Sébastian, the process of badge authentication is fairly straight forward and at this point in the hobby, I think most collectors would agree that the badges of the Kriegsmarine are very safe to collect. The databases are extensive for period examples, those databases can be found on this forum.
So if you wish to study your badge, simply:
1. Search the KM badge forum for period examples of the badge you are trying to authenticate. Start there under the pinned thread listing all the badges and makers.
2. Compare the badge you have in hand very carefully with the badges of the same maker accepted as period examples.
3. Pay very close attention to the reverse, and start the comparison by studying side by side the catch, pin and hinge.
That is usually as far as you need to go.
The differences in the reverse setup is normally very obvious as these features are the main problems for the faker. They can get the front of the badge fairly close by casting a period example, the manufacture of the hardware is another story entirely.
So my advice to you is if you do not agree with the opinions provided to you by the members here, for you to find a period example in the database that matches your badge. Forget about finish and patina, even detail sometimes since a fake might actually have better detail than the original. Find a badge that matches your badge's reverse.
John
So if you wish to study your badge, simply:
1. Search the KM badge forum for period examples of the badge you are trying to authenticate. Start there under the pinned thread listing all the badges and makers.
2. Compare the badge you have in hand very carefully with the badges of the same maker accepted as period examples.
3. Pay very close attention to the reverse, and start the comparison by studying side by side the catch, pin and hinge.
That is usually as far as you need to go.
The differences in the reverse setup is normally very obvious as these features are the main problems for the faker. They can get the front of the badge fairly close by casting a period example, the manufacture of the hardware is another story entirely.
So my advice to you is if you do not agree with the opinions provided to you by the members here, for you to find a period example in the database that matches your badge. Forget about finish and patina, even detail sometimes since a fake might actually have better detail than the original. Find a badge that matches your badge's reverse.
John
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