"Questionable" weekend find......... "KO" - EKI

**Walkwolf** · 11-17-2009, 07:10 AM

Picked up two awards this past weekend at a show from the same dealer.
I was leery and worried about this one after looking at both in
the light of day.......

This is a fine and delicate cross however, which is what attracted me to it.
It's magnetic - a good sign, but after talking with 3 collector friends who did
not come up with definitive answers as to it being genuine or not, I thought
I'd post it, as I know "Chopperman" and some others here are the real experts !

One guy mentioned something about a "jewellers copy" which really
had me groaning ! !...................I'll be quite relieved if I hear good things
about it !

**Chopperman** · 11-17-2009, 04:27 PM

Nothing at all wrong with that cross. It is 100% original and is
probably a wartime issued cross. It does look like it has been
cleaned at some point (probably by the dealer).

"KO" is one of the most common maker marked crosses that
we see. They are presumed to be the supplier of the awarded
iron crosses. Most vaulted, screwback, or silver marked crosses
are thought to be private purchase crosses.

Hope this helps,
Greg

BTW--I am in no way an expert. I just spend too much time
on the forums

**Walkwolf** · 11-17-2009, 06:56 PM

Helps me immensely Greg ! !

I Thought I was losing my mind !
I feel much better now................Thanks !

I guess everyone I talked to had nothing solid to say because it
was polished and looked "new" to them.

**Dimas** · 11-17-2009, 07:06 PM

Very nice original cross

**oradour** · 11-17-2009, 09:54 PM

Walkwolf , i concur with Chopperman, a fine original KO marked cross, which has most of its black paint, KO crosses are notorious for core paint loss, see mine and Choppermans on ' Imperial EK's ' post and you will see what i mean. The maker KO is ' Konigliches Munzamt Orden ' the awards department of the Imperial Mint in Berlin.

**Steven M** · 11-17-2009, 10:14 PM

by Walkwolf

Helps me immensely Greg ! !
I guess everyone I talked to had nothing solid to say because it
was polished and looked "new" to them.

Hi, as the others have said, it is a good one. *In examining a piece for originality, the condition really has nothing to do with originality. Knowing how the piece was constructed does on the other hand. I have seen mint original Imperial pieces passed over for "fakes" just because they were so pristine.

*However, if weight, construction, maker marks and hardware type are throwing red flags, then I suppose looking "too new" might be the nail in the coffin on that piece, but never as a stand alone determining factor...IMHO

**Walkwolf** · 11-17-2009, 10:26 PM

Thanks for the responses ! !

The construction and pin seemed ok to me on this one,
and I am familiar with most maker marks, also what
"KO" represents ie: issued pieces, but was somewhat
unsure of it's authenticity, as everything it seems
is being faked these days......

( Interestingly, just before I bought this one I had placed a bid
on ebay for another "KO" EKI at a good start price not
expecting to win, but as it turned out, I was the only bidder !)

Have several more EKIs which I'll post here once my
camera battery is charged up !