Fake "Excellent" Badges.

Nota Bene · 05-18-2002, 05:42 PM

The supply of those badges is quickly drying out, and even the cheapest of them are getting faked, except for may be "Excellent Artillery". Here are some examples:

This 1943 "Excellent Cook" badge is a very detailed coined fake with high quality hot enamel. However in comparison with the original it is flat, laurel leaves around the shield lack detail, screwpost and screwplate are from a late Soviet badge. Fake patina on the badge and the screwplate is obvious.

Here's an original badge for comparison:

Just to make a point: the badge on the left is an original 1942 issue piece. The one on the right was made in the 1950s, and is also an official issue. Both are perfectly genuine.

Nota Bene · 06-14-2002, 05:26 PM

This one is currently offered on eBay as a genuine WWII piece:

Dave · 06-14-2002, 10:32 PM

When I left Moscow in 1996, the 'flood' of fake Otlichnik badges had hit the market there, and they were, quite honestly, (at least to my eyes) indistinguishable from the real thing. I'm sure that Alexei could probably identify one as such, but for someone as inexperienced as myself with badges, I'd be pretty much sunk if I decided on collecting them! After seeing the fakes, I never bought another Otlichnik badge... Just was far too gunshy.

--Dave

Nota Bene · 06-15-2002, 06:26 PM

Sniper badges are very much in demand after the movie "Enemy at the Gates", and I have seen them sell for $40 and up.

A sub badge from the 1950s should cost about $100-150, but will be tough to find even at this price. An original WWII issue would cost $300+, but I haven't seen them in a while.

If you are looking for GPW issues, the first thing you should check is the screwpost. So far all the copies I have seen had smaller diameter screwposts.

I have just seen a bunch of very good fakes of GPW Excellence badges, among them Cook, Submariner, Torpedo Operator, Baker, and Pontoneer. They are very detailed stamped copies with nice patina, but have modern Russian screwposts, and absolutely no traces of wear.

I am not really a big expert on those "Otlichnik" variations, but I believe there were at least two variations of the brass badge - mirror reverse and flat reverse. I think yours is OK, but I believe it's a post-war issue.

Alexei

Chris · 08-10-2002, 04:28 PM

Hi Alexei

Yes it is a strange badge compared to the rest...I thought it was a fake because it was so different but it is old....

This is where the forum comes in handy if any body has seen any thing like it.

If not its quite unique or an undiscovered fake heheh

Cheers Alexei....it cost me 9 dollars so I am hapy either way.

Nota Bene · 08-10-2002, 04:48 PM

Chris,

I don't believe it's a fake. You can't fake a wear pattern like this, besides why would a fake have repairs.

Alexei

Tal Inbar · 08-25-2002, 08:05 AM

Offered on ebay - as COPY:

Nota Bene · 08-25-2002, 12:53 PM

Tal,

These are copies, but some dealers sell them as post-war variations.

Alexei

new world · 08-25-2002, 02:54 PM

Yes, many of them are sold as real ones and eBay is flooded with these fakes.

Nota Bene · 08-26-2002, 10:54 AM

Gentlemen,

Those copies have screwposts like the ones on late Soviet badges.

Alexei

08-10-2002, 04:28 PM	#5
Chris Banned Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 188	thanks Hi Alexei Yes it is a strange badge compared to the rest...I thought it was a fake because it was so different but it is old.... This is where the forum comes in handy if any body has seen any thing like it. If not its quite unique or an undiscovered fake heheh Cheers Alexei....it cost me 9 dollars so I am hapy either way.

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06-14-2002, 10:32 PM	#3
Dave Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: California Age: 49 Posts: 700	When I left Moscow in 1996, the 'flood' of fake Otlichnik badges had hit the market there, and they were, quite honestly, (at least to my eyes) indistinguishable from the real thing. I'm sure that Alexei could probably identify one as such, but for someone as inexperienced as myself with badges, I'd be pretty much sunk if I decided on collecting them! After seeing the fakes, I never bought another Otlichnik badge... Just was far too gunshy. --Dave

06-15-2002, 06:26 PM	#4
Nota Bene Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: New York USA Posts: 2,296	Sniper badges are very much in demand after the movie "Enemy at the Gates", and I have seen them sell for $40 and up. A sub badge from the 1950s should cost about $100-150, but will be tough to find even at this price. An original WWII issue would cost $300+, but I haven't seen them in a while. If you are looking for GPW issues, the first thing you should check is the screwpost. So far all the copies I have seen had smaller diameter screwposts. I have just seen a bunch of very good fakes of GPW Excellence badges, among them Cook, Submariner, Torpedo Operator, Baker, and Pontoneer. They are very detailed stamped copies with nice patina, but have modern Russian screwposts, and absolutely no traces of wear. I am not really a big expert on those "Otlichnik" variations, but I believe there were at least two variations of the brass badge - mirror reverse and flat reverse. I think yours is OK, but I believe it's a post-war issue. Alexei

08-10-2002, 04:48 PM	#6
Nota Bene Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: New York USA Posts: 2,296	Chris, I don't believe it's a fake. You can't fake a wear pattern like this, besides why would a fake have repairs. Alexei

08-25-2002, 12:53 PM	#8
Nota Bene Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: New York USA Posts: 2,296	Tal, These are copies, but some dealers sell them as post-war variations. Alexei

08-25-2002, 02:54 PM	#9
new world Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: NYC, USA Posts: 1,086	Yes, many of them are sold as real ones and eBay is flooded with these fakes.

08-26-2002, 10:54 AM	#10
Nota Bene Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: New York USA Posts: 2,296	Gentlemen, Those copies have screwposts like the ones on late Soviet badges. Alexei

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