Brass 1939 Eisernes Kreuz 1st class original?

[Sohail]

Hi there,
I have been thinking of purchasing this piece but I don't know much about it and I need some opinions. It is listed as a 1939 Eisernes Kreuz 1st class with a non magnetic brass core cased in a LDO box. I have read about brass iron crosses but I simply know nothing about them and I have no good knowledge on LDO boxes either, so I am grateful for any advice.






Kind regards, Sohail

[jamie7d7]

The cross looks like a Rudolf Souval made cross, one easy way to tell is the exaggerated beading at either edge of the top arm of the cross. Also, I know there is something about the swastika being on a pedestal (ie having the appearance of being raised) but I'm no great oracle of these awards so couldn't tell you for definite, although I would wager towards the swastika being on a pedestal as the wartime ones.



Whilst there are many brass cored EK1s in existence, for it to be a proper LDO cross, the core would have to be iron, the strict rules set by the LDO stipulated that for it to be an "Iron Cross", the core had to be the traditional iron construction. There are examples of LDO marked EK1 with brass cores however, these are rare... and expensive to boot.

For me personally, I would leave this set and look for a better, matched combination. I imagine the price is lower than usual and hence, one of the attractions.

Cheers

Jamie

P.S. Here is a useful website for looking at different makers of these awards

EK1-DNA

[Sohail]

Thank you for the reply and for the website link I will definitely use the advice given.
So original cross in the wrong box maybe?

[jamie7d7]

It's certainly in the wrong box.

Whether or not it is a wartime Souval or a post war I couldn't say for definite.

Souval crosses (and most other of their awards) are always a sticky area as they were produced long after the war ended . Hopefully the EK1 specialists here can set you right.

[Sohail]

Hopefully they can, but I am very thankful for the advice.