The biggest difference is the leaves on the front - they shouldn't have a centre ridge or visible edge underneath. Plus there are extra leaves - there should be 8 per side on the small badge. This one has 9, which is only on the larger version. The white circle is much too wide and the letters are wrong. Back is too plain. Overall enamel and gilt finish quality is poor.
Yep, I think they can easy fool the novice (or in an other field specialized) collector. If you study them you can sometimes not believe that they are fooling so many collectors. But if you don't know better you are **** up by these buggers. If I would buy a knight Cross for instance, I would be a rather easy target to fool.
I was with Chris when we spotted the badge at a Military Fair yesterday - not being any way experts in this field we asked to see it and the guy was more than happy for us to handle it; it felt heavy and looked ok to our untrained eyes. It's frightening with hindsight now that a 'dealer' could stand there as bold as brass and ask that kind of money for what is (now) obviously a fake.
I asked him straight what his best price was and he said with no hesitation £550 ($1100 US). If this was an original would this be a fair asking price?
After a year or more of lurking here my first post up on this forum was about a potentially bad dealer so I'm a little reticent to start naming and shaming so soon...!
I have mentioned it to Chris and we may 'bring this thread to the attention of the dealer' and hope he takes the item down.
If only it were that simple. Many "dealers" refuse to accept the opinions of others when it hurts their pocket, and dismiss other contrary opinions with -
"I don't know who these so-called 'experts' are, but I've been in the business for XXX years...";
"I got got this direct from a vet's family who pried it from Hitler's hand...";
"This pattern has been sold by some of the best and most reputable dealers in the world and accepted as original..."
"The reference books don't tell you everything..."
"This is a late war variation..."
"This came with a box of other items that are 100% original..."
There are a few respected dealers out there who will take down a badge when the consensus is that it is bad, but they are the minority. Chances are, you won't get any thanks by pointing out the badge is bad, but if you do, make sure to report back which of the above answers you get in reply.
After a year or more of lurking here my first post up on this forum was about a potentially bad dealer so I'm a little reticent to start naming and shaming so soon...!
I have mentioned it to Chris and we may 'bring this thread to the attention of the dealer' and hope he takes the item down.
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