Sometimes you get lucky......

[Eric Queen]

This was on ebay for $50 ( $300 reserve ). No one bid on it, so I bought it outright for the reserve. The pin has been replaced ( with a "coke bottle" type pin / looks like an old replacement ), there is a tiny glob of solder on the bottom of the wreath, but still its an original 1943 pattern badge in Feinzink. Unfortunately I cannot take sharp closeups with this Canon digital camera, but the piece has just super detail ( feathering, etc. )

I think this is probably one ( if not the only ) original APB's I have ever seen on ebayl

[Eric Queen]

The reverse with the replaced pin.

Would you guys leave it as is, or try to replace it with the correct pin. As I said, the pin looks old and orignal, but I don't know how long it has been on there.

[Eric Queen]

A little better look at the colors

[MH184]

Eric,

Leave it as it is, it could be a wartime replacement, best not to alter it. You'd probably do more harm than good.

Kind regards,

Marcus

[ERIC S.]

Hi Eric,
I too would leave it as is. It gives the badge more character with the period replaced pin.
ERIC

[Mark S.]

Helluva score Eric!

I am curious, what were the sellers pictures like, and what made you investigate it further, even though it had a replaced pin?

[Eric Queen]

Mark,

The seller posted only one, rather small, pic of the reverse. Everything about it though looked right to me, except the pin, so I thought it was worth asking for a photo of the obverse.

Here's the ebay photo.

[Eric Queen]

Here is the ( huge ) pic of the obverse he sent me. From this, I was convinced enough to go ahead a take a chance on it. Also, asked Prosper what he thought, and he agreed.

[Bryan Poon]

Hi Eric

From what we can see from the above pictures, the reverse looks good. But better picture is need. Will you ask the seller for better pictures again?

One more thing, does the slighty shorter lower arm of swastika is an indication for good or bad?

Cheers
BP