Opinions needed on 2 U Boat badges

[peterwyndavies]

I have seen these U Boat badges which even my inexperienced eye singles out as fakes, but thought that I would post them as I have not handled many of these. I would be grateful for opinions on them, and apologise if they are time wastingly obvious fakes.I attach some pics.
Thanks,
Peter.

[peterwyndavies]

Pic of the other U Boat badge.

[Tom Yanacek]

Hello Peter,

The one at the top is a fake of a Friedrich Orth. The paper packet is bad too. The other one looks like an original by Gebrüder Wegerhoff of Lüdenscheid.

Best regards,
Tom

[peterwyndavies]

Thanks Tom, I thought that the lack of detail around the beak of the second one meant it was also a fake. As you can see, I am very inexperienced in this area.
Thanks,
Peter.

[Norm F]

Hi Peter,

I agree completely with Tom. Good GWL, but the f.o. is a common fake. More on that one in this thread.

Best regards,
---Norm

[BubbaZ]

Hi Peter,
I echo what was said by Tom and Norm, original GWL and fake FO U-boats.
These zinc GWLs are not of the best quality and details. I think that kinky wire main pins are typical for GWL U-boats.
I enclose picture of the badge owned by one of my friends.
Cheers,
Hubert

[peterwyndavies]

Thanks for the link Norm and for the pic Hubert. I will certainly be giving the first one a miss.
Thanks,
Peter.

[colt45s]

i like the cannon and cut out swas on the GWL

[peterwyndavies]

Thanks colt 45, they do have a certain charm.
Peter.

[guest5234]

I have seen these U Boat badges which even my inexperienced eye singles out as fakes, but thought that I would post them as I have not handled many of these. I would be grateful for opinions on them, and apologise if they are time wastingly obvious fakes.I attach some pics.
Thanks,
Peter.

It is a minfield.

[guest5234]

Hello Peter,

The one at the top is a fake of a Friedrich Orth. The paper packet is bad too. The other one looks like an original by Gebrüder Wegerhoff of Lüdenscheid.

Best regards,
Tom

The one without the packet is good you say? I thought the lack of detail around the eagle made it look fake.

[Tom Yanacek]

It is a minfield.

The hobby has been and always will be somewhat of a minefield. However, even with the better-quality fakes being made today, it is still a safer minefield than it once was because we are equipped with much better "mine detectors" than ever before. Today's excellent reference works by authors such as Dietrich Maerz, Tom Durante, Frank Heukemes, Sascha Weber, etc, are beyond compare. In addition, the expertise of collectors from around the world is now at our fingertips via the many collector forums. Make use of all the information that is available and you will find that this is can still be an enjoyable and safe hobby.

Best regards,
Tom

[peterwyndavies]

Thanks Guest5324 and Tom,
I can echo Tom's sentiments in saying that purchasing in this field is somewhat of a minefield, but if you look to some of the best published works and obtain advice from very experienced collectors in forums like this, then I can say that I have both learnt a great deal and prevented myself from wasting a great deal of money on fakes. Of course I have bought the odd one or two, like I suspect almost everyone else at one time or another, but I try to learn from these mistakes and to resist the temptation on laying out big money on an item until I check it out first.
I

[peterwyndavies]

Sorry, posted before I had finished. What I was going to say was that beginners like me and possibly you Guest5234 really should be extremely grateful to Tom and the many other experienced collectors who are willing to give their time to help us out and by so doing also hinder the sale of fakes.
Peter.

[guest5234]

Sorry, posted before I had finished. What I was going to say was that beginners like me and possibly you Guest5234 really should be extremely grateful to Tom and the many other experienced collectors who are willing to give their time to help us out and by so doing also hinder the sale of fakes.
Peter.

I agree, I actually viewed the auction where the badges you have shown are for sale, it is great you can ask before you buy on this forum.
Good luck with the auction.