57 PAB Opinions

[Ed Tainton]

Have this 57 PAB. Is it a 57 issue or a 57 repo. I guess they are all repos anyway57 PAB Reverse

[Tiger 1]

The reverse looks fine to me. Why do you consider a legitamate reissue badge to be a repo?
These are a continuation of the the recognition of valor and qualification by a different German government at a later time. These de-nazified awards reflect the political realities of post war Germany.

T

[W. C. Stump]

Have this 57 PAB. Is it a 57 issue or a 57 repo. I guess they are all repos anyway57 PAB Reverse

I have never seen a "1957 repro". Most German dealers sell these today and the 1957 versions are becoming quite collectable as they are an important part of German military history.

[Ed Tainton]

57 Pab

What I meant was: Recently purchased this from Uk. Does it look like original 57 issue ? Or is it a recently made repo. As a matter of fact I like the 57 style and have been collecting them slowly. Its one way to get a Knights Cross and not pay a ransom for it. The badge is a nice looking piece.

[Mike Kenny]

Hi Ed,

I think your 57 PAB is correct. There were different styles of hinge/pin/catch attachment which may/probably indicate earlier construction but this example has the most common 57 hinge/pin/catch construction.

For Bill, there ARE 57 repros out there! I've noticed repro DKs which appear to be easy to spot Third Reich repros with the swastika replaced by an Iron Cross device.

De-nazifying a "Third Reich" repro and then passing it off as a 57 version is also something I've seen a few times. If you have a basic understanding of 57 awards then you're pretty safe though as attempted repros are fairly easy to spot.

Regards
Mike K

[Ed Tainton]

57 Pab

Sometimes I think repos should be called what they are COUNTERFEITS made in imitation of something genuine so as to deceive or defraud, forged. REPRODUCTION: something made by reproducing; copy, close imitation,duplication. COUNTERFEIT is a better word for it, it sounds stronger.
Thanks for the input.

[John T]

Dear Ed:

I think your badge is an old piece. I base this conclusion on the pin assembly. This is a typical postwar german pin, often found on some of the earlier repros and a giveaway as to the authenciticy of some of the reproductions. I do not know if this style pin is still used on current production, but it would make sense that it would have been used on the 57 issues.

Also, when is a 57 issue considered a repro? If vets are allowed to wear these badges it would make sense that the badges are still made...the question arises though, what is the vintage of a 57 piece, ie was it made in the 60s, 70s or now...I think a clue would be the type of metal used as I would guess the more modern production pieces would be made of a better quality metal and have a better, modern finish.

I wonder if the 57 issues can be bought by collectors direct from the companies that make these pieces for veteran usage, or from the distributors of the pieces.

John