Cupal PAB in Bronze

[Philippe DB]

Hi Guys,

Yes, yet an other PAB thread.

But I like to think that everybody interested in these awards will find this very interesting, I know at least I did when I found out.

Just yesterday I received a very special Cupal Bronze PAB. I won't ellaborate on Cupal badges since all relevant info can be found in this thread

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...ighlight=CUPAL

Besides the badge I'll post now I only ever had seen the silver one in the thread above and an other silver one that Detlev ones sold.

My Bronze example is quit dirty and some idiot once tried to find out what was under the copper layer and left some nasty nail scratches on the back exposing the aluminium. Sad but still a nice badge IMO.

Based upon the pictures I bought this badge on, at first I thought it could be an FLL PAB. Only afther handling it and comparing it to other PAB's I found out that in fact it was made by the same unknown company that made the absolute best PAB ever, at least as far as I'm concerned.

The fact that this company also made these wonderfull Cupal PAB's is just more proof for me that this was the absolute top in terms of materials used, design and craftsmanship when it comes to PAB production.

First I'll post some scans of the cupal example and than a comparison with his silver hollow brother.

Hope you all enjoy this as much as I did when I found out.

KR
Philippe

PS: If there are other Cupal PAB's around please post them in this thread, I really would love to see them.

[Philippe DB]

Cupal reverse

[Philippe DB]

Cupal layer profile showing copper layers on obverse and reverse and the aluminium in between. This PAB only weighs 18gr.

[Philippe DB]

Cupal PAB with his Hollow buntmetall brother

[Philippe DB]

Grass Area comparison

[Philippe DB]

And definitive proof that these are Twins, exact same die flaw in the first track chain.

[TG]

An absolutely beautiful badge Philippe!

[I Marotto]

I agree both are nice yet another to add to my want list..
Ian

[skip]

Tasty badge Phil,

very nice, very rare and very interesting.

Good eyes to spot the die flaw as well.

Skip

[Spitfire]

Yes...

...great looking badges and some excellent detective work!

Take care,

Al

[Jan Arne S]

Hi Phil !
Just GREAT PAB in cupal . And a rare one .

Jan Arne

[Steve Richard]

Philippe,

great work on the die flaw-my hollow buntmetal has this flaw,un-noticed until now.To me also,this is the Porsche of PAB's.Even with a broken catch mine is my favorite-but am looking for a perfect one to upgrade.

Best wishes,

Steve

[Wood]

Phillippe,
Many thanks for posting this thread and link as one day I was going to ask for opinions on my "sandwich" PAB in silver, my problem being that I liked mine so much and have seen other german badges and medals manufactured in a similar way, yet everything I read said that any flat backed PAB's were suspect.
Regards,
Wood
and now I also know what Cupal means!

[Philippe DB]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for all you nice comments.

As I stated above I'm really very happy myself with this badge and just can't stop looking at it . Sadly my wife didn't agree to let it sleep in our bed last night .

If I compare it to my other PAB's I can't stop wondering about why such a badge ever existed.

This certainly must have been a very expensive production technique only using the best materials available. Who would have received such a quality item. Were these badge only available as private purchases or where these only reserved for high ranking officers. Also taken in to account that they are so rare it's difficult to believe that they were produced in big numbers and just handed out to anybody who qualified.

Based upon the die fault it's also obvious that they were produced at the same moment as there hollow brothers, making it even more costly for the producer since he had to operate two production lines for just one badge.

@Wood, the obverse design and probably the flatback first steered me in the direction of FLL but this badge is definitely proof that FLL wasn't the only manufacturer making flat-backs. Or maybe not since we don't know the manufacturer I suppose it still could be FLL. Any chance you could post a few pictures of your Silver one.

I don't think that chances are great to find copies of such a badge but since you never no there is one specific feature that all 3 badges I have on file have in common and IMO is unique since I have never seen it on any other heer, luftwaffe or KM badge. If any of you find such a badge feel free to PM me for info on that feature.

Still would love to see other cupal PAB's, can't imagin that there aren't more arround.

KR
Philippe

[PaulR]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for all you nice comments.

As I stated above I'm really very happy myself with this badge and just can't stop looking at it . Sadly my wife didn't agree to let it sleep in our bed last night .

If I compare it to my other PAB's I can't stop wondering about why such a badge ever existed.

This certainly must have been a very expensive production technique only using the best materials available. Who would have received such a quality item. Were these badge only available as private purchases or where these only reserved for high ranking officers. Also taken in to account that they are so rare it's difficult to believe that they were produced in big numbers and just handed out to anybody who qualified.

Based upon the die fault it's also obvious that they were produced at the same moment as there hollow brothers, making it even more costly for the producer since he had to operate two production lines for just one badge.

@Wood, the obverse design and probably the flatback first steered me in the direction of FLL but this badge is definitely proof that FLL wasn't the only manufacturer making flat-backs. Or maybe not since we don't know the manufacturer I suppose it still could be FLL. Any chance you could post a few pictures of your Silver one.

I don't think that chances are great to find copies of such a badge but since you never no there is one specific feature that all 3 badges I have on file have in common and IMO is unique since I have never seen it on any other heer, luftwaffe or KM badge. If any of you find such a badge feel free to PM me for info on that feature.

Still would love to see other cupal PAB's, can't imagin that there aren't more arround.

KR
Philippe

How rare are these? I have never heard of a cupal badge.

Thanks
Paul