Need help with Minesweeper badge!

[Anapus...]

Fake or good What is your opinion about this badge?

http://www.ginklupasaulis.lt/skelbim...pdovanojimas0/

[BubbaZ]

Hi Anapus,
Pics are really bad, but I would risk saying it is original zinc RK Minesweeper, 8-waver, so called 'Level 5' variation.
I enclose same variant from my collection for comparison.
Cheers,
Hubert

[Anapus...]

Thanks BubbaZ

[Norm F]

Hi Guys,

This is actually a Level 6 RK (variation 3.1.7). It's just hard to see the 9th wave because the image is fuzzy, but there it is.

When you compare to Hubert's Level 5 example (variation 3.1.6) you can see that the maker mark is lower and the hinge and catch are in a different location.

Best regards,
---Norm

[Norm F]

And here's a comparison to some Level 4 badges (variation 3.1.5) which have the hinge and catch in a similar location to the Level 6, but the maker mark levels are different.

If we had a view of the badge Anapus posted with the pin up, then we would have seen the typical vertical die flaw found in all Level 6 badges.

Best regards,
---Norm

[BubbaZ]

Hi Norm,
You are right of course Anapus badge is "level 6" 9-waver. Thanks for correction.
Here is my 'level 6' badge.
Cheers,
Hubert

[Anapus...]

There's some better photos of the badge. On reverse I don't see flaw? Could it be other Level?

http://s1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa397/anapusas/

[Norm F]

Hi Anapus,

Maybe it's just an earlier run with the same die and so a less prominent flaw? You really can't tell with these small fuzzy photographs.

Best regards,
---Norm

[Anapus...]

Thanks for added info and pictures! It was very useful!

[Norm F]

Hi Anapus,

Did you get the badge? Do have some better photos?

Best regards,
---Norm

[Thomas Durante]

Nice work on the classification of these RKs! So many tiny variations, these can fill a book all on their own.

Tom

[Norm F]

Hi Anapus,

Maybe it's just an earlier run with the same die and so a less prominent flaw? You really can't tell with these small fuzzy photographs.

Best regards,
---Norm

Just to clarify my previous statement, it's now clear that the Level 6 RK comes in two types - the "high Level 6" and the "low Level 6". The badge posted by Anapus is the "high Level 6" which in fact doesn't have the vertical die flaw in the reverse, and is further distinguished by cutouts around the eagle's head which are absent from the "low Level 6". This is discussed further in this thread:

R.K. Minesweepers Makers' Marks Variants

Best regards,
---Norm

[peterm]

Hi Norm !

Many thanks for Your really unbelievable work on KM-badges! Great help for collectors.

Kind regards,

Peter