Gordon Williamson

Reverse.

The smaller fake has the L/12 mark in the centre, the larger die struck one has L12 800, and also has the pin with the Steinhauer "4" mark.

This fake comes in two versions. One is die struck in real silver, measuring 45mm x 37mm and weighing 37gr. The other is cast, probably using the same die struck version as a "master" and isn't realsilver. It weighs30gr and measures just 43mm x 36mm. Even though the difference in size between the cast and die struck fakes is slight, it is enough to be visible.

Super jacket. And from the best source - you can be sure that anything Michel owned will be good.

Looks like a very nice (and rare) early Tombak piece by Klein & Quenzer. I've only seen a couple of these very hard to find badges.

A full on shot would be better as this is at a slight angle and could possibly be W?chtler & Lange but my bet would be K & Q.

In any case a much nicer, and scarcer badge than the Schwerin which are quite ugly and quite common. I would much rather have one of these than a Schwerin.

Good original badge but definitely not Schwerin. As you suggest,most likely a Juncker type.

Could be OK but its not the normal Souval setup. There would normally be a raised rectangular positioning mark visibleat the top of the badge ( into which the hinge is set), and the retaining hook would usually be on a small disc.

Reverse

Gordon.

That's BEAUTIFUL That is the one TR piece I am determined to add to my collection. I saw one, with a shorter piece of ribbon, at a gun show. He wanted $2500 for it but had it in a frame so I couldn't get a hands on look at it. I'll just keep looking. Again, A very nice piece. You are Very Lucky!!!

Doc

Thanks Doc, glad you like it. They are all nice, but for me the Steinhauer is the finest of all the RK of the KVK for sheer quality of the striking. Zimmermann is probably a bit rarer - took me years to track one down-but not at nice as S&Ls piece.

Here they are together - Deschler 900 1, Steinhauer 935 4, Zimmermann 900 20

Whats more than ineresting on the mini Gordon is the Ldo logo !!!

Thats the first time I have ever seen that whole logo depicted on anything other than paper related materials as such.

That is the framed, oblate oval part of the logo, very interesting mate !!

Kr

Marcus

Marcus,

Here is a better shot of the marking on the button of the mini

Thanks for the kind comments guys. Please let me know if you spot any errors so I can compile a list for any future reprint.

Good original piece. Looks like a Deumer, although Deumer usually have a cut-out swastika.

The Heavy Cruisers. First Admiral Hipper, as built, with straight stem, open bridge and no funnel cap.

And after refit, with clipper bow, funnel cap etc, but note mast still attached to funnel.

Super shot of Gneisenau at speed

Gneisenau as built. For some reason Gneisenau ribbons are much harder to find than Scharnhorst

And one of her after her refit with the "Atlantic" clipper bow and removal of the aircraft catapult from the aft turret. Still with no funnel cap.

As built Scharnhorst and Gneisenau were virtual clones. Easy way to tell them apart in later photos is that Scharnhorst's mainmast was moved from abaft the funnel to the after superstructure, whilst Gneisenau's remained on the funnel.

Another, more dramatic, view of Scharnhorst, inspiration for the High Seas Fleet War Badge.

The Battleships or "Schlachtschiffe". Strictly speaking by UK/US standards these would be classed as Battlecruisers, lacking the heavy hitting power of the 15" or larger guns carried by most true Battleships.

Scharnhorst, as built, with straight stem, no funnel cap and aircraft catapult on aft turret.

The third of the Panzerschiffe, Admiral Scheer. As built she was a virtual clone of Graf Spee, but later had her pagoda style bridge tower removed and her forward superstructure redesigned.

The most famous of the sisters, Admiral Graf Spee

Next, the "Pocket Battleships", more correctly termed "Armoured Ships" or Panzerschiffe. They were subsequently reclassified as Heavy Cruisers (Schwere Kreuzer)

First the Deutschland, instantly recognisable by her unique superstructure. Later renamed "Lutzow" for fear of the propaganda value to the allies if a ship bearing the name of the nation was sunk.

Her sister, the Schlesien, had a fairly quiet life during the war, but was brought back into service in 1945 for shore bombardment and rescue of refugees/wounded from the Baltic regions.

Here's a look at some of the named ship ribbons (no shore establishments ) for the Kriegsmarine's warships. Starting with the older vessels ( and ignoring Bismark/Tirptz which never had ribbons).

The venerable old Schleswig-Holstein. Might not look much, but she fired the opening shots of World War Two with the attack on the Polish fortress of Westerplatte.

Her classification used the old term "Ship of the Line", or Linienschiff.

Its amazing whats still arouund, when I looked at the machinery it still has the die stamp in it, it looks like it was for an EK but its really coroded and I didnt feel like getting wet so I couldnt tell for sure. theres maybe 3 presses all together, but one of them is partially covered with concrete and they are HUGE!!! alot bigger than I thought they would be. I know some EK's were made in Idar-Oberstein but i wasnt aware of any KM badges?

Eric

Very interesting piece Eric.

I think it was quite normal to do "test" stamping in a softer metal before production started, so this story is perfectly believable.

Klein & Quenzer from Idar-Oberstein did make some Kriegsmarine badges for sure.