Gents,

Here is an "iffy" bullion police eagle at auction. Anyone seen this one before?

Notice the odd color of the backing. Looks like it might have been aged in a bit of bleach? Interesting bullion embroidery as well.

View of the back with a black paper cover. I do not like this eagle very much but I am having a hard time explaining why. I think it is not so much the quality of the embroidery than it is more the cloth backing.

Opinions?

I dont like it for sure, the eagles chest is all wrong and the damb thing sure is too bulky for my liking.

George

While I am still only a student in the world of police eagles, I certainly have many reservations about the design properties.

It seems to be "off" as far as the detailing goes. Like it was "mashed down" and the details got compressed. Any idea of the actual size? I also don't like the double "X" chest or the "diaper" look on the eagle. haven't seen this in any other officer patches, but I am quite sure Bill U. is better at making that call.

Maybe it is just the way it was photographed but the wool coloring looks almost Luftwaffe gray. And I agree with you about the backing paper. Looks sorta odd and not what you would expect to find.


Andrew

Dear George,

The design elements on this eagle don't look all that bad to me. They have gotten the design and pattern down pretty well. The background might be a gray consistant with Luftschutzpolizei.

BUT and that is a big BUT, it is just not quite right, very close, but something sets off the "be cautious" instinct.

The cut edges of the backing material are way too sharp to have been cut 60 years ago. Even sitting in a box for that time threads "relax" and unravel leaving a rough cut edge. This looks like it was cut out yesterday.

I have also noticed that a lot of reproduction bullion eagles have that "overdone" look as if there is just too much bullion. I think the forgers are getting their cue from the SS/darkside collectors who seem to love officer's eagles with really heavy bullion where the swastika "grows" right into the wreath.

Although not unknown in original eagles, the threads across the body is also common in forgeries, although to be honest this is done quite nicely here.

It is actually a nice eagle, but after considering the whole picture I would give this a thumbs down as well. But they are getting closer and closer. This is the nicest "repro" eagle I have seen to date.

Regards,
Bill Unland

Guys,

I don't like this eagle either and I think it is a fake. I was just having a hard time expressing why. I do think they are getting better at reproducing these things but as Bill says, it sets off my "be cautious" detector as well.

The thickness of the bullion on the chest, the diamond pattern on the chest is way off, and the straightness of the body combined with the thickness of the oakleaves gives this away as a repro immidiately

quote:

Originally posted by W.Unland:

BUT and that is a big BUT, it is just not quite right, very close, but something sets off the "be cautious" instinct.

Regards,
Bill Unland

I have nowhere near the level of experience you have with police stuff Mr. U, and it sets of my "spidey-senses". If it sets off yours too, then it's definitely something I don't want to take any chances with.

quote:

Originally posted by W.Unland:
Although not unknown in original eagles, the threads across the body is also common in forgeries, although to be honest this is done quite nicely here.

This is why your my hero Bill *LOL*

I looked at the two "X"'s on the chest and thought they were bad. I had never seen this specific type of pattern. Normally the bullion I have seen has had smaller "X"'s with portions of the continuing pattern extending out to the sides of the eagles bodies. These just looked too well centered and large for my liking.

Although after pouring over some bullion pics I did find a shot of one with this "sagging diaper" effect.

Andrew