usually not marked. They were known in Germany as the Eisernes Kreuz I & II. The black painted Iron Core had its silver frame soldered together over the top of the iron core in two pieces from either side. sold out. This indicates that two sections of the frame have been joined over the top of the iron core. This Ford GPW is an early scripted version it has. As the originals are very valuable, they are also commonly faked and post-war hybrids or fakes are often quite convincingly passed off as the real thing. - Does the silver frame have any black paint on it? resembling that of the Iron Cross rim. distinguished different box available, made of black Spanish leather." There Is it of three sectioned / three piece construction? MAKERS MARKINGS #'s and NAME of manufacturer. Approximately 4.3 million Second Class Iron Crosses were issued, so as you can imagine, the number of variants is huge. War Zimmermann of Pforzheim. A nice EK grouping that came with the soldier's documents and photo albums. Not only are these items increasingly rare and valuable, they are also a lovely small item that can fit into a display frame of cabinet with ease. with most Iron Crosses the 1939 version was constructed of three pieces; The 1st Class of the Iron Cross was presented more scarcely, and Iron Cross 1st Class Field Made Iron Cross 100.00 1957 Knight's Cross of Iron Cross Ribbon Knights Cross Ribbon 100.00 WW2 Iron Cross 2nd Class Iron Cross 145.00 Iron Cross 2nd Class 1939 German Iron Cross 1939 145.00 Iron Cross 2nd Class Medal Carl Peellarth Iron Cross RESERVED German Iron Cross Medal 2nd Class German Iron Cross 2nd Class Documents Reddick Militaria's model of the 1939 1st Class Iron Cross features the desirable flat pin back in "coke bottle" shape, with the correct style hinge and clasp, and number "50" maker's mark. Location 19. on the reverse of the upper arm was added to keep the Cross from rotating on its axis. its muscle, as in July 1942 a notice was published in the Uniformen It is priced at 145.Front of the crossThe reverse of the crossif(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'militariatoday_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_23',550,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-militariatoday_com-large-leaderboard-2-0');Makers marks. Forum, A detail view at makers and characteristics of this class, A study of the 1939 Clasps presented to those that had earned the 1914 Iron Cross, click here to read the entire and Firearms I As German troops had the custom of actually wearing their awards and decorations into combat (as seen in virtually all wartime images) many soldiers legitimately made private purchases of licensed versions their awarded Crosses for field wear. Collecting is about community and enjoyment. Crosses with good original paintwork to the core tend to command higher prices, but the worn and knocked about ones also have a charm. Belts / Belt Buckles; Cloth Insignia; Documents and Photographs; Edged Weapons; Headgear; . 345. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Original German WW2 Iron Cross 2nd Class with Maker's Mark at the best online prices at eBay! variation is identical to the one described in the 2nd An Iron Cross separated An EK2 with a split frame clearly showing the 3 piece construction of a genuine Cross. One can only assume that the firms that were out of are "flat", some have a slightly convex appearance. Screw Back 1939 Iron Cross First Class $ 325.00. Germany. Show your support and buy veteran-made wooden American flags. The 1st class EK1 was awarded around 163,000 times during WW1 and would have been worn on the breast of the awardees uniform. 19448 WORLD WAR ONE IRON CROSS SECOND CLASS RING STAMPED AS FOUND more info 19438 IRON CROSS SECOND CLASS RING STAMPED 100 Stamped 100 for the maker Rudolf Wachler & Lange more info 19432 IRON CROSS SECOND CLASS RING STAMPED 25 Stamped 25 for the maker AG Hanau Berlin more info 19401 WORLD WAR ONE IRON CROSS SECOND CLASS Ring stamped Collectors / sellers with just one or two items to sell: Send us an email to info@militariatoday.comwith 3-5 clear photos of the item, item description (be as descriptive as possible), location, price and shipping options, and we will shortlist it to be included in upcoming articles. A. Werner & Sohne (See Manufacturers Marks), Heinrich Schneider (? Read and See More Miniature 1st Class Iron Cross 1914 and Spange 1939 Combo Looking at the side profile of the award confirms the correct multi-layer construction. rim, and should without very few exceptions be parallel with the bottom arm. Which assertion (if either) is correct will probably never be Over time these differences, as well as makers codes, have generated a buoyant collecting field. IMA works diligently to be aware of these ever changing laws and obeys them accordingly. The obverse of the cross bears the date 1939 under a "mobile" swas. FUR TREUE DIENSTE. April 1942 Script ford GPW Jeep April 1942 script ford. A 1939 Iron Cross 2nd Class maker marked 113 for Aurich. The one the the left, unmarked, has shaper details and is MILITARIA COLLECTING smooth rim and crisp beading. of it prior to 1941, before the LdO started enforcing quality As the swastika was "Nice little bakery that serves or caters India specific bakery menu. 1939 War Merit Cross First Class with Swords Marked "3" (Wilhelm Deumer) $ 175.00. Both grades of Iron Cross were manufactured by a number of different companies. There are wonderful experts out there who can take just one good look at a Cross and tell you whether it's real or fake, and possibly even who made it. The Luftwaffe and Kriegsmarine had the following criteria; the award was regularly awarded to U-boat Commanders upon sinking Iron Cross I and Iron Cross II, is created as follows: The rim is made of Iron Cross, , German Eiserne Kreuz, Prussian military decoration instituted in 1813 by Frederick William III for distinguished service in the Prussian War of Liberation. matt, while the one the the right (L/13) is semi-gloss and has a slight They were awarded after the 2nd Class Cross had been earned and this medal does not have a ribbon. Constructed of 3 pieces, the 1st class was a breast badge and therefore the reverse was a solid silvered metal plate with only the attachment mechanism present. carrying ring has been soldered on prior to this process. The smooth rear fixing plate isone the more common variations. therefore the reverse was a solid silvered This protects you in case the item never arrives or the item is not as described. If you wish to purchase any item online, we always recommend researching the items authenticity, consulting experts. During WW2 around 4,500,000 2nd class Iron Crosses were awarded and around 300,000 1st class. Overseas rates on request. first class, being a breast badge, featured a plain silvered reverse with only the Pay attention to detail. Here is an example from The Militaria Shop. In the case of two makers, C.F. They represent military gallantry, albeit from the other side of those major conflicts for Aussie collectors. As in the case of the 2nd Class, unmarked crosses are perfectly massive silver, the black middle piece is made of iron. Fakers can also add numbers to Crosses, so look out for that, and often multiple factors should be taken into account over and above a maker mark to determine real from an aged fake. Uniforms brass center. Marked, Shinkelform WW2 German Dog Tags & Paperwork for Sale. Although it was distributed in great numbers, the superior quality of the crosses manufactured remained consistent. If you take a strong magnet the iron in the cross will easily stick to it. article). 575,000 Iron Cross 1st Class were awarded during World War II. tougher. There is also a rusting phenomenon This a nice example of a WWII Iron Cross First Class 1939, with a Magnetic core, flat design, and back clip attachment. The fakes are made of cheap metals that won't stick to the magnet. Clasp to the Iron Cross 1939 1st Class, 2nd Type by S & L. Germany. these Crosses were used, or at least preferred, by Kriegsmarine personnel This law exempts antique firearms from any form of gun control or special engineering. It is priced at 325.Front view. the technological advancements were carried over to the awards industry - where previous Iron Crosses had been Wehrmacht. Genuine manufacture has the black painted iron core in the centre, then the silver frame mounted from either side. Documents soldered, a "Jeweler Stick" was used to run frosting on the The medal could be worn either on its own or as part of a larger group and mounted onto a pin-on bar. Remembering, employing, empowering our nation's heroes. This sheet metal The award had two variants: with swords given to soldiers . War Iron Crosses are a fascinating part of WW1 and WW2 History (earlier if you choose to go back to the original Prussian awards). WW2 Relics New in Stock @ The Militaria Shop. It is maker marked 65on the clip stem, and is in verygood condition. Related This example available from Regimentalsin the UK shows the screw back fastener. around it. Whether its individual pieces or full collections, well buy it. ), Schwartz (? On the obverse, all grades featured a mobile swastika in the center, However, it is ultimately the responsibility of the buyer to be in compliance of laws that govern their specific location. The striking of the core was also a two part process - a first strike to War The ribbon worn on the 2nd Class medals during WW1 was black-white-black and then the ribbon was re-coloured black-white-red to reflect the new colours representing Nazi Germany in the late 1930s. A 1939 Iron Cross First Class marked 65 for Klein & Quenzer. The first variant we shall discuss is the oversized Iron Cross. [ 23. that is a Maltese Cross (more accurately a Formee Cross), of course with the Every musket, rifle, display machine gun, machine gun parts set or gun sold by IMA, Inc is engineered to be inoperable according to guidelines provided by the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATF). "The Knights Cross of the Iron Cross, similar to the By leaving an Autobid our system will automatically bid on your behalf up to the amount you specify here during the live sale. This is almost a sure sign your iron cross is real. There are many makers who were licensed to make the Crosses as either original award pieces, or as private purchases for field wear by awardees Internet lists of maker numbers can be found online. Overall though, the medal didn't change too much between the two wars. A nice Iron Cross 2nd Class / EK2 marked Maker Marked '24'. in this article bearing that name. Having said that, at least one maker of high quality reproductions has made magnetic reproductions in the past, but these don't show up too frequently thankfully. The It had been put forth for many years that an Iron Cross that has maintained its gleaming silver finish through the years This award was created by Adolf Hitler in October 1939 as a successor to the non-combatant Iron Cross which was used in earlier wars (similar medal but with a different ribbon). Another thing that adds value to a medal is when it comes with the box or paper envelope that it was issued in. authentication is very difficult. Wehrmacht-Awards.com Most crosses will show evidence of filing all around Clickhere to see the list of our currentpartner sites. to find examples with Prasidialkanzlei and LDO markings on them. There are of course innocent dealers who have been fooled with a convincing fake, and then unintentionally passed it on to an unwitting customer. Crosses are often found unmarked and you must compare frames and cores to known examples to find the maker. They were awarded after the 2nd Class Cross had been earned and this medal does not have a ribbon. Both were given to soldiers for bravery, as well as other significant acts when in a combat environment.Iron Cross Second Class when worn. Cross 1st Class made of cloth did exist during the Third Reich, but they post Though unmarked, this German WW2 EKI bears all of the hallmarks of the K&Q maker, and is a stunning example retaining 90% of its black finish, with a nice patina around the edges and absolutely no rust or corrosion. For questions or accessibility help - please call (908) 903-1200. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners. seas). We also recommend purchasing through a credit card or PayPal goods and services. Once On this one you can see a little ko stamped on the top which is a sure sign the cross is real. Be the first to know of our latest discoveries and exclusive offers. This example is for sale from The Ruptured Duck in the USA. Between 300,000 and involved the eyelet, which was soldered on by hand to temporarily hold the two $375.00 ` IRONCROSS #43356C 1st Class Spange This 1st Class Spange is in nice condition throughout, with good detailing to the bird and wreathed swastika. relation to the rim since these also range a few millimeters up or down, although they should never be touching the than others. Related Awarded for additional acts of valour to those already awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class. The French Bread Factory. Like the 2nd class, Iron Crosses military decoration produced in such quantities, with crisp details and sharp These soldiers I dare say would find it amusing to see how much discussion and bickering goes on over maker marks, patina etc on the awards they won in battle. The First Class medal is the more difficult one to find and as only around 300,000 were issued, they have continued to see a steady increase in value. Non magnetic versions were made as cheaper private purchases options for field wear or second pieces by awardees. This is where a magnifying glass comes in handy. We accept payment by UK cheque, bank transfer, or cash (Euros, US$ or GBP). was distributed in great numbers, the superior quality of the crosses manufactured Oszeres, Jan 26, 2010 #23. chris222 recruit. These were highly prized as war trophies and souvenirs by Allied soldiers. The catch, however, is broken off. On this real WW1 cross you can see the fine details on the leaves and crown. The least issued and more expensive variant is the pin or screw-back model, known simply to collectors as the Iron CrossFirst Class. This example is in good condition and has some age patina to the edge and light wear to the blacked centre. the Iron Cross. The German Iron Cross issued during WW1 or WW2 is one of the most collected of all war medals and yet they are still reasonably easy to find. When the two halves were soldered the the touch. The rim of Medals ww1 Iron Cross 2nd class Maker mark Remembered Today: 2563 Member Alice BRIGNELL Womens Royal Air Force who died 01/12/1918 SOUTHEND-ON-SEA (SUTTON ROAD) CEMETERY United Kingdom GWF is free to use so please support the Forum ww1 Iron Cross 2nd class Maker mark By roypaule, 15 February , 2014 in Medals Share Followers 0 roypaule Old Sweats 86 arm. This construction technique, which resulted in considerable savings in remained consistent. A 1939 Iron Cross 2nd Class marked 65 for Klein & Quenzer. Two examples of this were civilian test pilots Hanna Reitsch who was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class and 1st Class and Melitta Schenk Grfin von Stauffenberg, who was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class, for their actions as pilots during World War II. However, many are sadly well constructed and are frequently sold as original. The 1st and 2nd Class of the 1939 Iron Cross measured 44mm and were perfectly The order of the Iron Cross was founded by King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia, after the "Freidenskrieg," or war of liberation from Napoleon, in 1813. and Firearms Here are views of the. usually held securely in place by the construction, although in some early Iron Some Swastikas were high and were level with the rim, while others were