Flight clasp Zerstörer

[Gene]

I can't explain as to why Osang opted to have a different font. The fakers probably found this font easier to replicate. This clasp is neither fake nor questionable in construction, your heartburn is solely with the font.

[Thomas Durante]

I can't explain as to why Osang opted to have a different font. The fakers probably found this font easier to replicate. This clasp is neither fake nor questionable in construction, your heartburn is solely with the font.

Hi Gene,

Like I already mentioned twice in this thread, there are many more aspects to these fake Osang badges than just the bogus maker mark. Lets leave the fake mark out of the discussion for now and concentrate on all the other problems.

To the discerning eye, there are huge differences to the reverse hardware of these fakes compared to originals. Shown below is an original Osang hinge and catch. Notice the file marks on the edge of the hinge; this is classic Osang trait we see time and again on many of their late war zinc badges like their Paratrooper, Luftwaffe GABs, Flight clasps, etc.

Also notice the specific bend to the flatwire catch, and the tool mark on the upper lip of the catch.

Both the hinge and catch are classic, textbook Osang construction that we do NOT see on these fakes. They are just sloppily put together and a far cry from what we see on originals.

Tom

[Thomas Durante]

Lets move down to the number box on this fake. Has anyone ever seen this type of number box on any other original flight clasp? I have never seen one, but please feel free to post it here if anyone has one.

However, this number box is ONLY found on fake badges in my opinion. Here are just two from my files, with the EXACT SAME number box.

The first badge is a fake BSW-marked Recon clasp. We know this badge is a fake because we have plenty of original, wartime BSW Recon clasps to compare it with and everything is wrong. The obverse design, the finish, the reverse hardware, the riveting, etc. is all completely different than wartime original BSW Recon clasps.

Notice the similar, large triangular cutsouts and similar reverse hardware to the fake Osang we are discussing. Made by the same fakers perhaps??

[Thomas Durante]

Here is another fake Recon clasp with the SAME EXACT number box, but marked for IMME this time. This one is being sold on Militaria321 by Nordwind, a notorious crook selling dozens of fake flight clasps at any given time.

Again, like the fake BSW above, we know this IMME Recon clasp is fake because we have plenty of original IMME recon clasps to compare it to and everything different. And again, we see similarly large triangular cutouts and similar hardware to the fake Osang that started this thread.

Tom

[Thomas Durante]

And one last set of compares, here are two similar Osang fakes that were recently shown on the forum.

This first one shows the same Obverse design and similar hardware to the fake Osang that started this thread (and also has the round O fake maker mark). But notice the significant differences in the arrows between the two badges. Specifically the curvature of the wings and the larger separation of the wings from the tail of the arrow. The point here is that is seems very unlikely to me that Osang would have had a need for another type of arrow, when we know of plenty of late wartime zink clasps that feature their typical, textbook arrow. Just more questionable aspects to these "round O" marked Osangs.

Tom

[Thomas Durante]

Another Osang fake, with the same round O maker mark. But notice this time there is a different Obverse design, and different reverse (milled center). However, it still features the round O Osang maker mark, so which one is the correct Osang badge if they are all different?!

I think it is quite a stretch to think that Osang was so consistent with their maker mark and reverse hardware througout the war, and even very late in the war with badges like the Schlachtflieger and "cast-in hinge & catch" Paratrooper Badges, but yet we are to believe that all these weird Osang variants, with different designs, hardware finishes and number boxes are also wartime? There isn't one shred of evidence to point to these round O badges being wartime production, yet plenty of evidence to say they are post war fakes IMO. I think we should always be open to studying new evidence when it is presented, but just saying these round O Osang badges are original "because someone has one in their collection" or "got it from a motel buy" is not enough (for me anyway).

Tom

[Joe D]

The posted clasp is a good one. I have clasps with this same font

Therefore they must be original?

I though I should probably edit this comment do to the respect I have for you and your collection. However, I do have a problem with this comment.