Zerstörerkriegsabzeichen Schwerin-Berlin / swastika repaired?

[dogtagman]

Hi, I need help. The swastika was replaced? Many Thanks!

[dogtagman]

[dogtagman]

[dogtagman]

[dogtagman]

[Norm F]

Hi dogtagman,

No the swastika hasn't been replaced -- this is the typical look of the slightly deformed swastika on the earlier "Type 1" Tombak Schwerin. But the entire badge has been heavily polished with steel wool it appears. You can see the fine scratches in the surface from the process and the raw Tombak base metal gleams as a result. The polishing also makes the ship and waves look more silver instead of the typical dark oxidized look. Detracts somewhat from the character but it's still a nice original early Tombak badge.

Best regards,
---Norm

[Blued]

Agreed, looks perfectly original to the badge to me as well. Might have got dinged a little which knocked it in, but I would have no problems having this in my collection!

[BubbaZ]

I also agree, no repair to the swaz
Cheers,
Hubert

[dogtagman]

Thank you for your quick help!

[John R.]

Yes, it has been worked on a bit but it is also personalized on the reverse which makes up for it IMO.

Overall, a nice badge. John

[heptagon112]

Hi,
in the MFF Forum they say its not original. First 3 letters BER und the complete frontside are wrong..
Mhh

Thanks
Jens

[Norm F]

Hi,
in the MFF Forum they say its not original. First 3 letters BER und the complete frontside are wrong..
Mhh

Thanks
Jens

Hi Jens,

I think they're thrown off by the heavy cleaning and also they don't realize the difference between the Schwerin Type 1 and Type 2 Destroyer badge maker marks.

Best regards,
---Norm

[heptagon112]

Ok thanks for the answer.

Thanks
Jens

[John R.]

Hi,
in the MFF Forum they say its not original. First 3 letters BER und the complete frontside are wrong..
Mhh

Thanks
Jens

Jens,

To be clear, if you were only aware of the second type (or Variation 2 in the Kriegsmarine Awards) you might think the example here is a fake. The second type only differs from the first in that the company name letters are aligned in a straighter fashion, the result most probably of a second die.

The obverses are the same IMO, just with this example, as Norm has stated, it has been polished somehow--nothing new or unusual with this for many badges of the time--

Bottom line, this example is a personalized Variation 1 of this maker's destroyer badge with the characteristic sloppy national symbol (swaz).

John

[Norm F]

Further illustration: on the top is the variation 1, same type as started this thread. On the bottom is variation 2. Note the differences in alignment of the "R" below the "H" and the "N" below the "R". Basically, the word "BERLIN" is more spread out in the Type 1, thought to be the earlier variation.

Martin W. described these two Schwerin die sets for the Destroyer badge back in 2009 when he referred to them as "Type A" and Type B" and credited an earlier discussion on WAF including himself, John, Rob and Lorenzo (which seems to have disappeared over the years?)

Best regards,
---Norm