u boat clasp, with an unusual twist............

[sparks]

Hello Guy's,
here is another one from the haul i picked up last week, based on my research done here i'm 99% sure its a good one but i still would like to hear your thoughts, I think this one has definatley been worn..a lot.
Sparks.

[sparks]

the catch.

[sparks]

the hinge.

[sparks]

and finally...the twist.
any ideas why this would have been done ? there is a lot of wear in the hinge as if the badge has been used a lot although i am sure it has spent the last 50 years in a drawer or similar.

[Mike Kenny]

Looks like a nice original bronze grade example.

Re the "twist" maybe th eoriginal wearer did it for better purchase onto his uniform.

Regards
Mike

[Darrell]

It's amazing how they could twist these without breaking them off. I've seen this with some other KM badges as well.

[Dennis GT]

I like it too! I have never seen the twisted pin before.

Dennis

[John R.]

Yes, an original bronze. In regards to the twist, not a big deal for these men. The pin was held in a vice, probably protected by cloth, and with rubber or cloth wrapped pliars, he twisted the end into the product you have now--maybe heated the end a bit first. No way IMO was this done post war. John

[Darrell]

Yes, an original bronze. In regards to the twist, not a big deal for these men. The pin was held in a vice, probably protected by cloth, and with rubber or cloth wrapped pliars, he twisted the end into the product you have now--maybe heated the end a bit first. No way IMO was this done post war. John

John, I'd prefer to see your theory tested. Please try that with one of your clasps. I'll compare the results

[John R.]

John, I'd prefer to see your theory tested. Please try that with one of your clasps. I'll compare the results

I said no problem for these sailors, but send me one of yours, let me get a blowtorch, put it in a vice and give it a try!!!!

This is not fair to me Darrell, you already know I am paranoid about these pins and catches.

John

[Darrell]

I said no problem for these sailors, but send me one of yours, let me get a blowtorch, put it in a vice and give it a try!!!!

This is not fair to me Darrell, you already know I am paranoid about these pins and catches.

John

Roger That

[Mike Kenny]

Keep in mind with period vaulting of zinc badges and twisting of pins etc, that these alterations were done soon after construction - the materials would have been a bit more maleable. Attempting these things 60+ years down the track, with all the associated deterioration in metal/solder quality, would more than likely simply produce a broken badge! If they scr*wed up back then, they could buy a new one fairly easily - not the same story now!!

Regards
Mike

[sparks]

Thats a fact Mike about the badges being easy to replace when they were new.
the interesting thing that i find about the group that i picked up last weekend is that all 3 badges ( i havent posted the hand vaulted schwerin minesweeper yet) feature some sort of modification which i can only presume was done by the original recipient, i got 3 badges, this clasp with it's twisted pin, the e-boat i posted earlier, ( the end of its pin is also bent outward which would afford a more secure fixing to a uniform ) and the minesweeper which is heavily hand vaulted, the badges came from a friend of mine who undertakes house clearances, they were in the home of a 95 year old woman who had died and were found together in a box, i am sure that all of these are period worn examples and i can only presume that the old girls husband would have been on active service during ww2, i would love to know how he came to own them.

Sparks.