Interesting Buntmetal Para Badge

[Bob Hritz]

Going through boxex I packed away, I found this buntmetal para badge.

Height: 52.05
Width: 41.50
Weight: 35.02 grams

It looks a little like a Juncker and Deumer. Any idea on this one?

Bob Hritz

[Bob Hritz]

Verso

[Bob Hritz]

Hinge, catch and rivit detail.

[skip]

It looks like a Juncker to me Bob although I must admit I would******180;nt buy it if I saw it.
The rivets and hook both look weird and the surface has a strange look to it, in fact the whole material of the badge has a strange look to it. That may just be your photos though.

Skip

[Tim B.]

I'd say Juncker as well. I think the badge is just worn and dirty; that's why the finish looks so dull in appearance.

I like the fact that the wreath shows some die cracking on the reverse; makes me feel better about period manufacture.

The rivets look like they could be okay, again I think it's wear and angle in the photos. One appears to be more tapered than the other.

The catch is odd IMO, but as Skip said, it may be the photos. Almost looks a bit thicker in material, yet smaller and more closed up compared to other Juncker style catches that I remember.
Tim

[Frank Heukemes]

Hi Bob,

Like Skip, I would be cautious with that one.

[Tim B.]

Hi Frank!

Bob, are the rivets brass? I really can't tell as the first PIC looks like they are not and the second PIC looks like they might be. Should be brass.
Tim

[Bob Hritz]

The rivits are brass, but have turned a darker color. It has the typical Juncker rough reverse with stress lines from the die forging of the tombak. However, the catch does not resemble any other luft badge I have. Tim is correct that it is a thicker wire and a more tight curve. The wite that is soldered to the base is very slightly flattened to make a better solder surface. I wonder if it isnt a period replacement. There is a lighter color, to the base, around the catch.

I must have had concerns as it was packed away and I found it by surprise. I just hope it is not an old fake as the badge is just beautiful. I have not seen another luft badge with a catch like this, or any copy which looked as good, but I do not get around as much as I used to.

Bob Hritz

[Tim B.]

Hi Bob,

Just what I thought. I might suggest cleaning it if you decide to keep it, but if you are unsure how to do it, email me and maybe I can help out later on that.

The badge looks okay to me other than the catch. This style catch is found on many fake badges and (if I am seeing it right) probably is flattened on the base where it is soldered to the wreath and then the bend starts from there. What I see on original badge catches are more of a bent "C" that is then soldered and the base is slightly curved as well.

Really depends on the period of manufacture, where early on they have the bend throughout and later tombak seem to be slightly flatter towards the base and are opened up more. Your's is tight and thicker which leads me to suspect either the catch is nicely repaired at one point in time, or a really good reproduction which is a bit scary these days as everything else looks pretty good, other than the dull finish.

Wait to see what others feel, but do be cautious on this one. Good luck!
Tim

[skip]

I dunno,

from the front it looks fine but when you turn it over it looks weird.

I like the hand finishing around the wreath and also the cutmarks were the hinge has been inserted.
I don******180;t like the hook at all for all the reasons Tim mentioned. I******180;m also not overly keen on the pin. Also looks thick.
I******180;d like to see a side shot of the hinge so we can see what guage material its made from.
The rivets look OK on that side shot but I******180;m not that keen on them either.

Maybe its just been repaired. Hard to say.

Skip

[deejay]

Hi,

seeing the catch of this badge rang a bell. It does look familliar to the cast Juncker I once bought in Hamburg. This one seems cleaner though.

take a peek:

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=139761


Please let us know if it is the same.

regards,

DJ