The FLL Minesweeper in Cupal

[Norm F]

Hi Guys,

For reference here, I want to provide this link to a discussion thread in the Heer section on Cupal badges. In post #26 there I posted the FLL Minesweeper badge in "aluminum" but further study and discussion as outlined there shows that it's actually a Cupal badge. Pretty interesting.

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...65#post5929265

As far as I know, FLL is the only maker of Kriegsmarine Cupal badges to show up to date.

Best regards,
---Norm

[greg1878]

Hi Norm, would you say that this is the rarest of the 'humble' Minesweepers?
Cheers - Greg

[Norm F]

Hi Norm, would you say that this is the rarest of the 'humble' Minesweepers?
Cheers - Greg

Hi Greg,

I guess that's fair to say, at least of the "visibly different" variants. As a group, FLL Minesweepers are about equally as uncommon as Beco Minesweepers, but this Cupal variant is a rarer subset and I've seen only three so far.

Having said that, although Hymmen badges are much more common as a group than either FLL or Beco, certain subtler variants of Hymmen are less common but most people aren't that interested in subtle variations in maker mark that might require closeups to distinguish. Likewise the Tombak Schwerin with the earlier maker mark with dots -- another rare but subtle variation that most people wouldn't notice.

Then there are really uninteresting yet rare variants, like the Souval with the "question mark-shaped" catch. Souval zincers are a dime a dozen and many of them are assembled post-war so most collectors would have zero interest in the "question mark-shaped" catch variant, and yet I've seen only two Minesweepers like that. Rare, yet boring.

But actually being made of a different base metal like Cupal is a significantly huge difference that it's fair to call this FLL the rarest major variation of Minesweeper. At least, until someone unearths a hoard find in Lüdenscheid. Afterall, Friedrich Linden GmbH Metall U. Kunststoffverarbeitung is still in business today supplying plastic and metal works to the automotive industry. Who knows what they might have in their attic?

Best regards,
---Norm

[greg1878]

Thanks Norm, the search now begins in earnest
Best - Greg

[Norm F]

Thanks Norm, the search now begins in earnest
Best - Greg

Oh no, I've created a monster! (again)

Best regards,
---Norm

[John R.]

Interesting thread. John