Check out the fine radial lines around the catch! Also not typical for zink but for Tombak badges. In addition John´s badge shows more its age, but there is no zinc coming through:
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Cheers, Frank
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sharp eyes!
Frank is correct. There is a very neat solder spot around both the catch and the base of the hinge. the one at the catch is almost a perfect circle! My badge also shows the radial lines shown in the one John sold. I suspect this to be some remnant of the finishing process, prior to the badge being plated. The almost look like buffing marks. I'd be shocked if it was zinc, there's nothing about the "feel" of the piece, or any fineness one would associate with zinc.
With respect to the space between the swas & the rifle. This almost looks like a cut, I would bet the badges were diestamped without this opening. I suspect that this was one part of the finishing process that became impractical with a zinc badge, as well as the old time/money issue.Comment
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Hi Guys,
Just got home an I think that in the meantime it became clear why I thought this were early badges, basicly because the way hinge and catch are attached if compared with the version with mm on the rifle.
Personaly I don't think that these are made of tombak, more a high quality feinzink. On the obverse of mine you can see the dark zink shining through on the worn spots. On the other hand with 34grams this is one of the heaviest IAB's I own. Realy a quality piece but somehow they didn't get the eagles head right.
The radial lines although a little obscured by the patina that has build up are also clearly present arround the catch.
KR
PhilippeComment
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IAB FLL obverseComment
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HI fellows:
As I recall the FLL Bronze IAB that I had (pictured in the thread) had a laquer coating. The parts that did not have the coating on the back had oxidized whereas the parts with the coating intact still had a strong finish. I believe the coating was factory applied as I got the piece from out of the woodwork...legend had it that it came from the Eagle's Nest (I hear all types of stories like this but there was no proof to this one)...the piece that I had as pictured by Frank had the inner upper lid marked to the maker, and yes the catch was held on by a crude blob of solder (as Frank had noticed), that looked sloppy but was not a repair job, but original to the manufacture of the piece. I believe the badge was definately zinc based.
JohnComment
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This is very interesting!
Well, if mine is zinc, it's by far the nicest zinc badge I've ever seen. It's made in such a massive style, and very heavy. BUT, I'm not going to scratch this puppy to see what's underneath!Comment
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Originally posted by militarybuyer
The large "blob" DOES make sense for a zinc badge as another way to increase the soldering area surface...generally not necessary or done on Tombak badges.
@ Rick...If you can, please weigh the badge and measure the thickness at the wreath.Visit my Badge Collection: http://lbmilitaria.homestead.com/home.htmlComment
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Duh! What a Yutz!
... as I sit here with a scale and calipers!
My scale isn't great, the badge weighs 30 grams
wreathe varies between 3.2 and 3.8 mm., depending on if it's on an acorn, or a leaf...Comment
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Given the thickness, that falls within the weight parameters of a zinc badge.Visit my Badge Collection: http://lbmilitaria.homestead.com/home.htmlComment
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OK! let me go scrape it a bit...
.... ha!Comment
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Lorenzo,
I own the one John sold with the maker mark in the lid of the box, the weight is 31 grams and the widths are give or take a mm basicaly the same as Ricks also.
Kind regards,
MarcusComment
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Hi Marcus. It sounds like Rick's, so it is probably zinc. At least John has also stated that belief...so it most probably is zinc.
"....the piece that I had as pictured by Frank had the inner upper lid marked to the maker, and yes the catch was held on by a crude blob of solder (as Frank had noticed), that looked sloppy but was not a repair job, but original to the manufacture of the piece. I believe the badge was definately zinc based."Visit my Badge Collection: http://lbmilitaria.homestead.com/home.htmlComment
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One thing that made me conclude that my piece was zinc was that the areas that were not protected by laquer began to deteriorate in a way that a zinc badge would...ie light traces of the white powdering effect and loss of color,
JohnComment
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Yes, but on mine...
.. there wer none of those flaws, graininess and onset/ongoing detioration I would have associated with it being zinc. Live and learn!Comment
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Hi Rick...Just to be sure, you should have somebody else look at it. I can't tell without having it in-hand, but it does seem to have the weight and characteristics of a zinc badge that has been lacquered.Visit my Badge Collection: http://lbmilitaria.homestead.com/home.htmlComment
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