The Machinegunner Sharpshooters Badge

[Don D.]

And a fake on german ebay: http://cgi.ebay.de/Deutsches-Reich-O...QQcmdZViewItem

[Chip M]

Don,

It's one of the poorer fakes. Easy to spot.

Chip

[Don D.]

And yet it still gets bought every time.

Just keeping our members out of trouble Chip.

[Chip M]

Oh, no problem Don. A first class service. Keep it up!

Chip

[REDVIPER]

Hi

Here I got my first Maschin Gunner Badges ( Thanks a lot to ddoering that me help by this very beutifull Badges )

Regards Thomas

[REDVIPER]

2

[Don D.]

Nice badge Thomas.

[Don D.]

And now for another example- this one from the Stuttgart Metallfabrik. It is made of zink except for the pins which are magnetic.

[Don D.]

The reverse. Note the pin arrangement compares favorably with the Juncker.

[Brian S]

First let me say Thanks to Brian S for kick starting my interest in this badge and for providing me (he probably doesn't know it) with the idea for this thread.

Second, this thread is going to take me a little bit to lay out so please don't respond until I have all my evidence out on the table.

We all know that this badge is heavily faked. We also believe that few soldiers actually wore this badge at the front. My purpose with this thread is to provide collectors with the knowledge to weed out the fakes and in doing so I will also hope to dispell the myth that this badge wasn't worn at the front. My evidence comes from 6 period photographs, each with one or more badges being worn.

The first shot is a studio portrait. Notice how clear the badge is.

This thread has come a long way. I like the last two badges.

[nzef1940]

Superb thread, here is is my rather battered example, purchased locally eight years ago. The front legs have broken off and are still under the gun frame. I assume its o.k? It has been sewn in place in part as indicated in the images. No back plate present and the main badge appears to be steel, with the brass prongs attached with solder (3 prongs are broken off and missing). Comments appreciated. I am assuming by its condition and lack of backing plate this was literally ripped of the fellows uniform sleeve as a souvineer.

[nzef1940]

back.

[Don D.]

That badge is absolutely original in my opinion. It has all the detail I like to see. Thanks for showing.

[Brian S]

Fairly certain, and you'll find this ironic, yours is an early crisp stamping which comes close to the Juncker badge You should be able to match it exactly to one here.

[nzef1940]

Thanks Don & Brian

I was fairly confident it was a good one, especially for around $15.00!

Its a real talker and you can still see plenty of remnants of wash/gilt etc.

What are the fakes generally selling for on ebay?

thanks

Mike