EK2 mm 49. Warning

**Adrian** · 01-30-2012, 11:08 PM

by AMTG

You were saying these are original crosses stamped with a "49"......are the flaws in the actual cross period??? I'm just a little confused

No, fake cross and non existant makers mark. You will never find an original EK2 from maker '49'. This manufacturer didn't make EKs.

**Espenlaub Militaria** · 01-30-2012 11:08 PM

We also buy and trade your items and full collections!

**plumbob** · 01-30-2012, 11:17 PM

Thanks guys.
I take it that the core is made of iron on this type and makers marked fake ek?
Rod

**SteveR** · 01-30-2012, 11:36 PM

Great information.

**Woolgar** · 01-31-2012, 09:25 AM

Here is a close up of the mm of the one being offered at the moment. A nice clear unmistakable 49

Nick

**Troy Tempest** · 01-31-2012, 10:49 AM

Hi Nick, exactly how much money would be in faking an EKII? I know I only have one, but is there really enough money to be made by faking EKIIs? Surely it would take a bit of effort to actually set up and manufacture them? Do they use 1914 EKIIs as a base, then somehow modify those? Clearly there is a market, as this 49 shows, it just seems to me that it is a lot of tooling up so to speak, just to make, what, $100? A bit more? After expenses? How many would you have to move to make it worth your while? An EKI or some other more expensive award I can understand, I just don't understand the economics of an EKII. Or is it really easy and cheap to knock them out?

**Danny70** · 01-31-2012, 11:02 AM

As far as I am aware, (I may be wrong on this) Mr. Floch started knocking these out as souvenirs after the war, and believe me, they are everywhere!
They have nothing in common with any wartime makers crosses and don't use a 1914 as a base, but with the amount of them produced, I'm sure they have well paid for themselves by now.

**Adrian** · 01-31-2012, 11:12 AM

You make a fake crosses for a few dollars each and sell them for a hundred and you have quite a nice business. You make Ritterkreuz for a few dollars each and sell them for several thousand you can earn a living! Mark them with fake or unheard of makers marks, sell them as rare originals and gullible collectors will snap them up all day long. There is a market for Third Reich medals and decorations, the fakers are merely exploiting the greed of the unwary and uninformed. If there was no money in it people wouldn't do it. It's simple business and economics, supply and demand!

**Carfin LEWYS** · 01-31-2012, 11:25 AM

Hi Nick & Adrian,

Thank you very much for the warning & specially for the clear details explanations.
Regards from Alsace : France.
Carfin.

**Troy Tempest** · 01-31-2012, 11:35 AM

by Adrian

You make a fake crosses for a few dollars each and sell them for a hundred and you have quite a nice business. You make Ritterkreuz for a few dollars each and sell them for several thousand you can earn a living! Mark them with fake or unheard of makers marks, sell them as rare originals and gullible collectors will snap them up all day long. There is a market for Third Reich medals and decorations, the fakers are merely exploiting the greed of the unwary and uninformed. If there was no money in it people wouldn't do it. It's simple business and economics, supply and demand!

Hi Nick, I certainly appreciate there is a market for fakes, I've bought some myself over the years

I was just wondering about the physical side of manufacturing the EK. Does that involve dies etc, a tool shop so to speak? Modifying a 1914 EKII? If they do that, how do you put a swastika onto the 1914 EKII and get rid of the crown etc? I realise it is an industry, I just don't know anything about the manufacturing side of it. I've always wondered whether someone got hold of a genuine set of dies or something like that, or is it pretty easy to get new ones made? I'm not seeking info to set up shop myself, just curious.