Some help on authenticity of these KM badges

[David H]

Hello, Could I please get some opinions of authenticity on the below Kriegsmarine badges please. I have been offered these, but really do not have a clue about KM badges.....I'd like to pick one or two up as examples if any of them are worth having, the only thing which is obvious to me is some have had a little gold paint added, where I assume the wash has worn away.
I took the pictures in a bit of a rush so apologies that they are not great, but they are all I have. The price for each badge is basically £120 ($185), is that good or bad???? if they are real?

Any help greatfully recieved

[David H]

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[David H]

Any help would be most welcome please.

[Norm F]

Hi David,

A lot at once but here's a first "quick pass". The photos aren't that great for some pretty borderline badges. Firstly as a group, they're all zinc, fairly poor quality, either late war or post-war which seems to be reflected somewhat in the price.

1) Probably okay zinc S&L but it should have a catch plate, and if it doesn't then that's suspicious.

2) Has a chance as a genuine Hermann Aurich but with the original hardware gone, the surface crimping smoothed off and new hardware soldered on. Either that or a cast reproduction, but the obverse finish looks good. Not very collectible specimen.

3,4,5) all so-called "unmarked Funcke & Brueninghaus, Lüdenscheid" zinc U-boats. These are popping up on the forum like weeds lately and most people think they're fine, but I still can't tell if they're late war or post-war assembly.

6) Looks like a good RK (Gablonz-made) U-boat but possibly re-finished at some point from the look of the gilding splashes on the edge of the reverse. (I have the same concern for the "unmarked F&BL" beside it).

7) A weird Destroyer. Can't quite place it, looks like a cross between a zinc Schickle/Mayer-type and a Deumer. Need better photos and closeups of eagle and hardware.

8) Like the HA Coastal Artillery earlier, this Destroyer has a chance as a real S.H.u.Co. but with the hardware replaced post-war. There's enough controversy already around S.H.u.Co. Destroyers due to post-war reproductions so it's probably wise to collect only classic examples.

9, 10) Two rough-looking Hobacher zinc Destroyers. I think the one on the left has been refinished and the one on the right has probably been messed with as well since the "question mark"-shaped catch shouldn't be attached by a catch plate on these, and all the gilding is gone from the reverse yet "preserved" on the obverse.

All in all, I think you should pass on the whole lot I'm afraid.

Best regards,
---Norm

[David H]

Thanks for the comments most helpful and saves me some money

[AndyC]

Better you look for more "textbook" examples
Post them here on WAF before you buy


Andy