EK1 Spange

[James Clark]

Would anyone like to comment on the authenticity or otherwise of this set?



[ 20 October 2001: Message edited by: James Clark ]



[ 20 October 2001: Message edited by: James Clark ]







[ 20 October 2001: Message edited by: James Clark ]

[James Clark]

ER, it worked in the sandbox - I'll try again... (yes, got it here too (eventually)!



[ 20 October 2001: Message edited by: James Clark ]

[ 21 October 2001: Message edited by: James Clark ]

[ 21 October 2001: Message edited by: James Clark ]

[James Clark]

Come on chaps - it's already in my collection but if it clunks I don't want it to stay!

Please tell me if there's a problem!

[Mark S.]

I would like to know too..

Bump!

[rkoy]

the eagle is crooked on the top of the case! thats all i can add....whos next

[Warren O]

Here goes,it appears to be an early issue award. The patina and color bothers me,thats the way the L/21 fakes age with that gold tone.The eagles head isn't angled up enough. The eagles feet don't look right I can't tell what there doing. The wreath is not round enough,the 1939 looks good but the box its in isn't straight along its top edge and the raised border around the date is to wide.The eagles shoulders aren't sharp or curved enough.
These are comparisons to my Spange I don't have a box so can't comment.
Don't consider my comments as condemnation of your badge there must be others out there with knowlege of Spanges.
Warren

[Rich G]

James

Here's a link to one that I own. It is a guaranteed original piece, and you should be able to make some comparisons.

Hope this is useful for you.

Regards

Richard
http://rgordon4.tripod.com/decorations/id20.html

[eric]

Richard,
Nice site! WOW! Good job......

[Mike Kenny]

Hi,

Richard - nice spange! I have a slightly worn example of the same type.

Although the hinge/pin construction is the same as James' example, I feel it may not be correct to directly compare them feature for feature. If you look on the two inner/radial sets of feathers for example, James' spange differs from ours in that his has the very fine "feathering" lines on each large feather. this would indicate a different die has been used. I've seen spanges (first and second class) with and without this feathering detail so I don't think it's an indication of genuine versus reproduction.

I do agree with Warren's comments about the discolouration near the hinge and catch - something I personally would normally avoid. The finish in general makes me wary but it's difficult to say if James' spange is genuine or not just from the images. I'm sitting on the fence at the moment regarding James' spange (not painful for me either as it's not my spange!). It's not one that jumps up at me and yells "I'm genuine" though.

Regards
Mike K

[Rich G]

Mike

You're correct, like for like comparisons are not always the be all and end all scenario.

As with all III Reich awards, there are numerous manufacturers but a lot can be identified by their hinge/pin/catch set-up.

Looking at the catch on James', it seems similar to those found on fake EK1's but I'm thinking that is the scan fooling the eyes.

James, if you're reading this.. is the catch of round wire or cut from a solid piece of metal?

If we got Gordon Williamson on the case, I'm sure we would have a straight answer immediately, hint, hint!

Richard

[James Clark]

Thanks for all the input on this - much appreciated. In answer to your question Richard (and without knowing whether this is a good or bad thing) the catch looks like round wire.

I must say, I have misgivings about this piece, which is one reason I posted it. I think there's a lot to be said for showing details of fakes (if that's what it is) so that people can recognise them for what they are.

I've been going through my collection (having been parted from it for three years!) and this was one of those few (thankfully) retrospective "I don't knows" - I bought this about six years ago (around the same time I picked up a nice, cased, but Frank & Reif U-Boat badge ).

Anyway, I'm older and wiser now, so if this clasp, the U-boat badge, boxed EKII and two highly attractive ribbon bars which Rick Lundstrom's excellent observations blew right out the water prove to be the only errors of past judgement I won't be too disappointed (I suppose).

It certainly is, was and probably always will be a jungle out there!

[Thomas Durante]

Warren, you mentioned above that there is a goldish color patina on some of these fakes? I have a EK2 spange that looks to be made of zinc with a very faint bronzish color patina on it. It would be hard to see on some pics, but I will post some on a new thread on monday.

Tom

[just-me]

Here's a link to the one I got from Detlev Nieman. My "catch" is different from yours too. sorry.
http://c-siegfried.tripod.com/TheGer...nBund/id6.html

[Warren O]

James,
I've been comparing your badge with the one in FUHRER and FATHERLAND revised edition page 346. They appear to be the same badge. Like everyone else mentioned there are just to many different manufacturers around with which to compare. I wouldn't give up on the badge or the box just yet.
Warren