Another GAB oddity

[Frank Heukemes]

Dear all,

recently I pictured my newly acquired GAB from Foerster & Barth. It seems GABs from this maker are quite rare, as it is the first one I had knowingly seen and nobody here could produce another example.

While comparing it to other GABs in my collection, it occured to me that the obverse is identical to the one from Wernstein I own. Somebody in the other thread made the correct remark that both makers apparently did not cut out one of the spaces between the swastika and the bajonet. Now we know why, because they must have shared dies (or rather one supplied to the other one).

Of course there is always the other possibility that my Foerster & Barth is a fake made from a Wernstein "role model" but I would like to exclude that possibility as the Foerster & Barth looks absolutely authentic and features the correct and very specific pin construction for that maker.

Any input?

Cheers, Frank H.

[Frank Heukemes]

reverses are different, Wernstein massive, Foerster & Barth semi-hollow.

[George Stimson]

Or.....

Isn't it also possible that the companies had "identical" sets of dies derived from the same master "punches"?

George

[Bruce Simcox]

Look....

....closely at the texturing on the leaves. There are differences there that seem to be most evident. But, then again, this is an observation that I can only make from the photographs at hand.

What do you think Frank?

Are these differences visible here, to me, also visible to you with the badges in hand?

Curious.

--------------------

Bruce

[Ron Birch]

Hello Frank,

Seems to me the F&B is more crisp than the Wernstien....even the flaw between the eagles leg. I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that the F&B is the fake one........this is something to chew on.

[Frank Heukemes]

Dear Bruce & Ron,

1) No, the leaf texture is identical an both pieces.
2) some things seem to be different and the F&B might seem more crisp because the Wernstein pic is a bit older and I wasn´t as accurate with my camera as now. Crispness is the same on both badges.

To check the identical details, this is best possible on the picture of the obverse: look at the pebbled space at the very top of both badges and "count" the pebbles and compare their locations on both badges. Absolutely identical.

Cheers, Frank H.