Unmasking the fake Assman Naval Wound Badge

[Don D.]

The Assman Naval wound badge has a distinctive obverse which can easily be identified in period photos. These badges were produced from 1918-1945. It is also very possible that the company made them post 1945 for veterans to wear. Recently the market has seen a glut of badges with this design. Note the four below:

1. Assman, Gold
height- 43.8mm
width- 39mm
thickness- 4mm
weight- 14.6 gm

2. Assman, Silver
height- 44mm
width- 38.2mm
thickness- 5mm
weight- 14.7 gm

3. Assman, Black
height- 43.8mm
width- 39mm
thickness- 3mm
weight- 8.5gm

4. Assman, Silver
height- 44.1mm
width- 39.1mm
thickness- 4mm
weight- 8.9gm

[Don D.]

Badges 1 & 2 have nice obverse details but are weak on the reverse when compared to badges 3 & 4. Size wise they are all within an acceptable range. Given the long period of manufacture some variation should be expected. The only real difference are the weights. The first two badges also have the same reverse set ups, pins held to a sheet metal hinge by a nail like pin and a catch similar to the ones found on sports badges of the era.

Because so many have hit the market lately I became suspicious. Having access to an XRF gun at work for testing metal composition I thought I would use it to see if there were any decernable differences in the four badges.

Note the composition of badges 1 &2 below:

[Don D.]

And compare those to badges 3 & 4.

[Don D.]

At this point I determined I need to establish a baseline for period badges. I shot a total of 17 badges, including two marked for silver content. All my period badges had a combination of 2-3 elements, iron, copper, and zinc. Nothing else was found in them. Badges consisted of 2x DRGM Army wound badges, 4 unknown maker Army wound badges, 2x unknown maker naval wound badges, 2x Legion Condor wound badges, the four "Assman" wound badges, 1 jeweler made silver woundbadge, and 2x 57er wound badges. Only two badges had other elements than the 3 noted above, the 2 57er wound badges. See their composition below:

[Don D.]

It is interesting that the two Assmans and the two 57ers have different composition than the other badges. The combination of selenium and tungsten is especially odd. When combined with the added thickness and extra weight I believe badges 1 & 2 can be deemed 57ers at best and manufactured fakes at worst.

Then I saw these on ebay being sold as collector copies. Note the poor details on the reverse, and the same hinge/pin set up as badges 1 & 2.

[gregM]

Very interesting comparisons.

[Don D.]

Selenium is used in pigments and tungsten would provide extra strength. Tungsten was also a critical metal during the war.

[Death-Ace]

That is amazing that such technology exists to provide accurate details of metallurgy. Thank you!

[Jelle M.]

Lovely expertise, could be a new way to unmask fakes.
Interesting read

[Don D.]

And finally, one that I believe to be an original wartime Gold Assmann. Thanks to the sellers poor photos it went for cheap.

[Don D.]

Nice pin and catch assembly. The badge is magnetic and consists of only three materials, iron, copper, and zink. None of the funny compounds that the two fake ones had.

[Montgomery Burns]

Don ,,still you don't know the factory specifications of metals used.

you need the metal specifications from the beginning right up to 1957
not only that ,,but from all makers ,
and files of any deviations to that throe time related issues .

from there you can find out if it is wryly throe,
that fakes can be found by metals used,,,,, or missing ,,, or added.

regards kay

[Don D.]

That would be impossible assemble. The best we can do is a large random sampling of period badges and develop a baseline. When combined with weights and measurements, and hardware comparisons we can make an educated guess.

[Montgomery Burns]

That would be impossible assemble. The best we can do is a large random sampling of period badges and develop a baseline. When combined with weights and measurements, and hardware comparisons we can make an educated guess.

well ,,its interesting to know what it is made of and combined with ,,

fore silver I could be of help ,,but this stuff ..

I will have a look in my period books ,,maybe something as a period Gide line pups up fore the metals used ,,,

regards kay

[Mike Kenny]

Hi Don,

I'm still going through the results but does the grade of finish make a difference? ie, does the XRF equipment you are using ONLY look at the BASEMETAL composition or does it also include the finish in the analysis, in which case some of the strange elements may be there for other reasons (ie, in the paint/finish).

Regards
Mike