WWI Tanka Badge Kampfwagen

[Robin Lumsden]

Well I'll be. That is some crazy barbed wire!

Yes. You're right. It does look like bodies.

But the citation given to those who qualified for this badge has a drawing of the design of the badge on it, and the drawing clearly shows barbed wire and trenches with the tank going over them. I suppose the design just didn't translate well on the badge itself.

Or maybe it's just collectors looking at this fantastic badge and seeing what they want to see?

[Robin Lumsden]

As regards the badge at the top of this thread, I agree with what has been said already about the poor quality.

However, it's obviously old. During the 1920s and early 1930s, every Tom, Dick & Harry and their uncles could produce medals and awards for private purchase by vets. There were no government controls on this. Some very crappy-looking one-piece 1914 EK2s, for example, were churned out in the 1920s by backroom badge makers. It was the depression and cheap prices attracted buyers. That was why, when Hitler came to power in 1933, one of his first acts was to prohibit the non-authorised production of medals and awards. He wanted the whole sorry mess to be tidied up and decorations again given the prestige they had had under the Kaiser.

So could this be an 'unauthorised' production piece from the 1920s? It actually looks 'too bad' to be a serious fake.

Just a thought.

It's still one that I wouldn't want myself though.

[medalnet]

Well, I personally knew the guy who did make those in recent days.

Almost embarrassed to admit...

[Robin Lumsden]

There are some really nice pieces here:-


http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...wagenabzeichen

[Brian S]

I was trying to show you what I could see clearly as casting bubbles under a loop in my extreme closeups above.

I have also in other threads on these stated repeated that the vertical lines you see where the explosions are occuring should NOT have bumps in them. This is another bad sign of casting. These lines should be pretty much clean and straight and absent of bubbles.

The brass back on this really turned me off. Brass is a soft metal that permits someone the ability to file off the excess to the badge itself fairly easily but was not from what I've seen a technique utilized.

Look at the hook on the badge. I'd swear that was excess solder on it.

All in all, I've seen only two badges so far in extreme closeups that I believe in and that is the one I have and Robin's.

There were fewer than a thousand of these awarded. Clearly Sepp Dietrich wears a first model which I've read he lost and a replacement that matches the one Robin and I have. The original design appears to match the award document. I'm still waiting to see one of those that has period hinge/catch and workmanship.

[Gregory Koepp]

i agree it does look to be made way back in the 20's-30's??? but very bad casting. too bad it doesn't have a vet behind it, being made of brass and the constuction of it looks like someone really put some care in it and looks to be one used. but for what???

Brian's right about who has the right one's, Robin you still have mine? (i have the $$$$) good buddy!!!!!

this is a very interesting badge and sure it looks bad and crude, but i have never seen one like this before? the age looks good too???

I'll i can say is VERY INTERESTING!!

greg

[Brian S]

Yes Greg it IS interesting and I can't call it a fake.

I'm afraid I don't know enough about how badges were made. Stamped yes, but some other process???

This one really an unknown.

[Brian S]

Well, I personally knew the guy who did make those in recent days.

Almost embarrassed to admit...

But you have to consider this...

[IMPERIAL QUEST]

I know this is an old thread...

But I thought that I would post this piece for you to rip apart. I know it is ugly, but I can't help but think that it is very old, maybe a reproduction, but a very old one. Have at it guys.

[IMPERIAL QUEST]

Reverse. Solid heavy construction-and obviously cast.

[IMPERIAL QUEST]

Hinge

[IMPERIAL QUEST]

Catch

[IMPERIAL QUEST]

Skull uhh..umm "detail"

[IMPERIAL QUEST]

Tank

[IMPERIAL QUEST]

Bow