THE REPRODUCTION AND OUT RIGHT FAKERY OF THIRD REICH ITEMS ON THE MARKET HAS ACCELERATED THROUGH THE YEARS. IN YEARS PAST IT WAS NOT TOO DIFFICULT TO IDENTIFY THE "BAD" TANK BADGES. NOWADAYS THAT IS NOT AS TRUE AS IN THE PAST. IF A COLLECTOR IS SURE THE BADGE "LOOKS" CORRECT AS FAR AS MAKER ETC. THE BIGGEST CONCERN IS TO IDENTIFY IF THE PIECE HAS BEEN CAST. BY FAR THE MOST COMMON TYPES OF FAKES THE COLLECTOR WILL COME IN CONTACT WITH ARE CASTINGS OF ORIGINAL EXAMPLES. BY CAREFUL ANALYSIS EVIDENCE OF CASTING (IN A RUBBER MOLD) WILL BE APPARENT TO THE KNOWLEDGABLE COLLECTOR.
THE OTHER BAD BADGES ARE A DIFFERENT BREED ALTOGETHER. THESE ARE NOT IDENTICAL TO EXISTING ORIGINALS, THEY ARE DIE CAST AND DO NOT DISPLAY EVIDENCE OF CASTING. THE ONLY DEFENCE AGAINST THESE TYPES IS TO "KNOW" WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING AT.
BELOW ARE EXAMPLES OF BOTH KINDS OF REPRODUCTIONS, THE CAST AND THE DIE CAST.
HERE IS AN EXAMPLE OF A FAKE HOLLOW BACK BADGE. THE HINGE AND CLASP ARE INCORRECT. IT LOOKS LIKE IT HAS BEEN DIE STRUCK,BUT THE AUTHOR HAS NOT HANDLED THIS PIECE TO CONFIRM THAT.
THIS EXAMPLE ATTRIBUTED TO THE ADOLF SCHOLZE COMPANY. THE MAKER MARK IS NOT LOCATED UNDER THE HINGE AS IT SHOULD. ALSO THE BADGE IS COMPLETELY FLAT BACKED. THIS COMPANY MADE DIE FORGED SCOOP BACK EXAMPLES...DONT BE FOOLED!
THIS IS A VERY COMMON FAKE ON THE MARKET FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS OR SO. IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE A HERMANN AURICH BADGE. SOME WILL SAY IT IS A RARE BALL HINGE VARIANT. DONT BELIEVE IT!
THE ORIGINAL WAS DIE CAST WITH A UNIQUE HINGE ARRANGEMENT. (SEE PICS IN GALLERY). BELOW IS A SILVER VERSION (FAKE) WITH A MORE ACCEPTABLE HINGE.
BELOW IS AN EXAMPLE OF A BADLY CAST FRANK & REIF BADGE. THE RAISED LOGO IS ALMOST COMPLETELY OBLITERATED. ALL MAKERS HAVE HAD THEIR BADGES CAST IN THIS WAY. KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THE TRADITIONAL CLUES OF CASTINGS; CAST LINES IN THE METAL, BUBBLES ETC.
SPECIFICATIONS
THE AUTHOR WISHES TO THANK MICHAEL TUCKER AUTHOR OF "COLLECTING MILITARY BADGES OF THE THIRD REICH" FOR SOME OF THE PHOTOS USED ON THIS PAGE
THIS BADGE WAS RECENTLY AQUIRED BY THE AUTHOR AND THOUGHT AT FIRST TO BE A MINOR VARIATION. UPON FURTHER STUDY IT HAS BEEN DECIDED THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE "NEW" HIGH TECH FAKES...VERY SUBTLE DIFFERENCE WITH AN ORIGINAL ARE DETECTED, MOST NOTICABLE IS THE HINGE CRIMP IS NOT QUITE UP TO SPEED AS COMPARED TO AN ORIGINAL AND THE PATTERN OF LINES/CREASES (FROM THE DIE) ON THE REVERSE ARE NOT RIGHT. THE BADGE ALSO WEIGHES 20% MORE THAN A COMPARABLE ( 5 GRAMS). THE OVERALL "NEWNESS" OF THE PIECE SHOULD ALSO BE CAUSE FOR CONCERN.
THIS FAKE IS A NEWER PRODUCTION. RECENTLY STARTED SHOWING UP ON INTERNET AUCTION SITES. VERY GOOD REPRESENTATION OF JUNCKER PIECE. CHARACTERIZED BY TOTALLY FLAT BACK AND THE MATERIAL IT IS MADE OF. APPEARS TO BE SOLID COPPER!
VERY CONVINCING "NEW AGE" FAKE OF THE SO CALLED PORSCHE PANZER BADGE..HAS BEEN SEEN IN SEVERAL VARIATIONS...BE PARTICULARLY VIGILENT WHEN DEALING WITH THIS STYLE OF PANZER BADGE...BE SKEPTICAL
