Gordon Williamson

A few sample pages on the Knight's Cross winners of the KVK from the forthcoming book. Currently at the layout stages so should hopefully appear later in the year.

Schwerin did do a rather nice Fleet War Badge

I've only ever had the segmented swastika on horizontal pin versions,but it is entirely possible that they exist on the vertical pin version also.

Here is a needle pin version, but the wide pin version had exactly the same hinge/retaining clip.

High Seas Fleet Badges by this maker should have a ball hinge with either needle or flat pin. Both the hinge and retaining clip should be staked into recessed areas of the reverse.

Not one I would buy.

Please check out this new magazine.

http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=1535...mp;#entry150166

More Torpedo Boat Ribbons

The Torpedo Boats.

Only the early pre-war built boats were named, later vessels were just given numbers. Known as the "Raubtier" class they were all named after wild animals/birds.

This is the "Albatros". All the early boats were originally painted black, later changed to pale grey.

Some more Destroyer ribbons (Prinz Eugen and Blücher ribbons added to photos of ships)

Also a very very nice example, and with the less common form of retaining hook.

The reason I asked is that as late as the late 70s I was buying '57 stuff from German sources (including S&L) which had early type pins (the type soldered to a barrel type sleeve and not the wrap around type). You badge is a nice piece, and far better than the crap quality they turned out from the mid-late 80s but not what I would have called early.

Very nice, and good to see with the quality frosted finish, but if I may ask, why do you define this as "Early" with this type of pin fitting ?

Eduardo

Here is a photo you may like. Not many people know about the Ritterkreuztr?ger of the KVK in the Marine Artillerie !

This is one case where I really do think Schwerin were top - the First Pattern E-Boat. Superbly made products and you won't find a much better example than the one you have shown Jody. Lovely !

On the other hand, Schwerin's Second Pattern wasn't much to rave about and finding one with any finish at all is difficult, to say nothing of the hideous bubbling they always suffer. I always thought AS were the finest of the Second Patterns, though I did see a 100% mint RS that looked superb.

I think though, that you have the perfect unasailable combination Jody, minty Schwerin 1st Pattern with minty AS Second Pattern, the dream team.

Very interesrting Werftleistungsabzeichen. Never seen a marked one before, but I do like the look of this one.

It often used to be claimed that original period stickpins should have a twist to the pin but that theory is utter nonsense. There are plenty of good original pieces with smooth pins and plenty of fakes with twisted pins. It's an irrelevance.

In the case of this award, most originals I have seen have had smooth untwisted pins, but I wouldn't treat that as a determining factor.

I like yours.

I still think GWL did by far the nicest Destroyer badge though.

Whilst I'm not a big fan of Schwerin (some of their stuff is nice, but some is pretty cruddy), I did quite like their Destroyer badge, even though some of them have that horribly mis-struck swastika.

Superb. Whilst the EK1 Spange still turns up regularly with most of its frosting intact, this one is exceptional ! Simply stunning.

Super collection Eduardo. A much under-rated subject area which has not had anything like the attention it deserves. Good to see someone who had dedicated themselves to building a world class quality collection of such terrific items.

Wonderful pieces Eduardo, especially the Flugmeldedienst.

Alexey,

My gut feeling is that you have a good original clasp. The dimensions are spot on, exactly right so this clearly isn't a casting which would have been slightly smaller due to shrinkage. Weight is also correct.

I would be happy to have this one in my collection.

Robert,

Thank you for the kind words. I'm afraid that the Iron Cross book is now completely sold out. The publisher does intend reprinting it however, though I don't think any date has been fixed as yet.

Stunning example of one of the nicest Spange variants. A real "one-looker". Congratulations, its not often one sees such a nice example, and cased too !

Stunning piece Jody. They don't come much better than that !!

Another view of hook. Note the excess solder typical on these. The poorly formed ENTW. lettering is also typical on First Patterns