Souval DKiG - Wehrmacht-Awards.com Militaria Forums

**Nigel N** · 09-02-2011, 05:29 AM

Hi Guys, i've been after a Souval DK for a while, and now i've finally got one!!!
Its a mix of S&L and i guess Souvals own parts!!!
The hardware is a mix of both makers, as we often see on the blank core Souval EK's, there are no rivets, and in typical Souval style, the backplate, starburst,wreath and EK are all glued together!!
The pin is the second style S&L, the ring is enamelled.
One thing you notice with the piece in hand is the light weight, the backplate is thicker than S&L's. but must be made of a much lighter material, overall this DK weighs in at 47g, which is a lot less than an S&L of a similar period, at least the ones i've got!!!
So heres some pics......052.JPG

053.JPG

**Nigel N** · 09-02-2011, 05:30 AM

054.JPG

055.jpg

**Nigel N** · 09-02-2011, 05:31 AM

Reverse....any idea what the number 1741 might be for??????056.JPG

057.JPG

**Nigel N** · 09-02-2011, 05:32 AM

002.JPG

003.JPG

**Nigel N** · 09-02-2011, 05:33 AM

pin MM'd L/58001.JPG

006.JPG....date box

**Nigel N** · 09-02-2011, 05:34 AM

EK, 2nd style S&L with the short fat oak leaves....007.JPG
-Nigel

Matthieu · 09-02-2011, 10:21 AM

Nigel, you know I'm a sucker for Souval pieces ... especially RK's.
But I also have a weak spot for the DKiG and I must say I really do like this piece

.

One can say that postwar Souval does not have much quality or value, but I beg to differ.
Looking at this 57er - where similar hardware was used to create postwar DKiG's with swastika - it still shows good quality.

IMO a very good buy, as these will be going up in value and will be sought after in the future.
There are quite some Souval fans out there, some of them belong to the 57er family.

Thanks for showing, buddy

.

Grtz
Mathijs

esquiroz · 09-02-2011, 10:24 AM

Hello

I aslo have one, and that's the second I see, not more. Mine in not in that fine shape and is not makermarked. NICE FIND,
Any choice to know where you got it?
regards
Carlos

grueni1208 · 09-02-2011, 10:51 AM

I'm not sure, but is there an evidence that Souval produced 57 DK's?
Many years there are no 57 DK's by Souval, but the last 2 years there are 2 or 3 DK's on ebay.
Souval didn't produced 57 RK's. Why 57 DK's?

IMO it's possible that the swas were removed and a 57 iron cross for DK's pasted into.

**Nigel N** · 09-02-2011, 11:43 AM

Thanks for your comments guys!!
@Daniel, anything is possible, especially with Souval, pieces that are glued and not rivetted are much easier to alter!!
If it did start out with a swastika, its possible that it was altered by Souval themselves, as many Souval 57 pieces, especially war and qualification badges started life as Third Reich copies, and had the swastika removed, sometimes before, sometimes after final finishing, and were then sold as 57ers!!
-Nigel

PS.....Just had a close look under a loupe, and there is glue around a couple of the edges of the EK, and on both the inside and outside edge of the wreath, it looks like animal glue, which has yellowed with age, the glue around the EK is consistent with that around the wreath, and also looks the same as the glue used by Souval on blank core EK frames.
So i think the EK has been on there a long time!!!!!!!!!

Seewolf · 09-02-2011, 02:22 PM

I agree that if the swaz has removed and changed with an EK...then it must have happened in the factory of Souval. EK and the rest of the DK have the same quality and condition so i doubt that it has been done later.

2-3 DK´s in two 2 years at ebay says IMO not much......57ers in all variants were underrated and many guys stored these pieces in their collection without thinking about them. And now they slowly recognize that they have such pieces and up to ebay

We still do not saw a Deumer heeres para for a few years and then -> BANG -> about 3-4 in 6 months. Since then no more......

It´s always the same.....shortly pieces turn up im "masses" for a while and then stop for a longer time

But enough of that, Great DK, Nigel

All looks very good, nice quality and a rare piece. I really like it

grueni1208 · 09-03-2011, 04:51 AM

Sounds logical.

jonathancol · 09-04-2011, 09:59 AM

I have 3 Souval DK's and all have the yellowish glue on the swastika in the middle. It looks like it has some glue left at the exact points the swastika was glued down (and shape), so it must have had it at one time.

In my opinion, not Souval issued, but a nice looking piece nonetheless.

**Nigel N** · 09-06-2011, 10:05 AM

There are some area's of discoloration and dirt on the backplate, but not glue, the only yellow glue is on the edges of the EK and the wreath!!
IMO 100% Souval......026.JPG

Bob Hritz · 09-07-2011, 11:53 AM

In the years I corresponded with Herr Umlauff, Managing Director of Firma Rudolf Souval, I had never heard of any 1957 versions produced by said firma.

I believe these are left over parts from the sale of Souval's material, when the firma changed hands. With increased interest in 1957 version awards, the parts were completed with easily available St&L Iron Cross central devices. That work was not done by Firma Souval or by St&L. It was done by a collector or dealer.

I corresponded with Herr und Frau Umlauff from 1966 until 1975. I had never seen any offering of 1957, in their catalogues, and was never offered any 1957 version orders or decorations. They were too busy making Third Reich awards complete with swastika.

Bob Hritz