The Assman IAB Twins - Solids!

[johnrtse]

I just got my Bronze solid Assman Infantry Assault Badge today! I was the high bidder on eBay for it , when it got cancelled. I emailed the seller asking when he was going to relist it, and he offered it to me. I paid a fair price for it ($65).

It has these same characteristics as my Silver version; "beard" on the eagle, no cut-out between swaz rifle, identical size, same acorn/branch detail, same hingle/pin/clasp. Differences include maker mark location (obviously a different back die was used), and what seems to be a "double stamp" of the eagle's eye on the obverse.

Check them out and tell me what you think. All comments and observations are welcome!

New Bronze Assman IAB:



You've seen my silver IAB a couple times before:

[Frank Heukemes]

Dear John,

These Assmanns are not beauties but a rare IAB to find! Congratulations.

Are you confident the above one is indeed bronze? Hard to tell from the pics.
Interesting to notice that most I have seen (mine, Philippe´s, your bronze one) have that small area next to rifle butt NOT cut out, while your silver one has that area cut out. No big deal I think, just interesting to see.

Cheers, Frank

[johnrtse]

Thanks for the reply Frank. I am 80% sure it is bronze. Whereas the remaining finish on my silver is black with tarnish, my new badge's finish is definately lighter brown in it's tarnished glory.

I did notice that spot too about the cut-out "hammer" area when you guys posted your Assman solids a while back. Interesting.

It's kind of funny how when you own a particular maker's badge and study it for a time, how you become "tuned" to it. When I spotted this badge on eBay, I KNEW it was a Assman right away (even before seeing the barely visible maker mark).


John

[Jan Arne S]

Hi John !
Nice worn IAB`s from Assmann .
Not so often we se Assmann IAB`S .

Jan Arne

[Yuri D.]

The zink IAb's with the circular ejection marks and the numbers ("1", "2", etc.), and the one-piece hinge/catch are Assman-made. Compare the die forms. So Assman IABs are more common than we think.

Yuri

[Philippe DB]

Hi Yuri,

In your article I read that you called these IAB's "possible Assmann made"

Did you find new information to be absolutly sure now?

KR
Philippe

[Yuri D.]

Let's take a look at the details. What is in common about the Assmann marked late-war zink badges and the IABs marked with just the numbers.

1. Assmann is the only maker I have seen that uses the circular ejection marks, both on their late zinc GABs and some late zinc Luftwaffe badges (Paratrooper, Observer, etc). The numbered IABs have these circular ejection marks.

2. These Luft badges and GABs also have the one-piece hinge/catch configurations with the rectangular form lines around these objects. The numbered IAB's have these same one-piece hinge-catch combinations.

3. Some Assmann-marked Luftwaffe badges have numbers on the right reverse of the wreath. I have only seen either a "1" or a "2". These numbers are of an identical shape and form both on these Luftwaffe badges, and on the numbered unmarked IABs.

4. Lastly, let's take a look at the obverse strike of Assmann marked IABs and the ones marked with the number only. They are identical.

Yuri

[Philippe DB]

Hi Yuri,

I completely agree with you, one more ridddle solved I guess.

KR
Philippe

[johnrtse]

Great deduction Yuri! I have seen quite a few of these IAB's with the numbers and ejection marks during my internet browsing.

So basically we have (2) variations; the CAST zinc Assman IAB's & the DIE-FORMED zinc Assman IAB's, with the cast badges being very common and the die-formed badges being rather un-common?

John

[Yuri D.]

Great deduction Yuri! I have seen quite a few of these IAB's with the numbers and ejection marks during my internet browsing.

So basically we have (2) variations; the CAST zinc Assman IAB's & the DIE-FORMED zinc Assman IAB's, with the cast badges being very common and the die-formed badges being rather un-common?

John

John,

That is correct. One sees the badges with the raised numerals on the reverse more often than the Assmann logo. Also note that the ones with the numerals on the reverse have the space between the rifle and the swastika cut out.

Yuri

[hcliffe]

Great discussion guys, I have subscribed to this theory since the beginning of my collecting days. Having both Assman marked GAB's and IAB's, and GAB's and IAB's with the ejector marks and numbers, I completely concur with Yuri's points.

[Philippe DB]

Hi Harry,

Why didn't you post your findings a little earlier you shy guy

KR
Philippe

[hcliffe]

Well Philippe... I'm still learning of course. The presence of the ejector marks, and die numbers along with the "A" on many badges (GAB's etc.) sure seemed like a dead giveaway on the numbered IAB's to me. However, as you have pointed out to me in the past, we should not easily jump to conclusions. Many PAB's by different makers have the exact same obverse details. Additionally, we have seen many badges marked by the same maker with different hinge/catch setups (FZS IAB's for example, of which there are at least 3 that I can remember!)

[johnrtse]

I have to correct one of my earlier posts: My believe that my latest Assman IAB is a silver version, rather than a bronze version.

The reason is that I aquired a bronze ShuCo 41 today and, while the finish on the obverse has darkened considerably, the bronze on the reverse is quite distictive- 100% different than the Assman IAB that I thought was bronze is.

Just thought I would update this story- sorry I doubted you Frank!
John