FJ badge for opinion

[Joda]

May I know your opinion about this badge for sale at Giel'sMilitaria?

http://www.gielsmilitaria.com/index....ch=Paratrooper

[Pierre]

Good and cheap.

Pierre

[kefru177]

Seems fine to me too. Giel is a mod and forum sponsor so would never knowingly sell fakes.

He is one of the good guys

[Joda]

My question is about the badge not about the dealer
I fully respect Giel, he's a serious man and a qualified dealer. A great website.

My question is only about the badge itself

[Sebastien T]

Textbook BNL para,

Seb

[Joda]

Thank you

[Thomas Durante]

Hi Joda,

Nice textbook B&NL example in great condition. Especially nice finish on the eagle.

The only thing I would mention is the flaw on the bottom leg of the swastika, must just have been a dirt die or something to create that little depression.

Tom

[Joda]

Hi Joda,

Nice textbook B&NL example in great condition. Especially nice finish on the eagle.

The only thing I would mention is the flaw on the bottom leg of the swastika, must just have been a dirt die or something to create that little depression.

Tom

Thanks Tom,
I take the occasion of your comment asking you some questions: according to the classification of your book, this badge should be a B&N type C. Giel writes both eagle and wreath are zinc made. Am I correct ?
What do you think about the notches on the main wing ridge?
According to you is the eagle zinc made? It looks very shiny under the gold finish
Looking at the eagle back, it looks quite unfinished, especially the series of little parallel lines below B&N logo. Is this a common find?
Many thanks for your time

[Thomas Durante]

Hi Joda,

Yes, the entire badge is made of zink, including the eagle.

Zink's natural color is silver/grey, so that is why it looks shiny on the reverse of the eagle. Only the front of the eagle received a finish, the back has no finish on it. That was likely a time & material savings during the last years of war. That makes sense with a full zink badge like yours, its a later-war example. My thought is 1944 or so.

Tom

[Joda]

Thank you very much Tom for your explanations
All' the best

[Thomas Durante]

Thank you very much Tom for your explanations
All' the best

Anytime Joda.

Forgot to address the parallel lines above the maker mark question. Yes, those are very common to find on original B&NL Paras, it was a signature of the production process. But be careful, these same marks are found on good fakes too because they are castings of originals, so don't use this feature as a determining factor on originality of a badge. Just one thing to look for, and be sure to look at the entire badge when determining originality.

Tom