Juncker Bandenkampfabzeichen feature!

[SScollector]

Hi all,

I would like to share some information that has always fascinated me about the Bandenkampfabzeichen made by C. E. Juncker.
That is, the fact that even though the mythological creature on the badge
is the Hydra, it is portrayed as a multi headed snake, rather than a multi headed dragon like creature, as it was originally portrayed in ancient Greek mythology, so I understand.

Anyway, what fascinates me the most, is the super fine details of the scales on Juncker's badge.
Specifically, the fact that they went to the trouble to make the scales keeled, (however you spell that).
For those who don't know, keeled scales are scales that have a small ridge, or spine through the center of them, making them ever stronger than flat scales. The spine provides extra support for each scale
and makes the entire snake's body much stronger. Some snakes have keeled scales and some do not.
Among the snakes that do have them, is the Diamondback Rattlesnake.

Here are some close-up photos of my Gold Juncker APB,
and a picture of a real Diamondback Rattlesnake.
Well, I just thought that this might interest someone else.
How the Hell did they put those lines through those scales? They are so tiny, that I had a good bit of trouble getting a good picture, even with a loupe
in front of my camera. You certainly can't see these details with the naked eye and it's difficult to see them with a loupe. Also, the later manufacture that produced these badges after Juncker was destroyed, did not put this feature on theirs. Also, keep in mind, that most of the cast fakes do not have this feature, although amazingly, some of the good fakes do have them.

Thanks! Chris

[SScollector]

Another:

[SScollector]

Snake:

[Tommaso]

Hi Chris,

the only thing I can add is that the snake has details related to Vipera Ammodytes or Vipera Berus, the two most common Vipers of the Mitteleuropa (Oesterreich, Balkans, North Italy, Hungary etc.etc.).
This fact is quite amazing if you think that the stronger effort against the "Bandits" was employed by Germans in those very countries.

Cheers
T

[SScollector]

Oh my God! How did you know that?
That is just awesome. In fact, that is the coolest thing I have learned in a long time. Here is a picture of one of the snakes that you mentioned:
It certainly looks more like the ones on the badge.
I have always wondered what was up with those flared up noses.
The only mistake they made, was making the pupils round.
The second manufacture of the badges made them slited.

Thank you very much! Chris

[Tommaso]

Dear Chris,

I'm from the area (Old Mitteleuropa) and I use to find some of those "nice" snakes when I walk up my mountains with my metal detector...so I've tried to study a little bit about them and their relation with the ancient Greek animal; the heads of this Hydra sure looks more like an european Viper Ammodytes than a common snake from others areas.
For sure the guy who had drawn this badge was quite into european fauna and flore....
Then if you think that Odilo Lotario Globocnik, a Volksdeutsche from Trieste, HSSPF and Commander of FSSB OZAK, one of the areas in which the antipartisans war was toughest than anywhereelse, made a reference just about the Hydra ("The multi headed monster of banditism") on the book "Bandenkampf in der OZAK" , make everything clearer.

PS-Maybe I can add something else you would love to know...did you ever see the movie "Conan the Barbarian"? Didn't you ever notice anything strange on that movie?...

Cheers
T

[Ludwig]

I guess more than I want to see the entire badge! Interesting info, by the way!

[upbeek]

i need to see more of that badge too
very nice info,those scales look great
chay

[SScollector]

Gold Juncker:

[SScollector]

No cut-outs = round pin. Most of the finish usually stays on the pin, hinge,
and catch, because they are not made of zinc like the rest of the badge.
All of mine, are unquestionably authentic.
I know where they came from, and I know what to look for, on Junckers.
All comments welcome. I know that most people don't know a lot about Junckers, and are very afraid of them because of the fact that almost everyone else is, and people just continue to spread the fear of these badges to more and more people, but the truth is that they are quite easy to tell, when you have had an original to examine in the flesh, because even the best fakes are very noticeable, when compared with an original in the flesh. They can make good replicas of any badge, and it can be the same quality, regardless of what type of badge it is, because the same methods of faking badges, are the same.
In other words, any Third Reich badge is reproduced just as good as the Juncker APBs, and it is just as easy to tell the differences, as it is for any type of Third Reich badge.

I know a few collectors of these badges, and they are way rarer than the APBs that were made by the other maker. Junckers are way more popular in Europe. Bronze Juncker APBs are going for over $3,000.00.
In fact, Kai Winkler sold a nice one, not long ago.

Best, Chris

[SScollector]

side view, showing that it is slightly vaulted:

[SScollector]

Here is my bronze one:

[SScollector]

Three cut-outs = flat pin.

[SScollector]

Here is a close-up of the scales on my Gold APB from the other maker.
They look nice, but are horrible when compared to the Junckers.

[SScollector]

Tommaso, what was you going to say about the Conan movie?
I have not seen it.

Thanks! Chris