Navy Destroyers Badge

[Ralph Arndt]

I would like your opinions please. Thank you, Ralph

[Norm F]

Hi Ralph,

Certainly looks like a good zinc Schwerin Destroyer. These are less common than their Tombak counterparts. The finish is unusual though. I haven't (yet) seen one with that shiny silvered reverse and obverse feature. Usually they are dark grey like this example previously posted by Martin W.

I'll comment on the cloth badge separately.

Best regards,
---Norm

[Norm F]

Regarding the cloth Destroyer. The Destroyer is the most common of the embroidered KM badges, so much so that it raises questions yet to be answered I think. Not sure if there was a hoard discovered at some point but they seem to abound in mint condition. Most of the ones posted here on WAF seem to have the light colored wide net backing like the example attached here, as opposed to the dark blue denser weave backing like yours.

Martin W. has posted an excellent photo of the embroidered Destroyer in wear so we know it was used in wartime. This is an area of study still in its infancy I think, and it would be good to explore it more in this thread.

Best regards,
---Norm

[Norm F]

When you compare Ralph's mint cloth Destroyer with the dark blue dense weave backing to the mint example posted previously by Rylan with the light wide weave backing, you can see that aside from the backing the construction and embroidery patterns look almost the same.

Best regards,
---Norm

[Norm F]

When you compare this cloth embroidery pattern to the period photograph they're similar but not quite the same.

Best regards,
---Norm

[Ralph Arndt]

Better photo, I hope.

[Norm F]

Here are two examples of what I think are the same type as in the period photo. The one on the left was previously posted by Bob Hritz and the one on the right by the late W. C. Stump.

If Bob still has his perhaps he could be prevailed upon to show a view of the reverse of his badge. My guess is it would likely have the dark dense-woven backing.

Best regards,
---Norm

[Martin W]

Hi Norm,

i am no expert when it comes to the cloth badges but IMO the zinc Schwerin is a good piece.

A stange looking finish,yes,but i think it is original to the badge ?



Regards,Martin.

[Ralph Arndt]

Thanks alot for your replies, and Norm for your time. Ralph

[Norm F]

Here's an odd example similar to the commonly posted design but with a strange reverse. It looks like the central motif was sewn in and then a ribbed backing was applied before the the wreath was sewn in. Makes you wonder what went on there...

---Norm

[Norm F]

Here's a reproduction that's disturbingly close to the "originals" in post 7 aside from the obvious difference in the ship's superstructure and lack of flat mast.
http://www.muenzauktion.com/futter/item.php5?id=1946

This highlights the ease with which cloth items can be reproduced in the post-war era.

Best regards,
---Norm