Opinions Please SS 8 Year LS Award

[Joseph D'Errico]

Hello Gentlmen,

I am posting this example for a friend. Please feel free to share anythoughts that you might have.

Most gracious,

Best Regards,
JD

[Joseph D'Errico]

Some more wonderful pics

Best,
JD

[Joseph D'Errico]

Don't ask me why, but i always enjoy discuussing the SS 8 year LS.

Notice the "F" is that a sign of cast ?

The badge measures out;

Horizontal : 38mm
Vertical : 38mm
Wreath :17mm
Edge : 1mm
Tear Drop exstenstion loop :9mm
Weight : 24.47 grams
Ribbon width : 36mm



More pics

[Joseph D'Errico]

And always more pics.


Best Regards,
JD

[Joseph D'Errico]

By now you probably have had enough pics, but one more for the gipper.


Best Regards,
JD

[Joseph D'Errico]

Forgot this one, color is a bit off, indoor pics are always a pain in the a$$.


Best Regards,
JD

[keifer kahn]

Hi Joe,

I dont like the stipling(this type always reminds me of a breakafst cereal we have here floating in chocolate milk) nor the fat rounded oakleaves.I also dont like the bottom wreath binder(looks to defined).Also the jump ring looks way out of scale(too small).
Also whats the go with all the "pitting" evident in the closeups of the lettering.Pretty good sign its been cast.The general texture reminds me of the type of effect left by some fine casting sands.
The lettering should be crisp and smooth on top.The letters also look too rounded.Another sign its cast.

I also like to see the sig runes,with the mild dogleg effect.These look totally straight.
Im sure our friend Craig goodwin can step in with pics of his nice original and we can compare.
But on personal choice level and based on what i look for in 8 years,id have to give this the thumbs down.

It reminds me of a reproduction.

regards keifer

[Joseph D'Errico]

Thank you Keifer for the response.

Just a thought if cast would it not measure out or are those days coming to an end with new and improved casting techniques. I think that the letter "F" is the doubtn't need a loop to tell this is a cast example. Then once you go to the loop, well..........the flood gates open.

I hope that we are both wrong and this is a good piece for the sake of another

Thank you kindly,
JD

[keifer kahn]

Hi Joe,

Normally medals cast from originals are undersize.They simply push the original medal into the casting compound and leave the impression,into which the metal is poured.
This looks to me,to have been made from a scratch die,which means a who ever has made this has made their own version of an 8 year design parralleling the look of an original(maybe they had an original and didnt want to get casting crap all over it).
They then pushed this original die into the casting sand.The die also probaly started out at about 38.5mm.It may of been bigger with excess trimmed off after cooling down to the required 38mm.This type of manufacture is why some reproductions seem to be cast but end up with very smooth or sheared looking sides.
They cast them and the then trim the edges using a trimming planchet.This also eliminates the casting seam.

Hope we are wrong but it aint looking good.

[Joseph D'Errico]

Hi Keifer,


Great follow up on the casting technique, I was not fully aware of the process. makes sense to me. This is a pretty good fake IMHO in that it shows many good points to the less than familier eye.

Thanks for taking the time to post.

Cordially Yours,
JD

[CRAIGGOODWIN]

hi Keifer

As you say it does lack details & is a bit soft, not struck like a coin. It reminds me of the "second" pattern but with the colour of the first ?

[CRAIGGOODWIN]

the back

again note the lack of detail - Joe hope this has helped, Keifer thanks for the kind words

[Joseph D'Errico]

HI Craig,


Thank you for the post as well as the pics,very concise. I think that we all agree that this is not original, correct ?

Cordially Yours,
JD

[Brian S]

Souval made a nice copy in the 60's, if I can locate my photos I'll get some for you Joe.

[keifer kahn]

Hi Craig,
Thanks for posting the pics. Always a pleasure to see your example.


Yes,Joe,i am 100% certain that medal is a reproduction.

The addition of the reasonable looking teardrop ring just shows the next stage of evolution these fakes are going through.

Clsoer everyday.

regards keifer