EK good or bad?

[Perry]

I got a call today from a guy who said he had something for me to look at. He wanted $40us so I thought what the heck I have wasted that much before so I took a chance.

What do you think? If it is not good please tell my why. If you need a different shot just let me know.

Thanks
Mike

[history-buff1944]

Nice cross with repo ribbon. $40 for it is a great price. I see these regularly going for about $65-$85, depending on what site you look at?

[Adrian]

Nice cross with repo ribbon. $40 for it is a great price. I see these regularly going for about $65-$85, depending on what site you look at?

I completely agree with the above.

[Perry]

HB thanks for the insight. How do I tell that the ribbon is a repo? I was also wondering who the manufacture was. It looks like a KO on the ring.

Thanks
Mike

[Chopperman]

I agree with what's already been posted. I can not tell you with absolute certainty if
the ribbon is good or bad (from the pictures provided) But just judging from the
absolutely mint condition of the ribbon and the average condition of the cross, that
the ribbon is a new repro.

The old standby for checking ribbons is to use a black light on them. An original old
ribbon should not glow under UV light. This test is not fool proof. There are new ribbons
being made with non-UV reactive material. Also there is the burn test. This can tell you if
the material is old silk or cloth thread or if it is a new plastic based threads.

The most common and better made fake ribbons right now are stitched down one side of the
ribbon and looped down the other. Originals should have both edges looped. (See attached photos)

New ribbons are usually stiff. My 1870 ribbons are silk and as soft as a babies butt. My 1813 ribbon is about as delicate as a butterflys wings. I hat to even touch it for fear of doing it damage.

[Perry]

Chopperman,

Thanks for the info and pics for comparison. I had already done the light test and it passed. Burn test came out good. However, it is stiff and my wife says there is no way it is silk. I set the micrometer to 1cm and I only count 12 stitches even though it looks like it is looped on both ends and not stitched. That is OK. It looks good displayed with the cross but now I will make sure that I tell folks it is a repo. Do these measurements work for the the WWII crosses as well?

Thanks again for the help.
Mike

[Perry]

I done another burn test after reading a thread on it. It was cotton. My wife thinks the ribbon does not have loops on both sides. I am not so sure but it is stiff. I count either 11 or 12 ribs in 1cm and based on what is posted here it is not real. The ribbon does not match the wear of the cross because the guy I bought it from traded for the ribbon to add it to the cross. I just want to let him know what I have found out.

Thanks again.
Mike