Lappland Shield

[MaxxBrunn1938]

Howdy folks well I just got this today in the mail and wanted to show it off and get your opinions. Shield is 1.5 inches wide and just over 2.50 in lenght. Also looks like it was on a uniform at one time.

Joe

[MaxxBrunn1938]

backside

[Bruce Simcox]

Hi Joe......

......As a result from what I've learned about these shields I would have to say that the one you are showing is a FAKE.

Just some advice here, it would help you to do a search over in the General Awards Forum. I believe that ALL of the LappLand shields were hand made, so one with a stamp, and backing, on it is a major red flag.

These are extremely scarce shields, and personally I wouldn't approach, or consider one, unless rock-solid provenance accompanied it.

Send it back for a refund. Sorry.

[MaxxBrunn1938]

......As a result from what I've learned about these shields I would have to say that the one you are showing is a FAKE.

Just some advice here, it would help you to do a search over in the General Awards Forum. I believe that ALL of the LappLand shields were hand made, so one with a stamp, and backing, on it is a major red flag.

These are extremely scarce shields, and personally I wouldn't approach, or consider one, unless rock-solid provenance accompanied it.

Send it back for a refund. Sorry.

Bruce from what I've heard on these shields is there is a fine line of handmade and stamping. Yes most late war ones would have been handmade but a small amount of stamped ones were made out of aluminium, tin, or zinc. Now there were Post War ones made too for the vets so choosing. The ones made of stamped Brass are the ones to watch out for since they are to be concidered Fake. This information is from Robin Lumsden TR collectors guides

[Bruce Simcox]

Hi Joe......

......Admitedly these badges are not my strong suit, but to quote Mr. Simon Orchard:

This is the one style of Lappland which we know wasn't produced in the camps. I hesitate to call these fake as there are no genuine official manufactured shields, only post-may 45 homemade pieces and i don't believe this type was produced with the intention of deceiving collectors

and from pantherv:

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=alt2 style="BORDER-RIGHT: 1px inset; BORDER-TOP: 1px inset; BORDER-LEFT: 1px inset; BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px inset">Originally Posted by Simon orchard
This is the one style of Lappland which we know wasn't produced in the camps. I hesitate to call these fake as there are no genuine official manufactured shields, only post-may 45 homemade pieces and i don't believe this type was produced with the intention of deceiving collectors


</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Hi Simon....but isn't it this type that's always being peddled by the likes of Gunbroker etc.

Peter

Now again from Simon:

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Yep, it can be found all over the place either being sold as 'genuine', repro or post-war '57.

It is up to you to draw your own conclusions, but if, by chance, you believe this shield to be Third Reich made.......I still say you're incorrect.

Do the research. It's really very simple. I'm not trying to kick sand in your face, just trying to help.

But, if you're happy with the shield that's all that really matters isn't it?

[MaxxBrunn1938]

Very true Bruce, I've been interested in getting this shield even knowing it's a fine line between TR and post-may 45, and am happy with getting one that is not made of Brass. Now the ones I know I will stay away from completly would be the Arnhieimschild, Stalingradschild,Afrikaschild, and Atlantikschild. These I know are complete fantasy ones..

[WARLORD]

If I might be so bold, the shield shown is a casting from the bronze struck version.

[MaxxBrunn1938]

If I might be so bold, the shield shown is a casting from the bronze struck version.

Warlord this is not a casting it is stamped in tin or aluminium, I'm leaning more towards tin since it feels lighter

[WARLORD]

OK you have it in hand. However, the designe is that of the known copy. I am of the believe that this is also a copy.

[pantherv]

.....

Of course, being 'field made' these are difficult to date. But I agree with Bruce. This design is not IMO original (1945) and the fake sew holes and that F.A.B stamp just confirm this.

KR......Peter

[Simon O.]

No 'genuine' ones were ever factory produced as this one is apparently being made out to be. All originals are home made using materials to hand in the camps in Norway or perhaps a little later after they were sent to further camps on the continent. Award dates range from the second week in July to the last week on Oct. 45 with a handful of awards seen backdated to the first week in May.

The award of the shield is far more common than i think dealers would have us believe. The reason is quite simple, there were around 350 000 German personnel left in Norway at the war's end. Of these perhaps 150 000 or so might have qualified for the award. Not everyone that was entitled got one (on paper) but even so the number of awards is high. Then take into account that all those that were awarded it had survived the war (though hundreds would die carrying out duties like mineclearing) and their paperwork was intact (during screening soldiers were required to have their SB and WP with them) . This means a very high proportion of awards survived.

Unlike other awards you see far more paperwork to the Lappland than you do 'genuine' badges.

[RussoBalt]

2 MaxxBrunn1938

I've got identical "The Twin Brothers" to your ones now we could call it production line, that's not possible for this particular shild
I can't post images, not allowed yet but our shilds are 100% identical with F.A.B. at the back, made from thin aluminium, purchased in Poland

[Simon O.]

Being sold from Poland on German E-bay as a repro (no garantee, no returns too..which is nice) for a buy it now price of 9.99

http://cgi.ebay.de/ARMELSCHILD-LAPPL...1%7C240%3A1318

[jiipee76]

I personally believe only to those thick aluminium shields which were carved/engraved(those rude looking ones).That was very common way to make warfront souvenirs by finnish soldiers and also the germans in lapland.

[Ludwig]

IMO not original.