Luftwaffe LUFTWAFFE NARVIK SHIELD

[sftrooper86]

Hello Gentlemen,

I have had this little beauty for some time. I never knew the Luftwaffe were issued the fewest number of this particular campaign shield. Too bad the wool backing has some damage. The color is Luft blue. Could not get a better quality photo!

Are these tough to find? Any idea on a fair market value?

Happy Hunting!

Vince

[juvatwad]

I've seen a few, but I just started looking for them, too. Prices I've seen range from $400-$800, but at the higher end they don't currently seem to be moving.

Ian

[sftrooper86]

I've seen a few, but I just started looking for them, too. Prices I've seen range from $400-$800, but at the higher end they don't currently seem to be moving.

Ian

Hello Ian,

Please drop me an e-mail at vindog86@cox.net

Thank you,

Vince

[Scott]

Nice shield. I'd really like to have one in my collection, but they are heavilly faked, and my eyes have not yet been trained sufficiently to tell good from bad :-(

SCott

[Joe D]

Sorry, this is a well known fake.

[sftrooper86]

Sorry, this is a well known fake.

I'M sorry you are sorry. It is not! It is not nice sniping at others Joe.

[Joe D]

No need to be rude. I am only trying to help. This is what a real one looks like from this maker.

Edited November 8, 2007 by Joe D

[sftrooper86]

No need to be rude. I am only trying to help. This is what a real one looks like from this maker.

Rude is not at all what that was. This is a just perfect example of a person (you) who has no idea what you are talking about telling someone (me) an unsubstantiated claim that their item is a fake. Your's sir is the fake, and I will list the reasons why so you can compare them side by side to see what I am talking about.

1. The lower section of the laurel wreath containing the swastika is flattened and does not show the clear detail as seen on my example. Poor workmanship found on known cast fakes.

2. The letters N, R, & K are flawed. Common in known cast fakes.

3. The edelweiss flower has no sharp details as can be found on mine, another sign of poor casting.

4. The upper corner near the number 40 has a casting flaw, extra material commonly found on poorly cast fakes.

5. The steam of the edelweiss flower is also not clearly defined as is the upper section of the anchor, again the sharp details found on real pieces has these details where your cast copy does not.

6. The center of the propeller is not a clearly defined hollow circle, again a perfect example of a cast fake.

7. The rings on the propellers are also not sharply defined, a casting fault.

8. The entire right side of your cast badge below the word NARVIK is loaded with extra material and lacks the sharp details as found on original pieces.

9. The rope on the anchor shows no fine details in regards to the twisted rope as found on correct pieces.

I could go on buy frankly I find this an exercise in futility. Details my friend, details! If they are not there is a poorly cast copy. I suggest you place the photos side by side and read my notes. When a side by side comparison is done there is other conclusion a knowledgeable person can come to other than yours is a poorly cast copy.

I have been doing this for over 40 years now and unfortunately do take offense when someone who has no idea of what they are talking about has the gall to call one of my items a fake.

I hope this will help you in your quest for knowledge. You need it! If you think this is rude you need to grow up. Just for your information, the members on this forum are some of the most knowledgeable people in this hobby. It is just common courtesy and respect not to snipe at other peoples property and try to justify it by saying I was just trying to help. No one appreciates it and when you have no idea of what you are talking about it reflects poorly on you.

There will be no charge for this lesson!

[J Temple-West]

Rather a heated answer there, Vince.

Joe has given an honest opinion based on his experience. Perhaps a little less indignation and more of the ?helping hand? approach would be more appropriate?

You have given your reasons as to why you think your shield is original? perhaps Joe will be good enough to post some comparisons and give us his reasons for putting this one down as a fake.

Both sets of photographs are a little less than ideal, hence my reluctance to comment either way. I will say, however, that ?detail? is not always the best indicator of an original piece. There are some very highly detailed fakes out there.

So guys let's get those cameras out and post some clearer pictures.

[PKeating]

Here is another Luftwaffe-issue Narvikschild, apparently of the same design as the ones shown here.

Edited November 8, 2007 by PKeating

[J Temple-West]

Thanks for that, Prosper. This is what I would look for in an original.

The comparison shows clear differences between the two..PK?s (left) Vince?s (right)

Superb detailing to PK?s? less so in the case of Vince?s.

[J Temple-West]

The characteristic I most look for is the difference in size of the plinth to the right of the eagle?s wing.

Of course there?s a possibility that Vince?s example is by different maker, but it gives us a starting point for the discussion

[PKeating]

Thanks for the comparisons, John. Here's quite a wellworn example of the naval version of the shield, clearly struck on the same set of dies as the Heer/Luftwaffe version I posted above. I cannot remember who sent this to me but if the owner is looking in, I am sure he shan't mind my using it for discussion purposes here. The asymetric plinth is one point to look for. So is the dropped "9" in "1940". Vince's shield conforms more to a type attributed to the maker JFS. I will check my reference files as I believe I have some photos of JFS-marked examples.

PK

Edited November 8, 2007 by PKeating

[Joe D]

The Narvik shield that started this post is often referred to as the "small 4 fake". I will try to post better pictures of mine. In the meantime you can read this thread, it pretty much sums up my point.

http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/sho...highlight=small

Edited November 8, 2007 by Joe D

[sftrooper86]

The Narvik shield that started this post is often referred to as the "small 4 fake". I will try to post better pictures of mine. In the meantime you can read this thread, it pretty much sums up my point.

http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/sho...highlight=small

Yes, I guess that means that there is only one manufacturer! That is why I no longer collect badges. There are 1000 fakes for every real one, and no one has the fakes!

End of story here Gents!

[PKeating]

There were three or four different makers. That much we do know. However, there are about fifteen variations at any given time offered by militaria dealers and "private" dealers. In other words, the majority of shields on the market are questionable.

PK

Edited November 9, 2007 by PKeating

[Joe D]

Yes, I guess that means that there is only one manufacturer! That is why I no longer collect badges. There are 1000 fakes for every real one, and no one has the fakes!

End of story here Gents!

All the shields posted on this thread are good except for yours. Also, for an individual who has been collecting for 40 years you sure have posted many fakes in the last week. Who are you to judge me?

Edited November 9, 2007 by Joe D

[sftrooper86]

All the shields posted on this thread are good except for yours. Also, for an individual who has been collecting for 40 years you sure have posted many fakes in the last week. Who are you to judge me?

Not a probationary member with a bad attitude. I hope you have a nice day.

[Paul R]

We are all friends here. Lets cool off and take things down a notch.

As someone who does not know anything about shields, I want to see this topic discussed objectively.

Thanks guys...

[Joe D]

This forum only allows me to upload 65K. Here is the best picture I can come up with.

[Joe D]

Close-up

[Joe D]

One more close-up

[juvatwad]

Please confirm the photo above is of the "small 4" fake?

[Joe D]

Backside

This is a 100% real zink plated piece by an unknown maker. This piece is where the "small 4 fake" derived from.

[Joe D]

Here are all my Luft backed shields. Unfortunately, I do not have the elusive Luft backed Cholm shield. I just missed one a couple of years ago.

Edited November 9, 2007 by Joe D