+- The Soviet Military Awards Page Forum (https://soviet-awards.com/forum)
+-- Forum: Soviet Awards Forums (https://soviet-awards.com/forum/Forum-Soviet-Awards-Forums)
+--- Forum: Union Of Soviet Socialist Republics (https://soviet-awards.com/forum/Forum-Union-Of-Soviet-Socialist-Republics)
+---- Forum: Fake Alert! (https://soviet-awards.com/forum/Forum-Fake-Alert)
+----- Forum: Fake Badges (https://soviet-awards.com/forum/Forum-Fake-Badges)
+----- Thread: Fake "Excellent" Badges. (/Thread-Fake-Excellent-Badges)
Fake "Excellent" Badges. - Nota Bene - 05-18-2002
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.
Fake "Excellent" Badges. - Nota Bene - 06-14-2002
This one is currently offered on eBay as a genuine WWII piece:
Fake "Excellent" Badges. - Dave - 06-15-2002
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
Fake "Excellent" Badges. - Nota Bene - 06-15-2002
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
Fake "Excellent" Badges. - Chris - 08-10-2002
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.
Fake "Excellent" Badges. - Nota Bene - 08-10-2002
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
Fake "Excellent" Badges. - Tal Inbar - 08-25-2002
Offered on ebay - as COPY:
Fake "Excellent" Badges. - Nota Bene - 08-25-2002
Tal,
These are copies, but some dealers sell them as post-war variations.
Alexei
Fake "Excellent" Badges. - new world - 08-25-2002
Yes, many of them are sold as real ones and eBay is flooded with these fakes.
Fake "Excellent" Badges. - Nota Bene - 08-26-2002
Gentlemen,
Those copies have screwposts like the ones on late Soviet badges.
Alexei