Kuban question

[Del Panfini]

Hi, next time I am at a show I will be looking to purchase a Kuban shield. What should I look for in an original? What are the signs of a sure fake? Thanks, DEL

[Peter Wiking]

A sure sign of a repro are the golden ones (looks like brass).
The real ones should have a bronze color and be sharp in the details.

Peter Wiking

[Frank Heukemes]

Dear Del,

There are some different good types but if you do not know these well, you can only be sure with ONE type. It has never been faked and the eagle´s head and beak is very characteristic on that one. Unfortunately this exact type is hard to find.

Cheers, Frank

[Frank Heukemes]

head & beak

[Ian Lim]

Hello Frank,

Mine looks similar to yours right?

Cheers

Ian

[Paul Massucci]

Del,

here's one I got from Detlev a few years back, when I still owned it and posted pic in various Kuban threads no one ever had anything bad to say about it.

Peter ,
I know you're knowledgable and I haven't been around all that much here but that's the first time I heard "A sure sign of a repro are the golden ones (looks like brass).
The real ones should have a bronze color and be sharp in the details"

I've seen many originals with details that weren't all that sharp and were similar in color to this one.

[Frank Heukemes]

Dear Ian,

No, your shield is of the more common type, but ok.

[Ian Lim]

Dear Frank,
Thanks!
CHeers Ian

[keifer kahn]

I think peter may of meant shields made from brass,as the considered normal materials are steel or zink.Alot of originals have a brassy coloured bronze finish and the strikes will vary in quality from very crisp to soft looking detail.

[Peter Wiking]

The brass/golden ones i talk about has the same color as a brass shellcasing.
None of the shields above show that kind of golden color.
I just tryed to give a simple way of staying clear from the most common fakes, sold as originals by sellers not knowing they are fakes.

Cheers.
Peter Wiking

[Del Panfini]

Kuban shield

I want to thank everyone for thier replies to my questions about the Kuban shield. All of the information was informative and useful. Were all the Kuban shields made with 4 prongs? Do the repros have the same amount of prongs as the originals? Once again thanks, DEL

[Paul Massucci]

Peter,

I mis-interpreted what you said.

Del,
Most Kuban's have the 4 fold-over tabs on the edges but can also be found with the 4 pins. Unfortunately so do the repros.

[Frank Heukemes]

Yes, 4 prongs or four small tabs. And yes, most fakes also have 4 prongs. Kuban, Krim and Demjansk shield fakes are excellent, you should get knowledge about them before you buy or post here before you buy. Very dangerous.

[James E.]

Hi Guys,

There's a Kuban shield on Kia Winklers site that almost matches the one that Frank posted, although not as crisp (item 8742 in army awards section). I have one just like that. If you take a look at the shield look at the right foot, centre claw. There seems to be flaw. I have noticed this on a few shields of that design including the one I own, but it's not present on Franks shield. Any one else noticed this?

Cheers

James

[Frank Heukemes]

Dear James,

I checked it out, it is indeed the same type, just not as crisp. This fact and the die flaw which apparantly was not yet there when my shield was produced might put Winkler´s shield into a later time window.