Opinions on this Pilot badge?

[Patio]

All input is appreciated.

Thank you,
Pat
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...MG_0069jpg.jpg
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...MG_0070jpg.jpg

[Militaria-Berlin]

From just these photos I would probably say its OK. Thats a very large hole between the legs for an OM though.
The hinges on OM badges are very special. Can you take a photo from the side of the hinge?

Very hard to find badge.

Markus

[Patio]

From just these photos I would probably say its OK. Thats a very large hole between the legs for an OM though.
The hinges on OM badges are very special. Can you take a photo from the side of the hinge?

Very hard to find badge.

Markus

Markus,

Per your request. Thank you for your response.

Regards,

Pat

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...MG_0082jpg.jpg
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...MG_0083jpg.jpg
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...MG_0084jpg.jpg
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...e/IMG_0085.jpg

[Tim Calvert]

I agree with Markus, badge is good, but that is one big hole!
On closer look, the swasi appears to have been sanded down. I wonder if it was re-attached?

[Militaria-Berlin]

Badge is authentic without a doubt in my mind.

Tim has very good observations. The pictures are not very good but I can also see file/sanding marks around the swastika. I would also have thoughts that swas is new attached.
Hole is biggest I have ever seen.

Markus

[Patio]

Badge is authentic without a doubt in my mind.

Tim has very good observations. The pictures are not very good but I can also see file/sanding marks around the swastika. I would also have thoughts that swas is new attached.
Hole is biggest I have ever seen.

Markus

I have tried taking close-up pictures of the swastica but I cannot get them clear enough to do any good. We can all see the file marks on the back of the swastica that could cover up a reattachment either by solder, weld or braze. I see no evidence at all of reattchment on the sides or front of the swastica/feet area. There is still the blue finish on the sides of the hole and the eagle's feet with no evidence of a reattchment line. Do either of you know if the eagle's feet are consistent with an OM badge?

Here is a picture of another badge. It shows the swastica sanded up to the "leg" held by the eagle's feet on the front side

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...MG_0072jpg.jpg

[Tim Calvert]

The design of feet are correct. However, they lack a bit of detail.

Since you have the badge in hand, it should be easy to tell if the swas has been re-attached. Not sure why someone would sand it down.

[spectre]

I agree that it is an original badge but someone got carried away with the drill boring out that hole.

As for the swaz, its hard to say if it was sanded or just had the dark finish buffed off to make the swaz shiney. I have several LW qual badges that are like that, nice mint condition but the finish is rubbed off the swaz to make it stand out. I guess Hans, the uber party member at the factory, wanted to make a fashion statement.

Here is my B&NL pilot that has the swaz buffed to bright finish.

Alan

[Patio]

Very nice Spectre. I think you are correct that the swastica were polished to make them stand out. I added a picture showing the same feature to one of my earlier posts.

Thank you all for your input and discussion. I wish I could post some pictures of what my eyes can see - I will try taking some more.

Pat

[Karsten S]

There is absolutely nothing wrong ith you OM Pilot Badge.
Mine is also polished on the swazs except the one arm the claws are on.

Congrats on a very rare LW badge.

Best Regards

Karsten

[Patio]

Thank you Karsten.

Your badge is very nice

Regards,

Pat

[George L]

Pat, I don't know about the OM badges to comment, but there were other makers that filed down the face of the swaz on PB's. That JI you posted is killer from what I can see on the front.

[Patio]

Pat, I don't know about the OM badges to comment, but there were other makers that filed down the face of the swaz on PB's. That JI you posted is killer from what I can see on the front.

Thanks George.

Pat