John R

Same here Martin. Gordon said they are working on the changeover to the new server. John

Martin, now you have gone and done it, really hit below the belt. You are right, it was even commented upon by myself of all people as a "one of a kind" badge. My hat is off to you for knowing your KM badges, matching up the entire badge to known Meybauer examples in other badges, and discovering a new badge. A big discovery as far the KM badges go and good work. You have a good eye and it is great when a collector can connect the dots like what you have just done. John

The Hipper tally posted at the top is a 100% fake. Better images would show the telltale "dots" around the reverse images but you can still make them out here. These dots are not on real tallies, the thread is wrong, the thread reverse "density" is wrong. Also too bright. John

Great research Gordon. Quite interesting. John

Mine with EK1 from a sailor in U-510. John

The famous blue dot version. John

In any case, very nice example Martin. Now you have ruined my entire day since I thought there were only three examples in tombak--SB, Juncker, and Mayer. Now this!!!! Good for you Martin--where did you find it? John

Zinc Deumer. John

Remember, the "scratch" marks to the right of the hinge pin head were caused when they made the badge and forced the pin into the hinge. John

Quite nice James. John

Thanks Gordon. Mike Kenny weighed in and stated it was an original also. I think the first images posted that I used in the side by side comparison indicated pitting when it was actually flaking as seen in the subsequent images. John

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More of badge in question. John

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The badge on the left is Martin W.'s fine HSF badge. The one on the right and the additional single images are of a badge just posted on WAF. If it is not a fake, it is a badge that has been seriously degraded somehow. Like to get an opinion here on this one. John

Here are obverse and reverse comparisons of a Schwerin High Seas Fleet badge. Martin Westley's beautiful example is on the left, the one to study is the one on the right. My opinion is that the one on the right is a cast fake, note cast pits on the obverse below ship's hull, wrong pin, and probably a post war hinge and hinge pin. My take. John

Hi Martin, I never noticed that before and all the examples I have checked do indeed have this flaw. Thanks, John

Thought Erik K. said there was one. I will send him a message to clear it up. John

Of course, under magnification, every single badge has a die flaw someplace. However, is there an obvious die flaw to the FLL 43 Coastal Artillery badge that is recognized in this series by this maker? John

Yes, the problem is that white basemetal. Based on the hardware it seems like it has to be tombak or another alloy but not zinc. John