Strange IAB Badge

[EDcollectibles]

hey guys
I picked this one up and I have gotten good reviews about it and some didnt like it, whats strange with this one as well is it has a weird mark stamped into it that no one can determine what it is or why but it looks to have been in there for a long time. All comments are welcome and maybe we can sort this out. Thanks.

[EDcollectibles]

some more pics.

[EDcollectibles]

yet 2 more

[Thomas Durante]

Hey Doug,

Very interesting badge indeed. Looks like a perfectly fine and original ShuCo-design IAB. Don't know what to make of that maker mark though, its a first for me. The mark looks nice and deep, not what you would expect from a dealer doing this postwar to increase its value. Could be some type of maker mark, or distribution mark.

Tom

[Panzercracker]

I wouldn't...

That finish is not one I'd like to see on a Heubach badge. Too many 1sts here. Looks like someone decided to add a spurious hallmark to add "justification" to the "legitimacy" of the "finish". No way. Sorry.

[Panzercracker]

Lastly...

It looks like a cheap spray paint job to me.

[Panzercracker]

Wear???

I will post pics with arrows if I have to, but there is absolutely no "wear" or even "patina" for that matter on the hardware in the "right" places.

[Panzercracker]

Eight Ball?

The guy selling these late war refurbished badges has used a nice little analogy with the "8" ball hallmark because he can turn a $99.00 badge into a $199.00 or more in a short period of time. A little acetone test might do the trick, but not fail safe, as he may have "cooked" the "finish" on on low heat for a little while.

[EDcollectibles]

Hey Doug,

Very interesting badge indeed. Looks like a perfectly fine and original ShuCo-design IAB. Don't know what to make of that maker mark though, its a first for me. The mark looks nice and deep, not what you would expect from a dealer doing this postwar to increase its value. Could be some type of maker mark, or distribution mark.

Tom

Hi Tom
thanks for your answer, I got this badge in a pile of stuff with other items and I kind of liked the hardware set up and the look to it but the mark really threw me off. I really dont know what to think. I do apprciate the input and for you taking the time to take a look