Driver badges

[schwerer Werfer]

Hi Gent`s
I would need your opinion please
Are these two Driver badges,one in gold and the other in bronce, pre war variants,or are they post war made?
The grain inside makes me think,...The grain should be up to the leaves, or not?
Maybe 57er badges?
Best regards
Erwin

[schwerer Werfer]

Bronce

[Scott C.]

I'm not an expert on these. The three driver badges I have (bronze, silver, gold) all have the grain right into/up to the laurel leaves. However, I'm not sure if different makers had different patterns or not.

I'm not comfortable with the finish on your gold example - it looks a bit to shiny/plated. Original examples I've seen all have a more matt-gold finish (same with the silver and bronze classes as well).

[Tom Yanacek]

Hi Erwin,

I am not sure on either of these. I have seen some wartime examples where the stippling is somewhat indistinct adjacent to the laurel leaves, but not to the extent that we see on these two examples.

I agree with Scott's concerns relative to the finish on the gold example.

Are these two examples magnetic? I know that there are non-magnetic originals in zinc, but I prefer when they are magnetic and stuck in iron.

Best regards,
Tom

[stewy]

Both are good war time originals. Different makers though, I think the top one is a Rettenmaier. Am I right in thinking the second one has lugs, rather than prongs? Stewy

[stewy]

The finish on the gold is fine, I have one similar. I call it "bright" gold, some makers/variants are darker almost bronze like appearance. Stewy

[RonR]

Stewy,

Really good information.

Here is another Gold version........

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[RonR]

Next to a Bronze........

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[Tom Yanacek]

Not really happy with how these pictures came out, but I figured I would post my examples.

Best regards,
Tom

Luftwaffe-backed Gold Driver Badge (magnetic):

[Tom Yanacek]

Heer-backed Gold Driver Badge (magnetic):

[Tom Yanacek]

Heer-backed Silver Driver Badge (non-magnetic, bare zinc):

[Tom Yanacek]

Luftwaffe-backed Silver Driver Badge (magnetic):

[stewy]

Thanks Ron, one of the easiest ways to determine makers & variants is by the oak leaf stalks at the bottom & the make up of the leaves. I'm trying to study KBA's (drivers badges) at the moment. It will most likely take me a while, but with a little help I hope to work KBA's out. IMO a very underrated award. Stewy

[Tom Yanacek]

Heer-backed Bronze Driver Badge (magnetic):

[Tom Yanacek]

another Heer-backed Bronze Driver Badge (magnetic):