F.o U-Boat

[Bruce Simcox]

I will add......

......this: If anyone gets fooled by THAT maker-mark then they haven't been doing their homework. I really don't think that the badge in question is that good a fake with such an obviously sloppy maker-mark.

-------------------------

Bruce

[Lorenzo Brown]

Notwithstanding the mark, here are a couple of other points:

Notice the "wear patterns" on the finish of the badge. They are very even and consistent on the high points of the leaves throughout the wreath, which is not typical of authentic wear.

Also notice the "wear" on the flag staff, lower portions of the conning tower and the artillery. These areas are actually recessed and would not be subject to as much wear as the outer portions of the badge- yet they show a lot of "wear". I believe that these areas have been artificially rubbed out to appear as if they have been worn down...but actual wear would not appear this way, IMO.

Also notice that the "rifts" in the ribbon at the bottom of the wreath are very deep and well-defined. The ribbons on my badge and Bruce's are much softer.

[mads]

Very interesting indeed Philippe.
This one is in my fake files now, thank you.

Mads

[pchwastiak]

I'm with Lorenzo on this one too all the Fo uboat badges I have seen have had very crisp clean edges as the zinc takes up the die very well, this one just looks too rough.
Regards
Peter C

[Philippe DB]

Hi Guys,

Just found it interesting to let you know that this U-Boat badge sold less than 12 hours after appearing on the dealers site.

$ 244 + shipping.

hopefully not to a member of this forum

KR
Philippe

[John T]

I suspect this is a fake one also..maker mark is wrong as stated, and I just saw one for sale on a site that looks like the one Philippe posted that is being listed as a fake...I had to look twice and found this thread and now see the differences, John

[Frank Heukemes]

I must have missed this thread in the summer while I was moving. This fake has a history, it did not just appear out of thin air.

1) same fake was made and sold before with a vertical pin
2) This was too obvious a mistake and the fakers then attached the pin horizontally
3) that fake exists for at least two years, while the change to horizontal pin was made about one year ago. Both versions reside in many a collection as good badges
4) Be careful to notice that even the O in the six o´clock position of the badge has now (in the latest version of the fake) been copied. That O is not present an all originals either.

Here are some pics of the evolution, the seller remains the same.

[John T]

Hi Frank:

Thank you for those pictures. That is a pretty good fake! I am glad the fakers got the maker mark wrong, and there are a few other suttle differences...but a good effort on their part.

From the pictures it appears the badge is buntmetal, while I believe most if not all of the real fo sub badges are in zinc.

Do you know why the maker mark is wrong? Could they have possibly coppied a rarer form of the maker mark or is it definately a wrong mark?

Thanks,

John

[Frank Heukemes]

Dear John,

On all genuine fo badges I have seen, the O did not have the little line. This includes e.g. PAB, Destroyer, Auxiliary Cruiser, GAB, HSF, IAB.

Cheers, Frank

[anguspm]

It might just be me but if you look at the hinge notice how the barrel extends beyond both the edges. I'm pretty sure I've not seen one of these where this happens on an FO badge.

Phillippe Frank,

Great info as always thanks!

[John T]

copy pix...

[John T]

copy pix...

more

[John T]

detail of mark

[U-Boot Kapitan]

Fake Orth U-Boat Badge

A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL!

Thanks Guys!
This and other threads on the forum about the fake Friedrich Orth U Boat badges, has just saved me the cost of what I was going to pay for a supposedly genuine badge!!!
The information we share on this forum is priceless.
Keep up the great work!!
Regards,
Jay

[genoa41]

a fake