Karl Wurster Infantry Assault Badge

[AndyC]

Very nice find that you have there.
I am looking for the classic Wurster Silver in Buntmetal but it is not so easy to find one right now

Andy

[jordi]

Hi Tom,

Very nice example .

I have one of his brother in similar condition but with a different set-up.

I also think that both, yours and mine are in bronze grade.

Best regards.
jordi

[jordi]

Reverse.

[jordi]

Close up 1

[jordi]

Close up 2

[fischer]

Lovely example Jordi...

Here is my zinker.

Best regards, fischer

[Giel VW]

Very nice and so much harder to find than their already rare tombak counterparts. Congrats!

[Hobbysammler]

A good and original Wurster badge imo.
Not very often to find on the market.
KR
Gerd

[Thomas Durante]

Very nice addition Tom, and rare as heck as the boys already said. I too think its a bronze grade, although if you look at the reverse, it looks to have a silver finish which is flaking away on the edges. Especially the reverse bayonet area, seems like its a silver finish, or maybe that is a primer coating that was put on before the bronze brennlack was applied.

Tom

[Tom Yanacek]

Very nice addition Tom, and rare as heck as the boys already said. I too think its a bronze grade, although if you look at the reverse, it looks to have a silver finish which is flaking away on the edges. Especially the reverse bayonet area, seems like its a silver finish, or maybe that is a primer coating that was put on before the bronze brennlack was applied.

Tom

Hi Tom,

Thank you for your response. So you start a sentence saying that it is a bronze and by the end of that same sentence you think it could be silver. I'm glad to see that you are as mixed up about the finish as I am. I agree with everything you are saying because I see the same things that you have noticed in the pictures. I can also say that having the badge in-hand does not make it any easier to decide. Do you think that the color of the weld around the hinge would be the deciding factor? I ask because the solder/braze is bronze in color.

Best regards,
Tom

[Tom Yanacek]

Hi Tom D,

Here are two pictures showing the coloring of the weld area around the catch. I have seen this same coloration on zinc PABs by Wurster that were otherwise void of finish. This has to be either the color/finish of the badge or the actual color of the braze that was used?

Best regards,
Tom

[Tom Yanacek]

another picture:

[Thomas Durante]

Hi Tom,

I am indeed confused about the finish. This mainly stems from the reverse shot, where I see a definate silver-type finish on top of the grey zinc. However, your oblique shots show a very distinct bronze finish and your closeups of the solder (braze) also seems to show bronze. I think that is actually bronze finish on the solder, because I see 2 tiny spots were it looks like the bronze is flaked off, and you can see the grey/silver solder. You should be able to see that better in hand, but that tells me that the solder was NOT bronze and therefore we are seeing a true bronze finish IMO>

Tom

[Tom Yanacek]

Hi Tom,

I am indeed confused about the finish. This mainly stems from the reverse shot, where I see a definate silver-type finish on top of the grey zinc. However, your oblique shots show a very distinct bronze finish and your closeups of the solder (braze) also seems to show bronze. I think that is actually bronze finish on the solder, because I see 2 tiny spots were it looks like the bronze is flaked off, and you can see the grey/silver solder. You should be able to see that better in hand, but that tells me that the solder was NOT bronze and therefore we are seeing a true bronze finish IMO>

Tom

Hi Tom D.

I think you are correct . So since you and the majority of others feel that it is a bronze badge, I will list it in my medal inventory as a Bronze IAB. Thank you for sharing your opinion.

Best regards,
Tom