These comments from the "famous" motel buyer speak volumes.
"You guys sometimes amaze me. I am a COLLECTOR first and a dealer second. I collect daggers and HJ items mainly and have been buying from veterans for over 55 years.
Send my HJ badge to someone to prove it is original? Why?? I KNOW its original as I bought it (paid $10) over 35 years ago directly from the US veteran who brought it back after the war, so no question in my mind and its NOT forsale now or in the near future"
With this sort of logic, any item bought from someone claiming to be a veteran that brought something back from the war should be considered real and period authentic as long as it was purchased from said veteran for a reasonable sum. Also according to this train of thought the finder or buyer of any item from a "veteran" source should set the benchmark and is the authority for which items are authenticated based upon said manner of acquisition? Things that make you go hmmm.
Not questioning the example he posted as I don't collect metal insignia or study them so I would not know, just questioning the manner that is used to authenticate the item.