S&L Para Badge - Opinions Please!

[TobyR]

Hi Everyone,

I presently have this badge in my possession; purportedly an S&L Para Badge in zinc. Hinge, catch look good and the badge doesn't appear to be a casting. The rivets don't look too hot though and I would imagine the finish to the eagle has been repainted.

Anyway, I'd be very interested to hear opinions on this, having not seen an S&L Para badge before (assuming this one is good).

Thanks for looking.

All the best,

Toby.

[TobyR]

Reverse:

[TobyR]

mm:

[Bob Stevens]

Total crap. I have seen that fake eagle with a Osang MM.
Raymond Holdich of Trafagar Square Medals in Whitcomb st London sells them.

[TobyR]

Hi Bob,

Thanks for posting. I can't say I'm surprised since I already had severe doubts about it.

Anyone else?

Best,
Toby.

[Frank Heukemes]

Very interesting. Since I found out what a S&L GAB and PAB looks like, especially the variant with this short barrel hinge and that catch, I assumed these paras we used to call "late war Juncker" lacking a better, more accurate description, were made by S&L. This badge would be a key badge to support this. Frankly, from these pics, I cannot see any fault with it and would be surprised to see the very same badge with an Osang mark.

Bob, can you go into more detail or even show such an Osang marked fake of the very same kind?

[Frank Heukemes]

Also check out the links in this thread, showing ground dug badges. First and second link, top left badge (para). That is also an S&L, same later type hinge with the classic catch setup. Juncker had a very similar catch setup, but that is a S&L, same as on their classic GABs and PABs. Compare eagle and wreath details with Toby`s badge. Eagle and wreath are very close to the Juncker para badge design, but slightly different, because that is the S&L design.

http://www.wehrmacht-awards.net/foru...0&page=1&pp=15

[robert60446]

I will support Frank here in 100%. It is extremely interesting badge!

[Bob Stevens]

Very interesting. Since I found out what a S&L GAB and PAB looks like, especially the variant with this short barrel hinge and that catch, I assumed these paras we used to call "late war Juncker" lacking a better, more accurate description, were made by S&L. This badge would be a key badge to support this. Frankly, from these pics, I cannot see any fault with it and would be surprised to see the very same badge with an Osang mark.

Bob, can you go into more detail or even show such an Osang marked fake of the very same kind?

I can't show the badge as it is not in my possession.
I would be frankly astonished if this badge is accepted as original by the collecting community. More chance of a Pleuger and Voss.

[Gerd W.]

[QUOTE=Frank Heukemes]Also check out the links in this thread, showing ground dug badges. First and second link, top left badge (para). That is also an S&L, same later type hinge with the classic catch setup. Juncker had a very similar catch setup, but that is a S&L, same as on their classic GABs and PABs. Compare eagle and wreath details with Toby`s badge. Eagle and wreath are very close to the Juncker para badge design, but slightly different, because that is the S&L design....]

Interesting point of view indeed.

I´ll second, that such a badge style is different to the "late war Juncker" I prefer to be Juncker made.
What deranged me a little bit, you´ll get such a badge style (without that maker mark) on each and every corner at the moment

Frank, did you ever saw such a maker mark?

This maker mark could be or is maybe a key point, because it´s the only thing which is different to all those "each and every corner" badges I talked about.

[Hans N]

I for one don´t like that MM. First of all the part to the right within the outer circle is much higher than the left side. Furtermore that it looks to me that it is recently struck due to the shiny features of the MM, something else that strikes me is how shallow it is and that the features of it realy looks very off regarding to detail and how uneven it is. It almost looks that the MM is made part for part, not with a mm striking tool.


Just my 2 cent´s in the matter.

[Frank Heukemes]

Frank, did you ever saw such a maker mark?

Dear Gerd,

I do not know in which direction your question goes:

a) have I ever seen that logo/mark?
b) have I ever seen it on a badge?

Answers:

a) Yes, it is S&L's official logo (but I am sure you know that)
b) No

I am just not happy to bin this badge as fake so soon when it could hold clues we are looking for for quite a while. I know I am and my interest is peaked..

[Frank Heukemes]

Here is a late S&L GAB with the same hardware. Type 1.15.3 if you own my book.

[Frank Heukemes]

An S&L PAB with that late hinge but a classic catch constsruction (just as the para in the ground dug link!).

(Philippe De Bock collection)

[Frank Heukemes]

Here is the ground dug para. Compare setup to PAB above and put badge design into relation with para which started this thread