Avitas

WOW Norway must be a hotbed for nice badges! The sheer number and variations on each badge is mind-boggling for a beginner such as me. You must have been one of the lucky ones that "got in on the ground floor" as they say. Unbelievable collection Jan! Pat

Nice stuff Don, I seem to collect mainly the same as you with the low-priced TR awards (except you have quite a few more doubles and an extremely nice wound badge collection). These items are usally under $100 which makes it way easier and fun for those of us who don't have too much extra cash lying around (and can't bear to actually save up for anything big ). Thanks for the nice pics, Pat

Very informative on post on DDR medals Dan It seems you have a very good selection of documents to go with the nice medals. I have many of the pins and badges that you have pictured, plus a few more that you haven't posted. I have a few different "GST" badges (among others) and I was wondering what that stood for, as I really don't know much about DDR, but apparently I have still managed to acquire lots of it. I will have to get on the scanner and post some of my DDR stuff for your viewing! Mostly pins, badges and shoulder and collar tabs. I really like the Kampfgruppen set, the image of the AK toting soldier is classic. The banner awards are also a neat variation of the Soviet Red Banner award, and together would make a good set for the era. Here are my Major-Oberst DDR Airforce collar tabs for kicks. Cheers, Pat

Yep, same guy. I actually got almost all of these as one big package deal when I had no idea what these were even worth, so I figured 40-50 bucks each was the going rate. He did say they were original despite what I later learned were extremely cheap prices (which turned out to be expensive repros ). Needless to say I was suspicious of most of them the more I studied, and that is why I posted them to get a definite answer. I haven't bought off of him in well over a year, so my later purchases have all been 100% aok (like my EKs and member pins etc) so I think I have learned a very important (and pricey) lesson. Unfortunately I have no receipts and it was over 2 years ago, so he is not listening to me about a refund. At least I have an example of a repro in every badge! Thankfully I did not pay close to full value on these, and that is at least small confort. Thanks again, Pat

and the reverse, with Stirling 825 marking. Pat

Hello Gents, I picked up this unique little item for almost nothing, and was wondering if anyone has seen this before? The swaztika is reversed, which I know is sometimes used in TR items, but it could also be a British piece from maybe India, as this swaz is used there as well. THere are two snakes on it as well. It is made of pure silver, marked Stirling 825 on the back, which also leads me to believe it is British. Someone told me it may be a Victorian English piece, but noone is sure. If this is for another forum,please move this post but I thought this may be a good forum to post it in. Well, can anyone shed some light on this mystery piece? Thanks, Pat

and the reverse of this L/58 KVK1 combatants version. Great silvering left and nice patina on this one. The material is very high quality as well. Please leave your opinions on any of the KVK's I have posted as i am always looking to soak up more info! Thanks, Pat

I have to thank the very generous and thoughtful Larry Strong for the following L/58 KVK1 w/swords, a true gentleman! This is a great example that really shows the detail difference between this good one and the earlier posted bad KVK1. It now takes its place amongst my other good original KVK's and the KVM, and the bad KVK1 goes into my ever growing fakes pile! Any comments on this new addition or the other KVK's are very welcome and appreciated. Thanks again, and three cheers for Laurence! Pat

and finally the reverse of the second IAb, hope the new scans help. Thanks, Pat

the second IAB...

the back of the first IAB...

Here are some better scans...

and the back of this much discussed badge. The dimensions match those mentioned in one reference book I have read, the Orden and Auszechein (spelled wrong) der Deutschen Reiches. Sorry about the title, but it was written by a Dr K I believe. Any comments are welcome, Pat

Hello again, I have in my possession what I believe to be a copy of the Luftwaffe See Battle badge. I have heard differing reports on if these were even awarded or not. Any information on this specific badge and the overall badge in general (original examples etc) are extremely helpful. This one has the variation BSW marking as well, was this a late to post-war marking for the BSW company? or is it SBW?. Thanks, Pat

and the reverse of the Observer badge. I would appreciate any info on this maker mark (see other LW badge posts for more) and likelihood of originality. Thanks again, Pat

Here is another one of my badges with the BSW? SBW? marking, the Luftwaffe Observers badge. This is a different material than most of my other badges, and I think it is bad, but not 100% sure. The pin and set-up are fairly crude, but maybe a low-quality late-war issue. Any opinions on this one? THanks, Pat

and the back of the badge, with strange maker mark. Any ideas on this? THanks, Pat

Hello all, Here is another badge, the Luftwaffe Radio Ops badge. This is marked BSW or SBW, depending on what order you read it in. I know the old BSW logo was upside down of this, and was wondering if this was made by the same company, either late-war or post-war. I have a few with this marking I will post also. The pin and catch have been replaced as they were part of a huge damaged lot. Is it good? Thanks, Pat

and the back of the Retired Pilots badge. The pin is stamped and non-magetic, any comments or opinions? Pat

Hello again, I have a few more badges that I purchased a couple years ago to put up for discussion. First up is this Retired Pilots Badge made of a coppery mix of material. It has a different pin/catch set-up than many of my other badges, but I know there is plenty of opposing views on if these were awarded and how many. Mine is marked either 5 or 55 on the pin and any feedback on this badge is welcome. I fear it may be fake but I thought I would post this for details etc. Thanks again, Pat

Oops, my mistake, it appears the cocade has a breakage point as well. Maybe only the wreath and eagle go together as I can't see a definite point of breakage on the wreath, but maybe it's been filed and smoothed. I am not really sure, hence the request for assistance Thanks again, Pat

And Finally, the tag that is still attached to the RCAF navigation device. If anyone has any information on the purpose and value of this unique item, please leave your advice. Always been one of my favourite pieces, but not much info is out there on it. Thanks, Pat

and a close-up of the texture and markings. The battery for this is missing , but it appears everything else is here.

Here is a good shot of the controls and markings. Plenty of info, maybe someone who knows about technical navigation devices like this can decipher it for me. A good unique piece for sure. Thanks, Pat

Hello gentlemen, I have finally got some digital camera pics of my RCAF Indicator. Frequency Type C2...etc. This was made by the world famous radio maker, Canadian Marconi Company. I think this was used to dial in a frequency and the bomber or plane would follow the frequency to help navigate bombing runs. If you were too far off course I think the signal would be lost. If anyone knows about this device and approxamitely what it might be worth (I never ask this question, but I really have NO idea what this is worth) that would be extremely helpful. It has a serial# 341 and was manufactured in 1942. First up is a picture of the whole device, with steel cap on. Thanks for all help, Pat