Osang Flak

[Frank Heukemes]

rivet

[Frank Heukemes]

shear marks

[Frank Heukemes]

hinge

[Frank Heukemes]

detail swords

[Frank Heukemes]

detail

[Frank Heukemes]

detail pin

[Frank Heukemes]

detail leaves

[Frank Heukemes]

more swords

[Frank Heukemes]

pendant

[Frank Heukemes]

If anybody is not of the opinion that:

-all three badges are by different makers than Osang
-all three badges are originals
-all three badge share the same, variant, "round O" maker mark

please speak up, and give your reasons, so we can discuss to continue on the same level

[skip]

Frank,

Yes, I agree that all three badges are authentic. Even though FFSp are hard to authenticate, especially the ground attack ones, I would also view your clasp as original, although it does not confirm to a "textbook" Osang piece.

Mark,
with just Franks spange and the LuftGAB I might have been able to lean towards your theory of a bombed out Osang. Only problem that I see is that the LuftFlak from Gailen is an early buntmetal piece. Considering that you also find the zinc version of the ball hinge Flak, I cannot explain why the supposed manufacturer Scholze, would be delivering buntmetal badges in 1945.

Skip

[mmiller]

Frank,

And in my 'concept' I left room for the variables you mention. Two different FFS strikes (one made by Osang, the second from some second die). Hardware is similar between the two. Not hard to imagine and explain. The second makermark IS different from the first, but if I had a 'contingency operation' running, I could easily have a second stamp, and yes, slightly different. The original tooling was lost.

Skip,

Good point. All I can say is that IF we were seeing quantities of these variants, I would agree with you more. It appears that we are only dealing with small numbers of these things, not vast production runs. I can only speculate that maybe a box, a carton.......... 100 Stuck, may have been passed along to Osang (in this instance). How 'some' quantity of Buntmetal badges remained is beyond me; except the 'put the new work' (zinkers) on the top of the pile (Buntmetal at bottom) theory.

Osang was losing the war, and doing all they could to maintain any production levels. Who cares if the W-A Forum couldn't explain it 60 years later. The bombs were chasing these guys down the countryside, after all. I don't know how much farther we can split the atom, on this one!

MM

[Marc Garlasco]

Gents,

I agree - all three are good, all have exact same Osang mark.

My question - when in the production/distribution process would the marking usually be applied? Does it really matter?

Marc

[Frank Heukemes]

Marc,

From all badges I know, it is apparent that the mark was applied before the finish. I cannot think of any exception. Not talking about awards that never received a finish, of course, like Iron Crosses.

[Marc Garlasco]

So Frank,
What do we think they are buying? It would seem to me they buy the badges made but just the way they come from the factory - since the Adolf Scholze pin/hinge is attached to the Flak, for example. Then they take the stuff, hit it with the mark and do the final work before shippingit out the door?
Marc