Luftschutz medal

[Bobki52]

A friend of mine asked me to post pics of this medal for him and get your opinions on its authenticity. It measures 40mm across, but he does not have a scale so he could not give me a weight. More pics can be taken if necessary. Your thoughts?

[byterock]

Well a very rare bird and as such few people know just what to look for.

Myself here are my comments

1) I see some casting potmarks on it (bottom right arm)
2) the suspension style is incorrect or at least differs from the one or two good ones I have see
3) Details in the pebbling are lacking

A side on view would help

[Gailen David]

Since I'm the one who sold this medal I feel at least the guy picturing it could have shown the maker mark of L/13 on one of the arms. There are no casting marks on this piece that I could find.

Gailen

[Gailen David]

I have asked the guy to post more pictures. There are two ring attachment attributed to this badge.

Gailen

[Bobki52]

Here they are

Gailen, here are the additonal pics.

[VonPeter]

I have never seen one i real life, only pictures of it so take my opinion for what its worth.

Of all the 1 class crosses posted here i cant remember ever seeing that suspension style and the number 8 is way of position, its far to high compered to the 3. Also some letters seems a little homemade, look at the F, S and the H in the word luFtScHutze.

I dont know if its real or not, just making observations.

[Gailen David]

Here is one refernce book picture of the two ring suspensions. This is out of Fuhrer and Fatherland, 1978 edition. means nothing except that possible two different Suspensions exsist.

[Woolgar]

Not sure if this one is real or not but I just love this award !! Hope it proves to be good!

Nick

[Coburg]

There is one for sale at:

http://www.thirdreichmedals.com/ to compare it to. It is under Civil Awards. This one has a different suspender. I know nothing about these but remember seeing this one for sale

Sorry i can`t upload to pics

Jim

[Patrick W]

I don't like it. IMO its cast. Whilst I do think that some of these were potentially produced with this type of suspension wartime I don't think this is one

- Obverse left arm shows very distinct pock marks under the finish, this is the result of casting.

- The side shots show a partial cast line in the angle and rest looks to be filed away.

- Sharpness of the lettering is nowhere near what it should be. The one in the book illustration shows sharp letters which are polished up- that is what I would like to see.

[Gailen David]

Patrich: I have offered, which is my policy, a quick refund if he wishes to return it. Can't do any better then that.

Gailen

[Gailen David]

Sorry about spelling your name wrong.

[Don D.]

This type of attachment ring is known from period catalogs.

[Gailen David]

Just a little history on this badge which came with the miniature award. I purchased it 15 years ago and sold both to a collector in Miami Florida. I recently bought his collection. I have seen quite a few copies of this piece over the years but never what I thought was a good one. All the other fakes were quite crude. I had never encountered one like this. So, if it was produced post war they didn't make many. All that I have written above is just talk but that's the honest truth on what I know.

Gailen David

[Silesien]

The Rudolf Souval firm of Vienna, Austria produced these after the war,- it is item 9/12 in their 1971 catalog @ 140 ÖS or 20 DM; but Gailen's Cross is not a postwar Souval pc.