Close Combat Clasps

[fdodge]

These are for sale at a local shop. They were brought in by a collector's widow. Also priced very high
What do you all think?

Frank

[fdodge]

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[fdodge]

Closer look at the bronze grade.

[Christopher G.]

The FLL & the AGMuK are good (cant speak out the finish on the FLL) but the JFS is crap.

Chris

[fdodge]

The JFS is pretty obvious, isn't it....

[Blued]

Agreed. And the AGMuk is the 1.4 variant with the huge die flaw near the eagle head

[fdodge]

Thanks Chad. It has a round wire pin. Maybe a vatiant?

[Thomas Durante]

Hi Frank,

Some interesting clasps.

The AGMuK is indeed a 1.4 like Chad says, and most like 1.4.5. However, notice the maker mark has the K & Z lined up, not offset. That makes it more like the earlier 1.4 variants, so it indeed looks like you found a nice little variant. I would pick it up if the price is right, its a beauty with great finish.

The FLL looks like an original, but odd pock marks on the obverse, new backplate and with questionable finish IMO.

The JFS is a fake IMO, but extremely well made. That obverse is perfect! Nice attempt.

Tom

[scott3000]

An intersting Fake the JFS i mean

[panzer1432]

After some in depth research, yes, no doubt the JFS is a fake. IMO the obverse is not perfect.

M

[relic]

I want to start out by saying I'm new to this forum so please excuse any ignorance on my part. In reading this thread among others on this forum, I am amazed on how easy is for you guys to spot the fakes from the real ones. Can someone point out the obvious points of this JFS CCC that makes it fake? I've studied the pictures and can't come up with anything that stands out to me. It scares the jeebies out of me that you can end up paying big money for these treasures and end up with fakes worth nothing because of lack of knowledge that is required of each medals manufacturing characteristics.
Also, I know that Thomas Durante's book on the CCC is the holy grail of books on the subject but the price is in the $300-$400 now putting it out of my reach as I don't collect these medals as a lot of you do as a hobby. My buying is picking up one here and there as the opportunity affords me. I collect other items of history so my collecting isn't targeted to one category. Anyways, can someone tell me if the book on CCC by Rolf Michaelis is worth buying? One more thing. When you guys reference 1.4 and 1.4.5, is that a reference number of an example shown in Thomas Durante's book? Thanks in advance.
Darrell

[Panzercracker]

Hi and welcome to the Forum. Yes, when you hear something like 1.5.1, and it's a CCC thread, it's referring to an example shown in Tom's book. I don't know about Rolfs book, but someone just sold Tom Durante's book on the E-stand for a pittance ($125). Not saying deals like that are always to be had, let alone found, but you may get lucky in the book section. Mind you, "give-aways" like that, you can be sure there'll be others lookin'. Gotta jump early in this game or you miss the target. Jump too early on some things and you can get burned.

--Ken

[grenadier77]

If you want to buy a book then buy the book of T.Durante. No books of Michaelis are really good...Save your money..

[panzer1432]

Darrell,

Congrats, you are in a great forum ! I was and still am a Helmet, cloth, collector. However, I have decided to seriously increase and upgrade my badge collection. There are some outstanding collectors here, plus great info. Buy Tom's book and keep reading and learning. Continue using the forum. I still have a long way to go with badges but I am 1000% better.

Mike

Lastly, Enjoy the Chase !

[Chet Sowersby]

Darrell,
I can only agree with Mike. The only book worth having is Tom's superb work on the subject. Reguardless of wether you collect CCC's on not it is a must have as well as a few other well done books. If the book saves you from only one bad example you have recouped the cost of the book. No brainer....

Chetr