J Temple-West

A comparison between the one above and the plated zinc version.

badge and interior of the case.

Deumer style case.

Reverse.

Firstly, a big thank you to Kurt for an easy transaction and speedy shipment. A rather nice RO/AG this turned out to be. Made in what I suspect to be high content nickel silver, and with its original 'Deumer' case. As always, with "Wilhelm Deumer" pieces, this example shows a very high standard of manufacture, construction and finishing and comes in at a very close second to my favourite maker (as I'm sure, by now, everyone will know ) F.W Assmann. So, the obverse.

Hi Pikestaff, I?m moving this thread over to the ?German swords and daggers? section so that the ?Blade? guys can have a good look. I can only say that all 2nd model examples of this maker that I?ve come across have had aluminium fittings. The other thing that has me a worried is the maker mark. Not only is it too simplistic to be an original, it has ?Berlin? instead of ?Solingen? as the location of the factory. As far as I?m aware, ?Weyersberg? only operated from Solingen. So, all in all, I would have to give this one the thumbs down. I've posted the MM from my 1st model luft. Let?s see what the guys in the know have to say.

Stijn, This is not the first time that I?ve seen such a flaw on a Luftwaffe badge. I used to own a Deumer PB that had exactly the same type of manufacturing mistake, to the head of the eagle, and at the time thought it strange that such a misshapen example would have been passed as good enough to be sent on for issue. Now that I see your example, it would seem that this must have been just another problem that the makers had to put up with and that a few mistakes did indeed miss the reject bin and get into circulation. This makes this badge, apart from the history, an extremely interesting piece, from a manufacturing point of view. Many thanks for the historical insight into the recipient and the answers to my questions, it?s much appreciated.

Hi Stijn, A lot of history with those pieces. Knowing the recipient, an added bonus. I must say that it surprises that they were still issuing buntmetal badges as late as 1944, in the case of the pilot?s badge. It must have been his lucky day receiving one of the few left in stock at the flight school. Tell me, how common was it for glider pilots to transfer to powered aircraft? Were such transfers due to the decreasing use of gliders in operations and the need for combat pilots? In answer to the Q: Glider (1) ? Juncker? Pilot (2) ? BSW?

Erich Hartmann

Rolf Pingel

Edmund Rossmann

Dietrich Hrabak

Rudolf Truenkel

Walter Ohlrogge

Siefried Lemke

Reverse.

Again, the badge looks Okay...But another very bad job on the swas and the catch looks to have been replaced.

Someone has made a very poor job of replacing the swas at some point but the badge is okay, being a late zinc example by the 'Unknown' maker. For comparison; The earlier buntmetal version. Obverse.

"Are there any specific air force badges that you have been looking at John ? Apart from wings, which are heavily faked, the air force did not have that many specific badges." Hi Paul, Specifically pilot?s graduation/qualification badges for both officers and enlisted men. I believe the officer?s come in silver and the EM in bronze? I also believe there was an Observers badge in the form of a stylized eagle?

And a warm welcome from me, Paul. For some time I've been thinking of acquiring some examples of Japanese air force badges. I've been doing some research into the subject, but knowing next to nothing in this area, any help on determining original from fake would be much appreciated.

Reverse.

Ball hinge (Adolf Scholze?)

reverse.

Gustav Brehmer.

Reverse