Eisernes Kreuz 2.Klasse - fake or real

[Walkwolf]

Would have fooled me in a dimly lit hall - or on a small computer screen.

Good spotting Adrian.........!

[Adrian]

Just to clarify a couple of points made in the thread:

If any black paint is on the outer rim of the medal from the parts i have marked in yellow. Sometimes on repros, especially lazy ones; traces of black paint is on the rims

Not sure what is meant by 'lazy'? Do you mean the lazy 2 Juncker Ritterkreuz? If so, this doesn't apply to the EK2, no EK2 has been found with a genuine wartime '2' stamp.
Black paint on the beading is not a sign of a fake as Stefan also points out. Several manufacturers resprayed or repainted the cores after the crosses were assembled and perfectly original crosses can be found with black paint on the beading.

oh right thanks for the information its really kind of you as of marker on the ring it was fe or fd

F, FO, FR, Fr and FW are the only ones that I can think of I don't seem to recall a fe or fd so with that mark I am slightly stumped

Third Reich EK2s will not have a makers mark that is just made up of letters. They will be found with either just a number which is the PKZ designation or in the case of an LDO piece, a number prefixed with an 'L'. If you find a TR EK2 with letters and no numbers you need to view it with suspicion or at least consider the possibility the ring has been replaced with an Imperial EK2 ring.

[Nick Hessens]

It fooled me. Good call Adrian!

[n0valyfe]

We learn something new everyday :-) Thanks Adrian