Schnellboot 2nd pattern for review

[Klaus54]

I would like to get your opinion about this S-Boot badge 2nd type.
It looks like modified Schwerin piece. Top catch and pin seem to be replaced. Pin is shorter than the one shown in the book of Weber/Skora and not magnetic.
Revers is covered with black paint/lac.
Is this the original badge with replaced hardware or this is it a post war production?
Thank you in advance for your comments.

[Mike Kenny]

Based on the finish and reverse hardware (even if the main pin is replaced the hinge, catch and tophook are incorrect and do not look repaired), I'd suggest this is an out-and-out repro.

Regards
Mike

[Klaus54]

Based on the finish and reverse hardware (even if the main pin is replaced the hinge, catch and tophook are incorrect and do not look repaired), I'd suggest this is an out-and-out repro.

Regards
Mike

Thank you very much for your expertise.
Even, if it is a repro, it is good to know...

Best regards,
Klaus

[Norm F]

Although it probably doesn't make a difference to the collectibility (or lack thereof), I think there's a good chance that was an original badge but then the hardware all replaced and then refinished with a thick coat of paint. I guess the only way to know for sure (without provenance) would be to strip off all the paint and study it under magnification.

Best regards,
---Norm

[Klaus54]

Here I place additional photos showing the hardware of the badge as well as the details of the eagle and the flag area.
Hinge and catch do not look that bad. For sure, top hook and the pin are replaced.
Swastika seems to get some extra material around . Is this acceptable flow or this is automatically "Red Flag" for the Body of the badge?
Space under the flag is filled with "strange" material.
Give those images enough information about the originality (or not originality) of the main body of the badge?
Is there any product used by collectors to remove the paint without damaging the item?

[Norm F]

Hinge and catch do not look that bad. For sure, top hook and the pin are replaced.

The catch also is also not correct for a Scherin. They usually have sharper edges.

Swastika seems to get some extra material around . Is this acceptable flow or this is automatically "Red Flag" for the Body of the badge?

Originals have that extra flashing around the swastika too, as you can see on the original I posted for comparison. That's one of the main reasons I wondered if the planchet may have been an original.

Space under the flag is filled with "strange" material.

I agree, that is strange -- especially since it looks like some of the gold finish on the wreath overlaps that material. I'm just speculating but maybe it's some type of material, epoxy or otherwise, used to make a casting mold of the original planchet before re-finishing the badge?

Is there any product used by collectors to remove the paint without damaging the item?

Some cheap modern finishes (but not all) are acetone soluble, so you could try soaking the whole thing in a bath of pure acetone for a while and then scrub it with a soft toothbrush.

Best regards,
---Norm

[Klaus54]

Thank you very much for all the information and your expertise, Norm.

This badge is definitely not good. I could easily remove the "strange" material from underneath the flag with the needle.
It seems, like "somebody" really tried to make the badge looking "good". He was capable to repeat the flows around the swastika. By the way, there is similar type of flows along the left side of the wreath. Now, there is even a cut-off under the flag. Lateral catch is almost perfect.
I think that the black paint was used to cover the signs of casting. Maybe, it will be possible to remove it.

[Klaus54]

Some cheap modern finishes (but not all) are acetone soluble, so you could try soaking the whole thing in a bath of pure acetone for a while and then scrub it with a soft toothbrush.

Best regards,
---Norm[/QUOTE]

Thank you very much for good advice !!!

I could very easy remove the black paint from the reverse of the badge. I noticed that the wreath on the obverse was covered with the gold paint that reacted on acetone too. That means, it was applied much after 1945. I think, I will remove it too, as it is not the original element of the badge.

After removing the black paint I found out very smooth surface of the obverse without traces of the casting. Letters also seem to be of the good quality.

Based on the supplied photos, can we say (just for study purpose) that my badge is a kind of "Frankenstein": original main body with applied hardware not belonging to Schwerin? Or, even the body is not good?

I also add photos of the flow on the left side of the badge and of the hinge.

Best regards,
Klaus