"Claw" foot B&NL Flak

[robert60446]

To continue the story, below is a picture from the “swastika’s” areas...please note 5 points (from Skip's badge) exposing kind of poor finish there...<o =""></o>

[robert60446]

And finally some details (or lack of them!) from the wreath to compare...<o =""></o>

[Tom Yanacek]

Hello Skip,

For how long have you owned this "claw foot" B&NL Flak Badge?
Best regards! Tom

[robert60446]

Guys,

As a conclusion: I’m very open minded person and I understand that B&NL probably could manufactured these Flak badges by using different dies (nothing new here). However, when looking at these two badges I can notice more differences between them then common points (weird to me). You all know my obsession with PAB’s. And of course I would like to use example from PAB’s field. We have 4 different grass patterns for Adolf Scholze PAB’s (these differences are very subtle, but it is easy to catch them with the “naked eye”). However there is almost no difference in tank and eagle patterns! That’s not the story here…

One more thing, finish from the Skip’s flak is very questionable for me in some areas…<o =""></o>

[ERIC S.]

Hi Guys,
For comparison purposes, here is the B&NL Flak that I own - I believe it is one of the 5 "internet" known Flaks that Frank refers to. Mine is pretty much a clone of Franks' Badge. I myself have just started to see these "claw" B&NL's coming into the collectors market and I too find it a little fishy that three pop up out of the blue when it is nearly impossible to find one of the type that myself and Frank have. I do agree that the reverse of skips badge looks very good, but that eagle leaves me very skeptical as well. My Flaks' measurements:
32.7 grams
62.1 mm Height with eagle
44.9 mm width
ERIC

[ERIC S.]

Reverse:

[skip]

Hi guys,

I should have mentioned it before but my badge came from Kai Winkler, so its just 2 badges, both from Kai.

I think we can pretty much forget comparing the eagles, they are both obviously totally different. I´d rather stick to the gun and wreath, I´ve made a comparison and they both look pretty much the same to me. The difference that Robert pointed out at the top of the page is just from the photo. In reality the wreath band is the same as on Erics.

I´ve always liked the badge and could find no fault with it. All the B&NL charactaristics are there. Like I said to Frank, if it was´nt for the other known examples nobody would doubt this.

Skip

[Tom Yanacek]

Hello Eric,

Thanks for posting your badge. Interesting to see that your's has a different pin set up compared to Frank's Badge. Most of these seem to have the shephard crook pin, and your's has the pin soldered to a sleeve that rotates on the hinge pin. I like the look of your's, as I like the look of Frank's badge. I can understand why you are suspicious of those "claw" type badges, and I am also very suspicious as well.
Best regards! Tom

[skip]

I can´t get the size or the quality of Franks photos but I tried to compare MMs. Looks pretty favourable to me.


Skip

[Frank Heukemes]

@Eric S: Yes, my friend, yours was one of the ones i referred to!

@Skip: Is there any sign of a good casting on the wreath? Do you see shear marks and breakage? Is the maker mark as sharp as mine?

[Frank Heukemes]

And I was mistaken, I only know of FOUR of these badges: Eric's, mine and these two:

[Frank Heukemes]

unmarked, but the same (Jan Arne S):

[Frank Heukemes]

rev

[robert60446]

I´d rather stick to the gun and wreath, I´ve made a comparison and they both look pretty much the same to me.
Skip

Dear Skip,
especially for you: 3 Flak guns in one picture...

<o =""></o>

[robert60446]

And i would like to repeat question once raised by Lorenzo:
" B&NL made very few Luft Flak badges. Why would they make such a dramatic change to the eagle?"
This is indeed, very good question...