Einwohnerwehr - Fichtelgau

[Jo Rivett]

Would there possibly be a collector of Einwohnerwehr items that knows if the "Fichtelgau" abzeichen, even existed? Or is it another one of Hüskens Fantasy badges?

If you are going to say "yes, it did exist", then i would kindly request you support this with evidence.

Those found/seen on-line - Weitze - Teiste -Hüsken - Militaria Relics - etc, are all poorly cast items, that have no chance of being period German produced. And these horribly and poorly cast badges, are all we have seen of the "Fichtelgau" badge.

[Jo Rivett]

I had the chance to examine one of these last week, and although i have seen them on the net before, i never paid them any attention. They are pictured in Hüskens books since 1990, I always looked at the reverse images of these, and said to myself: "Myself, no way."

In any case, i am having a hard time trying to believe that someone would forge a copy of this badge. If it is indeed a period badge at all, and not another fantasy. As it is a rather silly badge to "copy" and not really worth that much. I may be wrong, but to date, all badges found, are like the following, poorly cast.



Magnified images of six portions of the outer rim, clearly show, Boris-the-animal at work.
RIM SHOT ONE
RIM SHOT TWO

The reverse as well, cast holes, so deep that you could fall into them and would never be heard from again. I could bend the badge between my thumb and forefinger.
BENT
REVERSE
REVERSE DETAILED
Casting traces all over, it can only be a Boris-the-animal job.
Or are there collector who think badges were cast like this? that this, is the real deal?
OBVERSE - LETTERS
OBVERSE CAST
OBVERSE CAST TWO
OBVERSE CAST THREE

Dealers having a whale of a time selling them, even a 15 dollah modern copy on eBay - possibly to verify the older cast ones?
yes, i put a blowtorch to mine. It was fun

[Brian L.]

Einwohnerwehr Fichtel Gebirgsgau existed and had a gilt bronze die-struck sleeve badge for sewing on the standard Einwohnerwehr armband.

The stickpin is the civil commemorative of the sleeve badge and it was indeed cast, not struck and painted with lacquer. They were made by Lindner in Munich and often have a green Linder paper label glued to the reverse (see attached).

Your exhaustive examination while impressive is pointless as are your assumptions.

I first bought one 30 years ago and it was the same as the ones about which you are being so dismissive.

Just out of curiosity, how long have you been collecting Freikorps that you can make such definitive comments?

[Jo Rivett]

My assumptions, are not assumptions, they are the truth. I have shown you many detailed images of how this badge is made, poorly cast.
You are trying to tell me, that this, is acceptable, and can go down as "period made"
I will not swallow, Sir, not half a spoon full.

[Jo Rivett]

Another MSC of the reverse, the image representing 2mm.

You can also get down inside some of the wider blow holes, and see the rot.



The stickpin, has also be cast together with it, saving on a pesky attachment plate and time wasting soldering. Genius.



edit: i bent, and "tore" this apart, with my fingers only.

[Jo Rivett]

Just out of curiosity, how long have you been collecting Freikorps that you can make such definitive comments?

Zero days. I dont. I have the occasional freikorps badge from time to time, once or twice a year i guess. Mainly the enameled ones though.

[Brian L.]

My assumptions, are not assumptions, they are the truth. I have shown you many detailed images of how this badge is made, poorly cast.
You are trying to tell me, that this, is acceptable, and can go down as "period made"
I will not swallow, Sir, not half a spoon full.

I don't know where you got the badge you're showing. But, the one I posted is genuine and pre-1945. The one shown by Weitze is also genuine.

These stickpins were not that well-made as is the case with other Freikorps badges.

You are entitled to your opinion. But, I don't really care what you think. I've never seen you post here before. Yet you come up with assumptions about a subject you clearly know nothing about.

However, I know what I know based on 46 years of collecting Freikorps.

[Jo Rivett]

But, I don't really care what you think.

Just as well i have not "thought" yet, then. It is simply the microscope doing the thinking, and showing how the item was made.

You may naturally keep your belief that small badges were manufactured this way, during the 1920`s. I am sure, though, that possibly not everybody would share your belief.

[Jo Rivett]

Einwohnerwehr Fichtel Gebirgsgau existed and had a gilt bronze die-struck sleeve badge for sewing on the standard Einwohnerwehr armband.

Yes i know of these, i found this one online.



Rather large too. One should ask, "enough money for large, full messing arm badges, yet when it came to the pins, Boris-the-animal was hired?"

Even online it can be seen, the "Prank" if you will. Sometimes larger labels - maybe to cover the really bad pockmarked ones...

[Jo Rivett]

I don't know where you got the badge you're showing.

Was in a job-lot. Can still see where the label was.

[Brian L.]

You may naturally keep your belief that small badges were manufactured this way, during the 1920`s. I am sure, though, that possibly not everybody would share your belief.

It's not a belief. It's a fact based on years of experience and discussion with known experts on Freikorps material.

You on the other hand have come out of nowhere and made assumptions based on what? That the infallible Germans never die-cast badges with flaws? I assure you they did, especially on something as lowly as stickpins.

[Brian L.]

This is the armshield of this Einwohnerwehr on which the commemorative stickpin is based. I first saw the stickpins in the 1970s when Verkuilen Ager, one of the earliest experts on Freikorps showed me one he had. They are all the same as they were 40 years ago: some with more pronounced casting flaws than others. It is not an uncommon EW stickpin, usually selling in the 40-60 EUR range. They date from early-mid 1920s-late 1930s.
They have been reproduced, not in stickpin form but with a short button-hole nail fastener with a spring lock like one sees on modern souvenir pins. They routinely show up on eBay being sold by a seller named China-Deco.

[mchap]

Im not convinced the badge is fake.... my Wehrwolf pin is made of different material but is a cast piece with same pin construction, and has visible inclusions. Your quality = fake theory shouldnt be so heavily applied to the early 1920s lapel pins.

There aren't many serious Freikorps collectors on this forum that contribute to the extent bolewts58 does. Its safe to say his opinion counts for more than a bunch of microscope images.

[Jo Rivett]

Its safe to say his opinion counts for more than a bunch of microscope images.

Noted, and bookmarked. I may even steal this for a signature at some time.

[Jo Rivett]

It's not a belief. It's a fact......I assure you they did, especially on something as lowly as stickpins.

Facts, needs to be supported with evidence.
Just for future reference of course, if you are going to jump on a thread and claim, throw the word "fact" around, then you must also have something in your bag to show. Words alone, can sadly not be considered as fact.