DRL Badge - Is This A Floch Copy?

[hagwalther]

Fellow Members,



Just recieved this DRL badge and I have a feeling it maybe a Floch copy.

The hinge, pin and hook appear to me to be similar to those found on Floch EK1's.

Were DRL badges faked by Floch?

As always, thanking in advance...

[Scott Asperheim]

I really thought it was a fake until I found this thread
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...light=drl+fake

kr,

Scott

[J Howland]

I realize that it is probably unwise for an "unknown" to comment on items discussed in threads by forum members of note, but I spent almost twenty years collecting theird reich sports stuff and the only legitimate DRL badges that I ever encountered that were not completely pierced around the monogram were certain varieties of miniatures made for wearing on lapels.

I don't know if the one you show could be regarded as Floch's handiwork, but the gold example on the other forum reminds me too much of copies that were rampant in the 60's. (The other common fakes back then were relatively thin badges that had a lot of "flash" on the backs around the edges of the monograms.)

I know that it's only when most collectors talk about RK's and DK's that the description "Textbook" tends to be used, but - for a starter - I wouldn't want to own a DRA or any version of DRL sport badge that wasn't clearly maker marked...

IMHO, that is.

Jim

[Eric Stahlhut]

Just a basic question: has anyone else seen or own this exact type of hinge-pin construction on other types of German awards issued during 1934-37?

To me, it looks like a '47 piece! The pin is too short for the badge.

[hagwalther]

To me, it looks like a '47 piece! The pin is too short for the badge.

Just coming upto speed here. What is a '47 piece? Do we mean a 1957 replacement award?

If so, I would say 'no' as I have quite a few 1957 replacement awards from a very, very early Luftwaffe Flak badge upto the more recent items and the pin assembly involved is nothing like the one show on the DRL badge.

Regards ...

[hagwalther]

PS. I'm also doing a bit of research into the 'coke bottle' pin.

Will post if information is forthcoming.

Regards ...

[J Howland]

Pre-45 DRA and, later, DRL badges were not permanent awards - you had to requalify for them each year. There was no need for a '57 version of this award. If any sportsman had qualified for a state sport badge pre-45 and was still in good health and physical condition in the 1950's, he would have qualified for and word the Deutsche Sport Bund's "DSB" badge - frequently worn only as a miniature superimposed upon a multicolored ribbon on the ribbon bar.

With no sportsbadge-issuing authority in immediately post-45 Germany, many athletes appear to have, more or less on their own initiative, de-nazified DRL badges or dug up non-swastika versions to wear unofficially...

Jim

[Eric Stahlhut]

I didn't mean to confuse anyone by my spurious choice of 1947. It was a joke.

What I really meant is that the pin seems to be the perfect length for an EK1 and the wrong length for the larger sports badge. As a result the catch has been placed higher than normal. The hinge is sort of slapped on there. It doesn't really conform with the planchet.

[hagwalther]

Hi Smak, Jim, Eric and the PM contributors.

Good work from all and much appreciated.

Eric, the joke was of great benefit as it brought out Jims response on the owership of these badges which was something I had never properly considered. So as I say, good work from all.

Now, from what I've heard and from information from PM contributors I'm of the opinion that it is a genuine issue but I wish to do a bit more research on the pin itself.

I have therefore placed a request on the 'Crosses Of The Wehrmacht' forum re: the thickness of a Floch pin.

I will update as information comes to hand.

Regards ...