Gau thuringen opinions

[jambobbyb]

Guys just bought this GAU on E stand however i have had two members contact me to say its a repro.
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...=1#post1823499
Opinions please
Cheers
James

[Von Hoth]

If that's a repro then it's getting freaking ridiculous how much effort is going into making repro's.

I really don't understand the reason for such a huge number of fakes in this hobby.

If someone is going to make counterfeit items, they would make far more profit by selling fake designer hand bags and clothing like you see out of Hong Kong and other major cities. I just don't freaking get why this hobby is the number one fake item hobby.

[AZartman]

Guys just bought this GAU on E stand however i have had two members contact me to say its a repro.
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...=1#post1823499
Opinions please
Cheers
James

It warms my heart that people go behind my back to disparage an item I have for sale and tell me in "confidence" that they will not tell...LOL

If you have an issue with something say so up front please and share it with everyone. I have nothing to hide. If people are so convinced it is a fake then say so. This item has been discussed before with nothing to prove it either way. The item IMO is good but I'll gladly list it in the bazarre section then. And just to clarify, the item has not been bought. No funds have been exchanged.

[jambobbyb]

Sorry Azartman i messaged you before i started this thread saying that i had been contacted by other members regarding this badge being a repro. No money has changed hands that is correct i have only agreed to buy.
I dont mean to insult you but never before have i had members contact me regarding an item i have bought through E-stand
Cheers
James

[AZartman]

You have not insulted me as you did what any other forum member would do in your position. Don't worry at all. I have placed the item in the bazarre for all interested parties. I believe the item to be period, but I will err on the side of caution now. Enjoy the forum. This is what is all about.

[Don Scowen]

Firstly let me start by saying that I have not contacted anyone regarding this badge. However as opinions are being sought I will give mine.

I have been studying these for a number of years, the font used to add the serial number to the reverse of the badge does not match the font used on known originals. It does however match the font seen on the bronze versions that appeared a few years ago......

I will also add, at the price it was being offered ($250 I believe?), then that's a fairly reasonable price for a quality copy, as an original would usually sell for around $1K

Cheers
Don

[Giel VW]

Hello Alex,

I was intended to buy this badge in the beginning, and was already preparing the moneytransfer, but after being contacted by Jon I left the badge for him as he collects political items, and I don't. But when Jon contacted me back saying that the observe didn't match the front of an other textbook example, I played safe and passed as well. After looking on the forum I also found out that there were no real positive opinions when this badge was being discussed.

@James, I did not say the badge was a copy, I just told you to be careful that it could be one as it does not match an known example.

[AZartman]

Well thanks Don-

I felt the price was fair regarding the condition and the odd configuration that matched some and not other's. I'm not out to cheat anyone as this forum has been good to me.

I simply wish that if someone has a question they state it openly and bring it up. It is the behind the scenes stuff that bother's me, but I should know by now that it is just the way it is. I am still working on getting a thicker skin

In anycase, I am preparing to list a number of item on the bazarre and this item will be one of them.

Thanks again Don.

[Jon Fish]

Giel did move aside for me and I thanked him for that, a true gent
I was concerned about the lack of some small detail around the claw area after I had a long hard look at it. The sellar is a good guy, we have dealt before and I have never had any problems. I would also like to say it was not me who pm'd anyone about my opinions. Because it is only my thoughts and I am probably wrong .

[AZartman]

Thanks. The item will be on the bazarre shortly. I asked the moderator to move it over when they have time. Otherwise I will simply repost it.

[Richard]

If a copy, it is a very good one. I've seen a few others that were purported originals that had the same claw detail as this. The number on the reverse would not disturb me as much as finding something wrong in the detail or construction of the badge. The number could have always been added to an original badge after the war to try to increase its value since the unnumbered ones tend to go for less.
Richard V

[JoeW]

The badge in question is labeled a silver badge, but with my darn screen, I find it difficult to tell. The issue number would place it in the early silver range. Don, weren't all of the newly discovered bronze badges numbered after the first silver range? Does it have the weight of an 800 silver badge. I was not aware that unnumbered badges exist. It was a Gau Honor Badge and the first fifteen hundred or so were listed in the Gau Honor book. Why would they lessen the honor by issuing unnumbered badges? I can see some differences in the eagle head detail and the N.S.D.A.P. on the swaz between this one and mine.

[Richard]

Joe, I don't think they issued unnumbered pieces. I think the unnumbered pieces were stock that was never issued or awarded. I was under the impression that only 1000 were awarded to the first 1000 party members of the Gau even though examples have been found with numbers higher than 1000.
Richard V

[Don Scowen]

................. The issue number would place it in the early silver range. Don, weren't all of the newly discovered bronze badges numbered after the first silver range?................

No, I have images of bronze badges with numbers higher & lower than 1000.

There seems to be three types of these badges...... The first type, plain (usually tarnished) silver, numbered under 1139 & marked 800 on the bottom edge. The serial number on these have the bottom of the numbers facing to the edge of the badge. The names of those awarded these were published in "Die Tr******228;ger des Silbernen Gauadlers der NSDAP des Gaues Th******252;ringen"

The second type are the silver badges numbered over 1140. These are more often than not heavily frosted. Their serial numbers face the other way in that the bottom of the numbers face into the badge towards the reversed NSDAP lettering. These usually have 0.800 on the inside of the bottom left of the Swastika next to the reversed word Th******252;ring...... There is no evidence that I'm aware of that these were actually awarded.

Lastly the bronze badges. Again as above, I have seen no evidence that these were awarded.

I suppose that there is a possibility that there were stocks of un-issued & un-numbered badges, however so far I have never seen one.

Cheers
Don

[JoeW]

There are 1139 holders of the Gau Thuringen Silber Erhrenzeichen listed in that Gau Honor Book. Mine is over 1000, has the 800 on the outer edge and is tarnished silver.