Kriegsmarine Zinc Schwerin U-boat

[John R]

This fake was just posted on another forum for opinions. Do we have examples of the zinc version and what is the opinion here on this one. John

Edited June 8, 2008 by John Robinson

[Gordon Williamson]

This was just posted on another forum for opinions. Do we have examples of the zinc version and what is the opinion here on this one. John

I have never yet seen a zinc U-Boat badge that I would accept as having been proven with 100% confidence to have been made by Schwerin. Its unlikely to say the least, that Schwerin would not have continued to make U-Boat badges after the change over from tombak to zinc. Apart from the 1st Type S-Boot, all their other badges made the transition. So, why don't we see lots of nice maker marked Schwerin U-Boat badges in zinc ?

Like the Steinhauer U-Boat badges, - we know they must exist, but never see them offered.

Either way, I don't think this is one of them.

[paul w]

I've always believed this to be a zinc schwerin,it has many of the same characteristics of the tombac badge and the hardware on the back is identical to that found on other schwerin zinc naval badges including the first pattern u-boat clasp,cheers,

Paul

[paul w]

2.

[paul w]

3.

[paul w]

1st pattern clasp.

[Gordon Williamson]

I've always believed this to be a zinc schwerin,it has many of the same characteristics of the tombac badge and the hardware on the back is identical to that found on other schwerin zinc naval badges including the first pattern u-boat clasp,cheers,

Paul

It quite likely is a Schwerin, I've seen a few zinkers that I'd reckon (90% + sure) were Schwerin. The problem is that so many manufacturers used near- clones as far as not only obverse die characteristics, but reverse fittings were concerned. I personally wouldn't consider any of these unmarked pieces ( and I include tombak ones also) as proven Schwerin pieces, but would rather exercise caution and consider them as Schwerin "type".

[John R]

I would have to say that this zinc badge would seem to fit a Schwerin with as much probability as we could assign in this case. Thanks for the example. In the case of the unmarked tombak U-boat badge naturally it is impossible to say who made it at this point in time, however, that badge is exactly the same as the marked example of that style--down to the soldering of the catch, burnished top wing, and neck characteristics of the eagle. To me the solder residue of the Schwerin U-boat badges is the fingerprint I would expect along with the high quality gild of that maker.

My question has always been where did it fit in the timeline of these tombak U-boat Schwerins as there are at least 4 variations if you include the unmarked version. That is, two with the thin neck eagle and wire catch (which I think came first) and two (including the unmarked badge) with the thick neck and flat catch. There are more variations, but not common, ie, unmarked wire catch variation, but the basic types fall into the four I have mentioned.

I have always felt the wire catch types came first with two different fonts, small and large, and then the flat catch thick neck with burnished top wing which the unmarked type also exhibits. However, did the unmarked come first, or second or was it interspersed with the marked depending on the day vice a decision by Schwerin not to mark the badge at some point.

John

Edited June 9, 2008 by John Robinson