Zerstörer-Kriegsabzeichen - Schwerin 68

**HoundsTooth** · 03-29-2018, 03:23 PM

Gents,

This is my latest pickup - Destroyer Badge by Schwerin in tombak - early to mid-war. According to Weber / Skora this is the 2nd variation of Schwerin Destroyer badge. The 'W' in Schwerin is in alignment with the other letters (unlike 1st variation) and the rows of letters are slightly lower than variation 1.

From further reading i understand there is some debate over which variation came first.

Hope you like.

Nick

**Espenlaub Militaria** · 03-29-2018 03:23 PM

We also buy and trade your items and full collections!

**sitges1990** · 03-29-2018, 03:32 PM

Nice one Nick. I've always thought the design of this badge was very advanced for it's time. The bow cutting across the wreath is a great artistic touch. People usually wanted symmetry.

Jay

**MAP** · 03-29-2018, 03:35 PM

Very nice Nick! A great example!

**real steel** · 03-29-2018, 03:49 PM

Congrats !! Great addition to your growing badge collection.

**Saladin** · 03-29-2018, 03:59 PM

I'm not very fond of this one Nick,
There looks to be some lumps of spare metal on your badge that is not on any others that I have seen and the MM on the back looks a little rounded and flattened.

May be wrong but I it would not be one I would want

All the best
Doug

**HoundsTooth** · 03-29-2018, 04:15 PM

Thanks gents for all the comments.

Doug - I take your point on the lumps of spare metal - particularly the one under the bow gun. I wonder if there is an explanation for this?
The markings on the back looked worn, but good to me and also looked to line up in the correct areas.
Everything else looked to line up (and I spent a long time comparing).

I'd be interested in hearing from Norm and Martin as well.

Thanks
Nick

**MAP** · 03-29-2018, 05:11 PM

Sharp eye Doug, I was on my cell phone when I first saw this. I see these clearly now. At this point I will defer to others.

**martinw** · 03-30-2018, 01:03 AM

IMO despite the "lumps" which could be die flaws,that were later corrected i have to think that this is a good type 2 Schwerin tombak award.

The earlier examples had a "deformed" swastika,which was corrected on the later,2nd type obverse die.

The reverse die was also renewed.

Here is a good example of the type 1 tombak Schwerin that i used to own,"deformed" swastika and different positioning of the MM.

I like the badge posted by Nick,it would be really hard to fake the "flaking" of the finish on the reverse edges.

Regards,Martin.

**HoundsTooth** · 03-30-2018, 09:20 AM

Thanks Martin,

I had indeed seen your type one badge on WAF and the discussion around it. Both types are now in the later print of the Weber / Skora book as you probably already know. I try to do as much research as I can around everything I'm interested in or want to purchase - partly because knowledge is power, but also it's half the fun learning about something you're really interested in.

Thanks again to everyone else who commented including Doug - the additional lumps of metal are perhaps an anomaly? I hope so anyway.
I did examine everything else in detail on the badge and compared to other known examples - really spent a long time looking at it - and everything seems to line up.

Kind Regards
Nick

**Norm F** · 03-30-2018, 03:20 PM

Hi Guys,

Good observation by Nick on the obverse die flaws. These die flaws were acquired towards the tail end of Tombak production and are seen in only a few examples of the later "Type 2" design (another example attached). The same die was then used for the zinc production which again show the same flaws (example attached).

Best regards,
---Norm