Kriegsmarine U-Boat Front Clasp

[Alexey Smirnov]

Friends, please opinions !

Edited February 6, 2007 by Alexey Smirnov

[Alexey Smirnov]

rev

[John R]

I would like to see the front, but it looks like a nice original silver frontspange. Nice bubbling on the reverse also. John

Edited February 6, 2007 by John Robinson

[Alexey Smirnov]

col

[Alexey Smirnov]

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[Alexey Smirnov]

I would like to see the front, but it looks like a nice original silver frontspange. Nice bubbling on the reverse also. John

Thank you, John! This is my first silver frontspange so i do worry about it.

[John R]

Thank you, John! This is my first silver frontspange so i do worry about it.

Well, nothing to worry about with this one. Good example. Looks like it has a first pattern pin, which is interesting, since this is a second pattern badge. If you do a search on these you will see two different styles of pins on the frontspange. A smooth one like yours and one that has a slightly raised interior with an edge. You will see what I mean if you look around a bit.

John

Edited February 6, 2007 by John Robinson

[Alexey Smirnov]

John! I've found Gordon Williamsons topic http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=1824 , but my clasp was called a fake 2 hours ago at Russian forum. So why i want to be absolutely sure.

Edited February 6, 2007 by Alexey Smirnov

[genoa41]

John! I've found Gordon Williamsons topic http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=1824 , but my clasp was called a fake 2 hours ago at Russian forum. So why i want to be absolutely sure.

The mm sounds a little strange

giorgio

[John R]

I will post these on another forum also to check. These clasps can be tricky, but for now, I am not willing to agree that it is a fake. John

[John R]

OK, I guess I need to ask if what I thought were bubbles on the reverse, common to most zinc frontspanges in silver, are in fact pits? If they are pits, then it is probably a cast reproduction, but without it in hand, you need to check.

Second, the missing letters---are they really there or not? Again, the letters should all be there and if not, it could be another indication of a cast reproduction.

I am still surprised at the pin, it is dead on for a first pattern frontspange. To me, there is absolutely no way that this pin is a reproduction, therefore, it indicates that the badge is authentic.

In any case, check it over and let us know what you see. John

Edited February 7, 2007 by John Robinson

[Gordon Williamson]

Hi Alexey,

So far, I like what I see with your clasp. Can you give details of the weight and the dimensions ?

[joetauchretter]

In my humble opinion I would have to agree that this is a cast copy . I would like some more close up pictures but I do not like the details on the front or back of this clasp . It looks like poor casting pitting instead of bubbling of the silver and the zinc metal due to a reaction of the two . I do not like what looks like crude detailing around the hinge area and even the words on the back look very poor to me . There looks like alot of cast pitting on the front of the badge near the bow of the u-boat .

Joe

[Gordon Williamson]

Dimensions would indicate if this has been cast from an original "master" as it would be fractionally too small. Here are some comparisons of the lettering compared with a known original.

[Gordon Williamson]

Schwerin

[Gordon Williamson]

Ausf.

[Gordon Williamson]

Entwurf

[Gordon Williamson]

Peekhaus

[Gordon Williamson]

The loss of lettering is similar to the effect found on early (First Pattern) clasps.

[Alexey Smirnov]

I'm sorry to answer so late, these are new pics of my clasp.

76,45 mm x 24,05 mm

19,15 gr

[Alexey Smirnov]

ENTWURF

[Alexey Smirnov]

SCHWERIN

[Alexey Smirnov]

last

[Gordon Williamson]

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.

[Alexey Smirnov]

So, again me and Thanks for your comments and interest.

a new version has appeared in Russia, I'm close to have a molded badge the main indication for it the obviously seen dies

especially on the head's part of the boat itself ( no traces of the oxidation and finish is still there ).

There is a lot of space in the hinge-pin area as the result a pin is moving too easily

The question is, is it consequence of the pin replacement ?

Thanks again.

Alex.

Edited February 10, 2007 by Alexey Smirnov