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**Tom Yanacek** · 06-04-2007, 05:51 PM

Originally posted by robert pierce View Post

No, you're right, Tom, both were used. I've looked very carefully at the pin on the Assmann I posted, and often wondered if it was a cast pin. But the pin appears to have been either cold or hot bent, and then applied to the round piece that attached with a pin to the cast hinge. I don't know which came last, the shepherd crook pin or the one I show.???

I guess it could have been cast as a one piece, and then bent with heat.???

Robert

Hello Robert,
I think the pin like you show probably came first. It is a complex setup and as the war went on I'm sure they tried to make things easier, so they went to a simple shepherd crook type. Your type of pin required a 90 degree "L" bend, then the pin had to be soldered to a sleeve that went on the hinge pin. I also feel that this type of pin was prone to breaking off the sleeve and that could be another reason for the change. Over the years, I have seen many such setups where the pin is no longer present but the sleeve is still in place on the hinge pin.
Best regards,
Tom

**Robert P.** · 06-04-2007, 07:32 PM

Thanks Tom,

Yes, one such member who bought one of these 'Stuttgart Horde' Assmann GAB's had this happen. He opened the pin, and snap. It broke from the upper portion. I can't imagine a pin snapping in half without bending unless it was made of some inferior material, either tempered too hard or just bad metalurgy.??

Robert

**Graeme** · 06-04-2007, 07:43 PM

Robert

The pin such as you posted always break at the solder joint. As Tom pointed out this is a very common occurence.

regards
Graeme

**Robert P.** · 06-04-2007, 07:47 PM

That's something. Of the four that I bought from the Stuttgart Horde I have not lost one to breakage, even after opening them for photography. But I will be very careful with them. Thank you.

Robert

Attached Files

Stuttgart Hoard 001 c.jpg (114.1 KB, 48 views)

**Tom Yanacek** · 06-04-2007, 09:33 PM

Hello Robert,
I don't want to scare you into thinking that you cannot handle these for fear of breakage. You should be able to handle the badge and open and close the pin without incident. What I am trying to say is that this particular pin setup was probably not durable enough for the rigors of combat.
Best regards,
Tom

**Robert P.** · 06-04-2007, 10:24 PM

Originally posted by tyanacek View Post

Hello Robert,
I don't want to scare you into thinking that you cannot handle these for fear of breakage. You should be able to handle the badge and open and close the pin without incident. What I am trying to say is that this particular pin setup was probably not durable enough for the rigors of combat.
Best regards,
Tom

They must have been a short-lived design then, eh?

Robert

**Frogprince** · 06-04-2007, 10:25 PM

As was commented on replicas made from copied originals are gong to be undersized. Die casting molds are made oversized to compensate for shrinkage. It follows then that replicas made using originals as templates will be noticeably undersized and weigh less all other things being equal.

Was it the pin itself or the pin from the collar? I’m of the opinion that inferior design is the reason why the two piece pins are so prone to failure. From a modern perspective (without knowing with what specific materials and exactly how the parts were joined) my guess is that with time metal fatigue and possibly diffusion create an area that is easily fractured. Whereas a simple stamped pin is not only cheaper, but more durable, agreeing that they are later. FP

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