We all started somewhere right?

[ostvolk]

Hello 57'ers I have come asking a question :
How or where does one start to collect the 57 badges? For me at least they seem harder to find
(or maybe thats because I live in Canada)

Also I there a book or guide to collecting post war badges?

[Matthieu]

A good question ...

I purchased my first 57er here from WAF ... a cased 2nd pattern RK which I still have in my collection.
From then on I purchased from dealers, eBay, members, etc.

It all depends what you are looking for and what you want to spend.
The 57er family on WAF is quite small and we do swap between us.

Otherwise, there are plenty of sources out there for good 57ers ... seek and you shall find .

Grtz
Mathijs

[Nigel N]

Hi, and welcome to the wonderful whacky world of 57 collecting!!!
If you are thinking of starting a collection, read thru some of the threads on here, try and collect the early pieces, they are the most sought after, and are the ones that would have been actually owned and worn by veterans!!
We are still learning about these early makers and the pieces they produced, new facts are being found every day, that what makes 57 collecting so interesting for me, there are very few hard facts known, and we are slowly trying to fill in the gaps!!
I dont know of any book that specialises in 57ers???
There are a few dealers who sell good stuff, mainly in Europe, and e-bay can still turn up some good stuff!!
Enjoy!!!!!!!!!
-Nigelsign0011.gif

[ostvolk]

So there Is more risk involved in purchasing a 57? because of the unknown variations and no real documentation of what is and is not correct?

Does the Bundeswehr not keep a record of Awarded medals or contracts to company's who created them?

And E-stand would be the best bet I guess? watch it like a hawk for 57 badges?

As a humble college student with a passion for history I really like the cost of 57'ers as apposed to the wartime equivalent.
(also the historical and political background of a badge worn by a man first serving Hitler and then having to give up all of that ideology to serve germany's democracy Is an amazing story in and of itself)

[Matthieu]

Like Nigel said, I would suggest reading through the threads here to learn about the 57er.

Quite some dealers are offering 57ers which were actually "made yesterday" and at high prices.
On eBay, there are certain members known for selling good quality fakes of the 57er badge.

Some of us have been collecting for quite some time now and still we discover new variants or possible hybrid pieces ....
As life is, collecting is a continuous learning process.

The rule is ... if the price is too good to be true, it most likely is .

Depending on what you look for, I do have quite some 57er for sale on e-stand.
Wound badges, IAB, GAB, etc ....

Send me PM with what you are looking for, would be glad helping out a new member here .

Grtz
Mathijs