EXTREME CLOSE UP: A Prussian Air Gunner Badge, hollow print

[Frank Heukemes]

Obverse in full

[Frank Heukemes]

reverse in full

[Frank Heukemes]

crown close up

[Frank Heukemes]

center close up

[Frank Heukemes]

laurel leaves

[Frank Heukemes]

oak leaves

[Frank Heukemes]

wreath bottom

[Tony & Kaiser]

Nope. No good. I counted 96 pebbles on the left hand leaf when there should be 95.

Haha! I just wanted to be the first one. Out of all the badges, I prefer these issue stamped ones, but of this pattern, the air gunner, I have no experience. Thanks for sharing, Tony

[Rick Research]

I've never seen or handled one before either. Is it silvered steel, or non-magnetic?

here is a period photo detail, the closest I've ever come to one:

[Brian S]

A beautiful stamped badge. Now if it says Karl on the pin, I'm a believer. I haven't seen a dozen of those come up anywhere. I like it. But that's only opinion.

When do we get the punch line Frank?

[Frank Heukemes]

No punch line, just wanted to hear what you think of it before I tell you where it came from. It is magnetic, silvered steel.

No Bavarian "Karl" here Brian, we switched to Prussian again!

Cheers, Frank

[Brian S]

I've searched the repro dealers, can't find it. The only ones I see for sale as originals are solid backed or with the ray backed design. I'd guess this is a newer badge with great detail. Better detail than any of the ones I saw...

[Brian S]

Here's a solid back belonging to a friend of mine. Day and night comparison...

[Rich G]

Frank

I saw a badge very similar to this one (is it the same?) on Ebay. It looked quite crisp and detailed but I didn't like the closeness between the Hinge and the catch. On any originals I've seen the hinge is mounted in the crown and the catch in the ribbon tie.

What I really want to know... is it original?

Also regarding these stamped badges... another member showed the S&L catalogue and all the imperial badges where shown there. Anyone ever seen and S&L marked imperial flight badge? How would we be able to tell an imperial original to a III Reich re-strike??

Rich

[Frank Heukemes]

Dear Rich & all,

I am happy I do not have to bow to opinions with that hollow air gunner. It came around one corner directly from the vet who earned it. The "corner" is my great uncle, who collected a bit in the 20ies and 30ies. Before he died, he gave this hollow air gunner and a few other awards he had left to me, because he noticed my starting interest in collecting German awards. I also have a EK1 with two screws from the same veteran.

So: No, it is definitely not the one you saw on ebay.

@Brian: The massive badge of your friend is very interesting to me as I think it shows exactly the same die characteristics as my hollow one. Do you have better pics and a pic of the reverse?

Cheers, Frank