Para cap badge ww2
 

Would anyone be able to give me a price for a genuine ww2 para badge please, and how do i spot if one is a fake?

Thank you in advance
Brett

Hi Brett,

The earlier paras were made with lugs, from what I've heard ones with sliders are post '45. Unfortunately you are after one of the most popular but most copied badges around. I can't give you any definate black and white fool proof method as it takes a number of years to get a feel for the 'good uns' in my experience. Id look for a badge that is a good quality stamping, hard to bend (therefore made from good nickel), has age on the back (old nickle should look grey not any other colour - beware of chemical ageing esp. dark brown/black) look for genuine muck on the back as well (a bit of dust and crap never goes amiss on an old badge), finally soldiers as you know were made to polish thier badges so look for one that shows some wear on the front and smoothness on the back. One piece of advice I'd say is try not to be lured in by tempted by ebay - I've not seen a decent one on there in ages, and one feel of a badge is worth 1000 pictures. I'd say you're best bet is a militaria fair where you can speak to some dealers. Best of luck and happy hunting.

Luke

This one is a fake - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ARMY-CAP-BADGE...QQcmdZViewItem

It has straight inner feathers and a lump on the left hand wing. There are lots of fakes but this is the most common one.

The left hand picture is of a genuine wing. Note the lack of rogue lump and the curved lower feathers.

I have annotated in yellow the fake pointers.

Your opinion of my badge please Alan, i think it's alright.

Cheers
Malc

Malc,

It looks 100% ok to me.

Alan

Cheers Alan, are the flaws present in the Queen's crown version as well.


My badge
Cheers
Malc

The blob on thw ing is not but you do get q/c examples with both curved and straight lower wings. The water is muddied by the fact that most paras buy their own metal badges now anyway - does that make them collcetable even thought they are not official issue? I have never seen a 1950s/60s q/c para badge with a contempory makers name on.

Alan

Alan,Luke

THank you very much for all the information. Alan on the picture of the copy with the yellow lines, i understand the part on the left wing but the three lines on the lower right wing what am i looking for there?

Thanks
Brett

Sorry Alan just got it thanks, curved and not straight

Alan,

Could you tell me what do you think of this one please?

Cheers :),

Luke

Luke,

I am not sure about the lower feathers as they look too straight but I am not a para expert. However it could well be post war made by a different maker from mine. This link is the Wehrmacht Awards Forum who have had lots of discussions about them.

http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...arachute+badge

Hope this helps.

Alan

Cheers for that Alan:)

Luke

Here's my newly purchased para lot any comments welcome - has anyone got any views on the shoulder title as its not my thing. Alan what's your opinion on the badge in relation to your grandad's?

Cheers,

Luke

bigger pic

The badge looks right to me, I'm unsure whether is it wartime or post. As for the shoulder title it looks a bit fresh on the back to me but as it comes with the correct backing plate (in terms of size IMO) this could explain the brightness.

I really like that one. The lugs and curved feathers on both levels are typical of a genuine WW2 era badge. The voided crown is well done and I believe that this is a maker's variation. There were lots of para bns and the k/c badge was worn well into the 1950s if not longer. Mine has a solid crown but that makes no differnce. Para badges get very emotive in some circles and people get very excited about the exact location of the lugs and whether it is lugged or slidered but I can absolutley nothing wrong with that badge.

I would be very happy with that one in my collection.

Alan