Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse x2 - Original or not?

[Hastriq]

Hi all! I've had these in the collection for a while now, and I've always wondered about their authenticity. I'm by no means an expert on these awards, so I've been doing a bunch of research online, and I wanted to get some opinions from those more knowledgeable than I.

Here's the first cross, marked 4 for Steinhauer & Lück:








...and here's the second one, marked 55 for J.E. Hammer & Sohne:








Both have magnetic cores. What do you think? I've got some ideas/concerns for each, but I'd really like to hear what people's impressions are.

[Adrian]

Welcome.

Both EKs are original and by the makers you state. The ribbons are also good.

[Hastriq]

Thanks Adrian! That's great to hear. I wasn't sure about the Steinhauer & Lück mark...all the examples I could find are stamped like the 55 on the Hammer & Sohne, rather than etched(?) like on mine. Do you know what the rhyme or reason is behind how those makers marks are added?

[rbminis]

Please read this thread regarding posting in the Orders and Decorations section of the forum.
Uploading photos and posting multiple items.
Ralph.

[Adrian]

Apologies, my mistake for looking at it on my phone and no glasses.

I believe this is an EK by maker 24 - Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Hanauer Plaket-ten-hersteller.
The number 2 is missing from the stamp for some reason.

[Adrian]

There is another example in the thread below that has a poorly struck mark.

Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse 24

[Hastriq]

Oh cool! Yes, that looks a lot more like the 4 on mine than the other Steinhauer & Lück ones I was seeing. Can't see any signs of a 2, but if there are other ones that are struck like that then that could be a really neat explanation.

I saw in the thread you linked that there could be a mark on the suspension ring as well...I just looked at mine again and there may actually be a mark there, although I can't make it out. I'm going to post a separate thread for this one (having been suitably admonished, lol) with a picture of that mark as well. I'd love it if you would take a look at that to see if it's in line with other Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Hanauer Plaket-ten-hersteller examples.

[Adrian]

Have a look in the thread below about extra marks on the suspension ring.

Extra marks on '24' EK2s.....

[Hastriq]

Thanks! Just took a look. Mine doesn't really look like any of the ones on that thread, but then it's also extremely difficult to tell. I just posted some pics in the new thread. Let me know what you think!