Comments On U-Boat Badge

[Ohms931]

Hi,
Im just starting out in collecting Kriegsmarine items and I would appreciate some advice on this badge I am interested in. Its listed as being Rudolph Karneth but I cant find any referance to a Badge by this maker. The obvious question is, is it fake? if not what would be the market price for it?

Thanks for any advice and comments

Ohms

[ERIC LIN]

I am no expert
but, I would say no good on this one

[Norm F]

Hi Ohms,

Actually, although the photos are poor, it looks like a good zinc R.K. to me, attributed to Rudolf Karneth or R. Kreisel in Gablonz. The maker mark is typically faint but you can see it there behind the pin on the reverse of the U-boat.

Hard to advise you on value of this one, since I don't buy U-boat badges. Maybe 300 Euro on a high end dealer's website? Subtract 30 percent for private sale? See what others say.

Best regards,
---Norm

[John R.]

Poor photos but it is a period RK IMO.

John

[Ohms931]

John/Norm,
Thanks for the info I have another pic that better shows the makers mark on the back, as you mentioned quite faint

[Ohms931]

This seller has one other Badge by Friedrich Orth but I have my doubts about this one as the marks on the crossed ribbons at the bottom are at the wrong angle. Also note the marks on the top left edge on the backside looks like marks from a vice or some other tool used to hold it. Would that be a fair comment?

[John R.]

I see what you are referring to on the FO badge. This is the version with the solid swastika and the lower maker mark on the reverse.

The FO mark is also a bit off, but not enough to worry me about the badge at this point, but lets get some others to look it over.

So:

The pin is also not exactly right. Bit long, bit shiny, but maybe just the photo.

The cross marks on the bow of the wreath are not quite right.

The maker mark is not quite right compared to most FO badges, however, we do see them with just the straight line underneath "FO"

If this is a very late war badge, it has a chance.

John

[Norm F]

Hi Guys,

I haven't been around long enough to know exactly how it was established, but all the U-Boats with that deep, angled cross-ribbon at the bottom of the wreath are considered fakes. Many of these have been posted over the years, and this feature is associated with the maker mark with the added appendage to the "O", but in this example someone has filed off that feature apparently. You can still see the slight asymmetry to the "O" that resulted.

Best regards,
---Norm

[Norm F]

Some normal maker marks for comparison. The "fake" f.o. mark is most like the "normal" Type 3 which is found on the vertical pin variants.

[Ohms931]

Norm,
Well spotted I can see now when you look closely that indeed the O has a very suspicious chunk missing.
Just to clarify are you saying ALL badges irrespective of manufacturer that have the same defined angle cross ribbon at the bottom of the wreath are fakes?

[Norm F]

Norm,
Well spotted I can see now when you look closely that indeed the O has a very suspicious chunk missing.
Just to clarify are you saying ALL badges irrespective of manufacturer that have the same defined angle cross ribbon at the bottom of the wreath are fakes?

Hi Ohms,

I had meant all f.o. U-Boat badges, but now that you mention it, there's no U-Boat maker with that kind of cross ribbon, so yes I believe you can expand the statement to encompass all manufacturers.

Best regards,
---Norm

[John R.]

Good summary Norm.

John

[Ohms931]

Norm,
Thats handy to know as Ive probably noticed 40-50% on internet has the fake ribbons

Thx for the info!