"GWL" marked IAB ...

[Sturmmann]

what are the opinions about this IAB?

http://marketender.wehrmacht.pri.ee/...1/a_1779/1.jpg

http://marketender.wehrmacht.pri.ee/...1/a_1779/2.jpg

thanks!

[Mark McShane]

Gwl Iab

IMO I would say that the badge is an original.

Here is mine for comparison

Mark

[Mark McShane]

Gwl Iab

And the reverse of my badge,

Cheers,

Mark

[Chet Sowersby]

I belive it to be good also.
Chet

[Bill Gaynor]

Looks very much like the one in Tuckers Book (that Chet loaned me, thanks Chet) I would say good
Bill

[Sturmmann]

thanks a lot

[Don D.]

For a near mint badge it lacks some detail, especially to the acorn cups and the maker mark seems soft to me. Could it have been refinished perhaps?

[grzegorzt]

Hi,
I tkink , it could be refinished, markers mar looks so sof to me too. Below my GWL to compare.
http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/8699/pict00051hb.jpg
http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/5125/pict00063jo.jpg
Best Regards
Grzegorz

[Mike Kenny]

Hi,

Imo all are original badges in this tread and imo all have original finishes. I've seen GWL Silver IABs with a moderately polished/burnished (&?laquered) finish as well as white frosted finishes (more in line with their Pilot's Badge wreaths). Imo Grzegorz's example is an aged/darkened frosted version of Sturmmann's example whereas Mark's example shows the "burnished" obverse finish.

Regards
Mike