S&L Nightfighter

[Patrick W]

Just found this mint/unworn condition S&L clasp with O mark with fluted pin setup. This was a gold grade, there are traces left on the pin. The original laquer is all intact and the paint is the typical thick glossy stuff you find on these clasps.

This is typical of the clasps you find in the souvenier barter boards and salesmans samples.

I know some people don't like these late S&L clasps but IMO there is no reason to rubbish them and they are genuine very late war production. I have certainly owned one in the past that had been worn.

[Patrick W]

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[Ludwig]

Interesting to see, that two of the cut outs are not cut out!

[Patrick W]

Hi Ludwig

looks that way on the photo but it is actually laquer blcoking the holes

KR

Patrick

[Thomas Durante]

Hi Patrick,

Nice example, looks like a typical S&L clasp, with typical crudely cut rivet. Doesn't look like any finish on the arrow, I don't recall if that is typical with nightfighter clasps versus the black arrows we see on regular day fighters, what do you think.

I agree, finding these on the postwar souvenier boards is indeed a good indication that some of these are wartime produced. Trick is to know which ones were wartime versus postwar put together? I think the best thing we can do at this point is just to say that this one is "wartime compatible" IMO.

Tom

[Patrick W]

Hi Tom

I have seen both black arrows and this metal finish type on S&L nightfighters and on regular day fighter clasps so there is no hard and fast rule IMO.

I do think the gold coloured arrow gives a better contrast against a black wreath and interestingly you can get RK gold nightfighter clasps that have a gold arrow or burnished arrow depending on production run.

[Ludwig]

Don´t you find it odd, that the swastika is painted black and have you checked what colour there is under the black paint (by removing just a small area of the black paint)?

[fdodge]

I like the clasp itself, but I'm not sure what to think of the black paint.....

[Wood]

I've never come across a clasp with gloss black paint, its always semi-matt.
Pete