Opinion of these breast eagles...

[erichcraciun]

Hello:

Attached are two breast eagles that I have had in my Luft. specialty badges box. I am very unsure of the first one on green HBT, but would value your opinions of both. (If they are repop Don C. just earned another jump smock eagle!)


Erich Craciun

[John Hodgin]

Hello Erich,

The tropical eagle is an old reproduction, a style that has been around for years. The HBT eagle looks good except for the head, it bothers me. I will have to check my files but I think this is a reproduction also. However, don't get rid of it yet.

Best,
John

[Willi Z.]

Hi Erich and John,

Yes, the trop eagle is a reproduction. Looks like one of those sold by ATF. The HBT eagle might be good though.....can you give us a nice closeup of the back? That holds the key. I like the detail of the wings, etc.

Willi

[John Hodgin]

Hi Willi,

Again, I don't think the HBT is good. Looks like one of the newer generation of excellent reproductions.

Best,
John

[Willi Z.]

Hi John,

On the HBT, I see some things I like (the eagle details) and some things I don't (the size of the border around the eagle). I think if we saw the back we would both agree, one way or the other...

Willi

[Willi Z.]

Here is a closeup of a few HBT eagles.

[Perry Floyd]

Boy that one on the right looks crude, I would have never guessed it was original. That one would have slipped by me....although not a very strong area for me anyway.

[John Hodgin]

All three good, but Erich's is not....

[John Hodgin]

Another variation.

[Willi Z.]

I agree John......after having opened my box of HBT eagles, it is easier to see that Erich's is probably bad.

Yes Perry, that eagle on the right looks rougher than the others...the details are not as precise. As with all Luftwaffe eagles, the key is the 2-color thread construction on the back...the repros don't have this.....yet.

Willi