Pilot Badge opinions

[bubi]

Hey guys, I was offered this pilots badge that was supposed to be brought home by a vet. Yes, I know buy the item and not the story behind it, but I couldnt find one like it. Is it a repro or could it be one of those jewler made types? Any help would really be appreciated.

thanks much!

[bubi]

reverse

[Thomas Durante]

Horrible cast fake. Wreath is a takeoff of an Assmann, commonly known as the "dip wreath repro" and the eagle is a poor casting of an FLL.

Tom

[Scott C.]

Indeed - a poorly cast fake.

[Marc Garlasco]

El Gato Crappo

[streicher12]

I can be fooled kinda easy, and I even can see that one is Spurrilous.

[fdodge]

El Gato Crappo

Marc, you obviously live much farther from Baja California than I do!

[Mike Kenny]

Actually the wreath looks B&NL to me in this case, but it's a moot point as it's definitely a casting.

Regards
Mike

[Thomas Durante]

Hi Mike,

Yep, you are right, more like B&NL but in either case, not good.

Tom

[John T]

When I hear the vet story about badges like this I say, "yeah Desert Storm Vet"...tell the guy to stick his badge and his vet story where the sun does not shine okay? I am sick of these guys trying to con the collector.

Cheers,

[Michael S]

Wow...

Now this is why I joined this forum. I am a newbie to the militaria collecting and I am amazed at the amount of "fakery" out there and the lengths they will go to. Pardon the ignorance, but why is the wreath so obviously a fake? Is it the lack of detail in it?
In regards to the eagle, what is the easiest way to spot a casting?
Thanks guys,

[George L]

The wreath and eagle combo is not a legit war time combo.

The casting can be evidenced by the pock mocks on the back of the eagle, and any other porous areas, too.

There's many better fakes than this so do your homework before you buy! You can search this forum to look for genuine examples of various makers, and buy books; there's lots that have come out in the last couple years that will save you mucho dinero!