Badge Catch Facing "Wrong" Way?

[David Sims]

Please confirm for me what I have always held true based on the many badges in my collection and having inspected hundreds over the years. Every badge I've ever seen (whether Luft, Heer, Kriegsmarine, or political), the opening to the catch faces to the right -- unless it's been incorrectly replaced or reattached. There's a nice DRL sports badge that a certain dealer has and that I'd like to have to complete the series. However, when I asked about the catch, because it looked a little odd from the angle of the photograph, he said the catch did indeed open to the left and was probably attached that way by a left-handed worker. Yes, that's what he said. I couldn't ever make up that one. So, enlighten me, please!

David

[theinglebaby23]

catch

I'd probably invest elsewhere. Mistakes on the assembly line do happen, however, probablility of it being a mistake (esp. with German manufacturing)...don't know if I'd chance it unless you were pretty confident.

[Richard]

There have been several badges that have surface that were manufactured during the period that had the catch reversed and were originally assembled that way. Can't say if it was due to a left handed worker or just an error.
Richard V

[Dennis P]

One commonly seen exception are SHuCo manufactured Heer badges which are frequently seen with left facing catch hooks/openings.

Dennis

[Dennis P]

As seen on one of Gailen David's hollow maker marked examples.

[Dennis P]

One of Pascal's SHuCo IABs

[Dennis P]

and another example

[David Sims]

Veeery Interesting ...

Perhaps I was too hasty to rush to judgment ... not that I've ever done that or anyone else on the Forum. After I sent my original query earlier today, I did recall that I have a flak badge that I've had in my collection for more than 30 years. Got it from a fellow by the name of Jack Wells, who used to be a pretty good fellow, big-time dealer, who sold some pretty nice stuff way back then. But then ... well, we all change, and that's another story. Nevertheless, I do have this early Tombak JIMME with the catch facing to "port" rather than "starboard." Perhaps it came loose many years ago, and it was reattached facing left. But then it has the base to the catch?! Hard to imagine it would come loose so cleanly?!

[Mike Kenny]

Hi,

David, re that JMME badge, first up the catch looks repaired. It would be very unusual to have a catchplate on a tombak badge. Second, I've never seen a genuine JMME marked LW Flak Badge before. This one would warrant it's own discussion thread imo.

Re left-facing catches, the semi-solid zinc "Daisy" PABs also commonly feature the reversed catch.

Regards
Mike

[Darrell]

Re left-facing catches, the semi-solid zinc "Daisy" PABs also commonly feature the reversed catch.

Regards
Mike

Also GAB Unknown Maker # 7 (as per Frank H) also opens to the left

[Dennis P]

I would have to agree with everything Mike said about the JMME Flak Badge.

[don]

You will find a lot of silver l22 wound badges with the reversed catch.
don

[David Sims]

I appreciate all your replies and accompanying photos of catches. Never too old to learn something. Vielen dank!

[Duane E]

Left facing catch

Hello, this is a badge I bought about 20 years ago that has a left facing catch. I have been looking on the forum to see if there were others, now there are. I will post other pictures later. DuaneIAB7.jpg