"U-Boat" Badge - Real or Fake?

[RJCosta]

Hello again this is Robert!

I was told by a fellow collector that a "U-Boat" Badge that I have has a Maker's Mark by Frank & Reif” from “Stuttgart” Germany and that company never made "U-Boat" Badges.

I am posting some photos for all of you experts to look at. If it's not real, I am going to be very frustrated because I bought this from a well known dealer who has never screwed me before.

Gentlemen! Your thoughts???

I just became an Associate Member but do not know how to post photos. I will try to figure it out.

Robert

[Josh B.]

to post pics, post a reply to this thread. Below the box where you can type your message, click the grey button in the center of the page that says "manage attachments". Go from there. I'm sorry, but I think your friend is likely right regarding your badge...

-Josh

[RJCosta]

"U-Boat" Photos

Robert's Back!

Let's try som photos.

[RJCosta]

Photo Back

Here's the Back.

[RJCosta]

Photo Three - The Eagle

Here is the top of the badge.

[Al P]

100% Fake.

Your friend is quite correct that Frank and Reif NEVER made u boat badges.


Al

[Nordmark]

Yes definitely a fake. I saw one of these a few weeks ago and got the chance to inspect it, these are very good copies, I certainly understand why so many collectors pick them up...



Regards,


Daniel

[Lorenzo Brown]

Definitely a fake that is featured in the "Fakes Gallery". See post #6:
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=102002

[RJCosta]

Thank youall!

Dear Lorenzo:

Thank you and all the others for the information. As you can see from my photos, it is indeed a very nice copy. Plus I am out some serious money and feel like a fool.

Other than knowing that Frank & Reif did not make them, how do you tell it is fake?

Sincerely,
Robert

[kirk]

I had one offered to me, just like this one,a while back.It is a Fake badge.

[lemalouin]

I agree with all my dear fellows

[Mike Kenny]

The fact that they only hit the market in the 80s was the biggest giveaway - that and being outed in the French Militaria Magazine in the early 90s.

A good dealer will refund your money - hound him until he does!

Regards
Mike

[colt45s]

looks like stuttgart stamp is running up hill, why not make it straight? front looks nice!

[Jody]

U-boat badge

Hello,
This badge is 100% fake. If you had used the search function on this forum you would have seen at least a half a dozen threads dedicated to this reproduction. I even have the French magazine which outs this badge on one of these threads.

Here is the link in which I posted the article: http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...+U-boat+badges

Regards,
Jody

[redjames2004]

Fake F&R U-Boat badge

Hello, I saw this identical fake F&R U-Boat badges twice at local militaria shows. I had chance to check this such badge on the local dealer's table. He told me that this was "real". I put it back in his display case. Luckily, I dont buy that fake badge. I walked away and moved to different dealer tables. I actually knew that F&R never make any U-Boat badges during WW2. F&R was mostly Army combat badge maker. Schwerin made most of naval combat badges during WW2. I would stay away from this fake F&R U-boat badge when I see this.