U-boot abzeichen maker needed.

[Jelle M.]

Hello guys,

can you tell me a maker for this example?

Thank you very much!!!

[JAndrew]

WOW! That thing looks like it is brand new!

JAndrew

[Norm F]

Hi Nightstalker,

That's the so-called "unmarked Funcke & Brueninghaus".

Like JAndrew says it looks brand new, because most likely it's been re-finished.

Best regards,
---Norm

[AndyC]

Its a original badge but its refinished IMO



Andy

[BubbaZ]

I agree with Norm and Andy.
Cheers,
Hubert

[troybyrom]

refinished badges.

Ive seen several post recently displaying mint looking badges that have been commented on as having been refinished. If looking at the badge in hand, will the re-finished badge stand out or are people going to great lengths to re-finish them as they may have been originally?

Troy

[John R.]

Well, there are many minty looking period badges of course. In these cases though, the badge has just been refinished to look gold and shiny on the assumption that a buyer would not know the difference and pricing the badge much higher than it would command if in the original condition. Again, to a buyer that is not that familiar with the hobby.

Same with the fakes--the maker of the fake is hoping the buyer has no idea what a period badge looks like if it is a bad fake, and if it is a good fake, hoping the buyer is not overly familiar with the differences.

In hand, most refinished badges stick out IMO.

Naturally, fakes and refinished/repainted badges are a detriment to the hobby but that applies to any collectible field in the end and not a deterrent to a collector even if he does not have the time to study all these different types. In other words, he needs a decent reference book or two or be aware of the forum.

With smart phones, you could be at a show I guess, snap a photo or two and quickly post them here for example. In the old days, you would have had to depend on good luck or friends I guess if you were not too sure about it.

John

[troybyrom]

Thanks John.
My reference material is growing faster than my collection. Combined with this forum, I have had a lot more confidence in the items I have purchased. There is no replacement for good info where this hobby is concerned.
I know I need more experience with the actual badges in hand but should we expect to fine more original WW2 period badges that have been refinished? Also, are there some out there that the finish is almost impossible to detect.

Troy

[John R.]

Troy, I would say there are finishes that we as collectors are not sure about and will never be 100% sure. Maybe just a well preserved period example, maybe not. In those cases, I think the badge is still very collectible. No reason to throw out a nice looking badge just because other collectors "have doubts" about it.

As a percentage of all the KM badges out there, I think the completely refinished examples are a small minority based on what we have seen here.

Polished badges are more common I think and I personally do not think those are a big deal. They were probably polished during the war and after for that matter. Polishing tombak will of course brighten the badge up and it will stay that way for many years. To me, a polished badge only slightly diminishes the badge but that is my opinion. I think many collections have polished badges in there someplace and I see no real issue with them.

Refinished is another issue entirely and it depends on how much of the badge was refinished and how it was refinished. Some are just sloppy paint jobs and those badges have been severely degraded IMO. More professional jobs, hard to say and probably are case by case. When the entire badge has been dunked into something I think that badge has also been severely degraded since the badge has no resemblance to the original as opposed to maybe just the wreath being refinished.

John

[troybyrom]

Hey John,
many thanks for the insight. Its much appreciated.

Troy