U boat badge. Opinions !

[DeMil]

I have this Kriegsmarine uboatbadge I would like to know if it is original.
It is in brass and the needle is none-magnetic. The badge looks well used.

Thanks
Derek

[DeMil]

Backside.

[mrg]

Hi Derek have to say that I have never encountered this style of U-Boat before. My observation on the pics are medal appears to be made out of a white metal, not brass. Maybe modern. looks as if it may have been chemically blackened. Catch looks alittle thick not something i am used to seeing on u-boat awards. Any chance of a side on shot of the hinge and pin. Have to say highly suspicious and not one i would go for.

[mrg]

Forgot to ask why is there a blob of solder on the reverse? All the best

[DeMil]

Hi Derek have to say that I have never encountered this style of U-Boat before. My observation on the pics are medal appears to be made out of a white metal, not brass. Maybe modern. looks as if it may have been chemically blackened. Catch looks alittle thick not something i am used to seeing on u-boat awards. Any chance of a side on shot of the hinge and pin. Have to say highly suspicious and not one i would go for.

Hi mrg.

The badge is in brass for sure. There are some miscolouring on the front but behind it is easy to see the colour of brass metal.
And the blob of solder on the reverce looks like and old repair to me ?
I will take new pictures of the hinge and pin and post them tomorrow.

Derek

[Mike Kenny]

Hi Derek,

Although the obverse detail does not look too bad, the reverse strikes me as crude - both the profile (somewhat soft and in places - like the keel - irregular) and especially the hardware. The hinge, pin, catch and catchplate (on a ?brass badge??) all look to me to be hand made and fairly crudely ?soldered together. The obverse ?silver finish is also strange, as is the colour of the basemetal which does look more like brass rather tombak (which would be "normal"). I don't get the feeling that this is a repaired original, so unless someone is going to state that it is an onboard made (ie "field"-made) example, I'm more inclined to call it a repro at this stage.

Regards
Mike

[DeMil]

Hi.

New close-up pictures.

Derek

[DeMil]

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[DeMil]

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[DeMil]

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[mrg]

Hi Derek thanks for the extra pics, sorry to say that I can see nothing that would change my opinion. Would not be one for my collection. All the best.

[John R.]

Certainly looks like a cast line. IMO a reproduction due to all of the above comments. John

[DeMil]

Thank you folks !
I will put it in the fake-box.

Best
Derek