Magnetic hollow Assmann GAB

[Frank Heukemes]

Thanks for the production insight, Tony!

All I can say about the shiny silver badge is that the finish is of high quality and has been professionally applied, which means it is no colour or similar, it is a higher quality plating of some kind. I would imagine that if the badge had been rusty underneath at some stage, that the rust would come through somehow, which it doesn´t. Strange, strange.

[Peter Wiking]

Peter you don't really believe that e.g Wernstein used an inferior material or finish to produce their zinc GAB compared to their zinc IAB's or PAB's, do you?

KR
Philippe

The Wernstein GAB is of course of excelent quality.

Back to topic:
I found this GAB from one of our members. I croped out the needle to show some pitting done by rust. Looks very much the same type of pitting as on my GAB that i posted.
The same type of pitting is on the needle of one of Frank´s GAB´s as well.

Cheers.
Peter Wiking

[Frank Heukemes]

Dear Peter,

I do know what rust pitting looks like. The question however is:

-if rust pitting, where is the rust?
-if rust removed and refinished, why has the rusting stopped and does not cause discoloration to the new finish
-the overall appearance of the badge shows absolutely no wear. Whatever this badge is, it is my conviction that it looked like that from day one. I know one cannot see that too clearly from pics alone. But check the little bit of excess metal on the catch. This would be smooth or almost gone would the badge have been worn. So the theory of removed rust with a complete refinish does not seem to be very valid.

[Frank Heukemes]

Some areas are strangely "unpitted" and without any damage. I think this is not a typical modus operandi for rust.

[Frank Heukemes]

The shape of this pit seems to be untypical for rust:

[Frank Heukemes]

Pitting to sides, the rest (80%) of the sides are smooth.

[Philippe DB]

Dear Frank,

That type of pitting compares the best to the type of pitting on my M. Kunstoff spange. I know doesn't make much sence because that's a zinker, but the texture of the pitting is the same nonetheless. The only thing we know for sure is that these spanges were very late war. Another thing that I always found strange is that the silver finish in the pitting is still present, just like on your GAB.

KR
Philippe

[Peter Wiking]

Adding a few close ups of my magnetic GAB.
The first one is with the same type of "beard" at the tip of the catch, that Frank has on his.

Cheers.
Peter Wiking

[Peter Wiking]

Some pitting on the back:

[Peter Wiking]

Some pitting on the front:

[Peter Wiking]

Is it only me and Frank that have these magnetic GAB´s ?

Cheers.
Peter Wiking

[Tiger 1]

Tiger1.
That was interesting info. It sure looks like a low grade steel or some kind of iron in both Franks´s and my GAB´s. Maybee a very late war production.
Maybee the answer is simple. They simply had to use rusted and pitted steel plates for this batch of GAB´s. Same with the pin.

PS.
I still like the IAB and PAB quality better Please dont kill me for having that opinion

Cheers all.
Peter Wiking

Hello Peter,

Opinions are what makes collecting fun. There's no need to get killed over it. Maybe shot at on ocassion but certainly not killed.

I fully agree that the steel used was a lower grade. High quality steel was not necessary for badge production. Germany being a major steel producing and steel working nation would have a certain pride in their finished products. I have a bit of difficulty agreeing with your position that rusted and pitted steel was used for these badges. We then should see many examples of originally pitted and rusted Iron Cross cores. I think all would agree that there are many more EKs made than steel GABs. That rationale would bear up with many examples of pitted and rusted EKs straight from the factory. Even late war ones.

A further thought along these lines would be that medals and decorations were meant to reward achievement and to bolster morale. What message would rusted badges send the troops who earned them at the front. Certainly not one that they were supposedly winning and that they should endevour to further persevere.

I don't have the answer but just an opinion as to how I see it. I'm basing my opinion on what I have seen in the gun trade with various weapons that have been refinished at some time after initial production. You will also see similar results on edged weapons such as combat bayonets that have been chrome plated without being properly polished out.

Again I'm not trying to stir the pot for the sake of controvercy. But like Philippe mentioned the presence of plating in the bottom of the pits sure is strange.

All the best,

Tony

[Frank Heukemes]

Skip has one as well and has allowed me to post his pics. No pitting there:

[Frank Heukemes]

reverse

[Frank Heukemes]

Denis has one as well that he posted before. Hope this is ok Denis to repost your pics here in this thread!