Herr Paratrooper - Opinions Please

[savarese29]

OK....Up for consideration is this Herr Paratrooper. As I have noticed from other Threads these are pretty tricky. Anyway, I would like the opinions from those of you out there who have any knowledge of these for I have NO CLUE!!

Now from looking at others on the Forum..I am going on a limb here...I think it is OK! What do you think??

Thanks for your time.

Kind Regards
Mike

[savarese29]

Reverse

Reverse

[Eric Queen]

What is the material. Doesn't look like Feinzink.

[savarese29]

Close Up 1

Cose Up 1

[savarese29]

Close up 2

Close up 2

[savarese29]

Not sure

It is a zincer!

Kind Regards
Mike

[mmiller]

Hi Mike,

Any chance you have a scale and can weigh in grams? That might solve the 'material' issue. I tend to like what I see.

Regards,
Mark

[savarese29]

Weights

Mark,

Unfortunatley, I do not own it yet. I will ask for the weight.

r/Mik

[mmiller]

Mike,

A red flag may have just popped up...... I see no 'bubbling' under the finish. These zinkers almost always show some signs of aging. From the images, I see none.

Mark

[15parabattalion]

Mike

Yes the bubbling is a give away bit usually best seen with an eyeglass or zoom in with a good close up shot! It does seem ok though, nice rivets, pin and hinge.

Here is a link to a page I'm putting together with dimentions I have found on a genuine zinc badge:

http://www.fallschirmjager.biz/info_awards_001.htm

Thanks Mike

[keifer kahn]

Were these made from a particular zink alloy unique to only this type of badge?

My point being that zink alloys dont always "bubble".A lot will exhibit finish loss but not all bubble.For example later Kriegsmetall PAB,s will have a dark,shale finish and no bubbling.Mid war zink pab,s will be usually devoid of a lot their finish and have no bubbling.

Bubbling is also caused by poor storage and microscopic breaks in the surface finish allowing the unstable zink and moist atmosphere to react and start the process we know as "Zinkpest".The "bubbles" which we view in a favourable light of originality are actually pockets of corrosion.

Perhaps the particular badge in question has been looked after and stored correctly?


Is there something unique about the alloy used in this particular type of badge?

[savarese29]

Zinc

Well, I do not currently have the badge in hand for they are very expensive.

With that being said, as to the discussion with regards to zinc.....I have MANY other badges (MOSTLY PABs & Lufty Badges) which are made of zinc and have ZERO "Zinc corrosion" or so little that it is barely seen with the naked eye

Therefore, if this badge has no visible zinc corrosion and has all the correct parts/details...how can we say it is a repo?

r/Mike

[keifer kahn]

Thats why i asked the question,

If these badges have a zink alloy base comparable with other badges then the characteristics should be the same, in regards to corrosion ,ableit "bubbling".

Zink Pab,s,Iabs etc will be seen with differing characteristics in relation to their base zink.
Some will bubble,some will lose their finish,some will, if stored incorrectly,rot away and if correctly stored will retain a major part of their finish and fall into the "mint" catagory.

I dont collect the above type of badge but i do collect "zinkers" of varying denominations and unless this particular type of badge has a peculiar type of zink alloy, the rules governing zink and its characteristics pertaining to "age","corrosion","storage",etc should be the same for other badges with the same base alloy.

It all varies.

[savarese29]

Other Examples

Well, after spending several hours on the GCA and WAF I have been unale to find another example with the same catch. All of the other examples I have found are flat wire.

Does anyone have an known good example of one that does not have a flat wire catch?

Regards
Mike

[mmiller]

Either round or flat wire stock were used on the catches. An example is shown in Red Shines the Sun, on page 175. Be careful with the finish though, most examples (DO) have a different finish, as Mr. Queen alluded to. A scale would resolve the issue.

Not all zink badges will bubble. The badge posted has none. Bubbling, however, cannot be faked. You do not need a loupe to see bubbling. Here is a 100% example, with bubbling.


Regards,
Mark