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Doug · 01-31-2002, 10:47 PM

Ok, this is a STRETCH but it is possible that he served on a ship during the first world war which would explain the EK 2nd class and the spange for the EK 1st class (can't tell if it's Imperial or Nazi.) Then served on a sub in WWII or vice versa. I think that they were allowed to upgrade their medals to the newer issue so he could have simply put in for the replacement ones. Now it is a good question why he would have had two of the high seas fleet badges? As to how you can tell if they are bogus. Well you just have to go by instinct. Most of the early fakes were of poor quality, even worse than late war zinc badges. But the give away is that the fakers still manage to screw up. Usually it is a proof or makers mark in the wrong location. I almost bought some minty close combat badges that looked unissued. They also looked too new for a 50+ year old piece. But the thing that saved me was an article in a Militaria mag that month that was on fakes of this particular badge. It was this reason that I sold off all of my medals and daggers. Because in 10-20 years the fakes will look really good and new collectors will shy away rather than get burned.

01-31-2002, 10:47 PM	#4
Doug User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: USA Posts: 168 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Welllllll Ok, this is a STRETCH but it is possible that he served on a ship during the first world war which would explain the EK 2nd class and the spange for the EK 1st class (can't tell if it's Imperial or Nazi.) Then served on a sub in WWII or vice versa. I think that they were allowed to upgrade their medals to the newer issue so he could have simply put in for the replacement ones. Now it is a good question why he would have had two of the high seas fleet badges? As to how you can tell if they are bogus. Well you just have to go by instinct. Most of the early fakes were of poor quality, even worse than late war zinc badges. But the give away is that the fakers still manage to screw up. Usually it is a proof or makers mark in the wrong location. I almost bought some minty close combat badges that looked unissued. They also looked too new for a 50+ year old piece. But the thing that saved me was an article in a Militaria mag that month that was on fakes of this particular badge. It was this reason that I sold off all of my medals and daggers. Because in 10-20 years the fakes will look really good and new collectors will shy away rather than get burned.