Minesweeper R.K.

[Zegengeim]

Kameraden,
I would appreciate your opinions about this badge.

material: zinc
wt: 21.1 g
ht: 55 mm
width: 44.2 mm
wing span: 29 mm

Thanks in advance.

Regards,
Anton

[BubbaZ]

Hi Anton,
My first impression was that it is original RK zincer, type 3.1.5 with replaced main pin and repaired and replaced catch but after closer look I do not like the base material, internal cutouts seem odd for this variant and obverse details seem weak. So it may be worn original zincer with replaced hardware or a very clever fake.
Here is my 3.1.5 for comparison.
Cheers,
Hubert

[Norm F]

Hi Anton,
My first impression was that it is original RK zincer, type 3.1.5 with replaced main pin and repaired and replaced catch but after closer look I do not like the base material, internal cutouts seem odd for this variant and obverse details seem weak.

I agree with Hubert's observations. This is just a cast reproduction of a 3.1.5. Looks sort of okay at first glance, but quite horrible up close with wrong base metal, pitted texture and rounded cutouts. You can see obvious sings of casting on the inner margins, and the catch crimp is just an aborted cast platform with the wire catch soldered on instead of crimped in. They ran out of steam when it came to the main pin and didn't even try to replicate it...

Best regards,
---Norm

[Zegengeim]

Kameraden, thanks for help!