GAB Hollow Back. OK? Maker?

[sb98]

Hi Guys,

Does this badge look ok to you? It appears to be a plated piece. There are just a few tiny spots of tombak / copper color showing through at the eagle's eyebrow and his claw on the right. The area between the swaz and the bayonet and grenade is not cut-out. The catch opens to the left and is on a little round plate. It's a well made piece and looks like it has honest wear. I made these pics with my scanner. I can take a side shot showing the pin and catch with a digital camera later today if it helps. If it's good, any idea who made it?

Thanks,
Tim

[Philippe DB]

Hi Tim,


I'm afraid that a copy made by the same guys responsible for several IAB's, PAB's and Destroyer badges. The easiest way to recognize them besides there crude look is the ever returning identical set-up.

Here is another of their GAB's


KR
Philippe

[Philippe DB]

reverse

[Philippe DB]

A PAB by the same bad guys

[Philippe DB]

and their attempt with a destroyer

[sb98]

Thanks Philippe,

I knew it wouldn't take long to find out what this is. That's definately from the same family. It looks like what I took as wear was detail that just wasn't there to begin with.

Cheers,
Tim

[Edward]

Hello Phillipe,

Could you please tell me how long the specific example shown of the fake hollow back silver PAB has been around on the market? I would be interested to know as I have a somewhat similar PAB which I purchased in Germany over 32 years ago. I have never been certain as to the originality of the piece. Unfortunately I do not yet have a scanner to show pictures. Any reply would be most appreciated. Thank you in advance.

Regards

[Chet Sowersby]

Hi Tim.
When viewing this type of GAB the thing sets off bells for me is that the bayonet and gernade are out of porportion to the rest of the badge. To my knowledge hollowbacks should be cut out between the eagle and the two above items.

Chet

[sb98]

Hi Chet,

I see the same thing wrong with Philippe's scan of the PAB, at least from the back. It looks like it is not cut out between the backside of the turret and the wreath. I think I had one of these from a Cave Creek guy in the early days of ebay. It went right back.

The destroyer badge - yuck.

Tim

[Philippe DB]

Hello Phillipe,

Could you please tell me how long the specific example shown of the fake hollow back silver PAB has been around on the market?
Regards

Sorry Edward but that's a question I can't answer. However 32 years ago would put it right in the golden age of reproductions.

Rest assured they are copies. The original maker of this PAB variant was the most versatile of all PAB manufacturers with variants in white metall, messing, kupal, and zinc both hollow and massive. This creation doesn't fit it anywhere.

KR
Philippe

[Edward]

Sorry Edward but that's a question I can't answer. However 32 years ago would put it right in the golden age of reproductions.

Rest assured they are copies. The original maker of this PAB variant was the most versatile of all PAB manufacturers with variants in white metall, messing, kupal, and zinc both hollow and massive. This creation doesn't fit it anywhere.

KR
Philippe

Hello Phillipe,

Thank you very much for another informative post. I did not realize that the early 70's was considered such a golden time for reproductions...good stuff to know.

Regards

[Edward]

Sorry Edward but that's a question I can't answer. However 32 years ago would put it right in the golden age of reproductions.

Rest assured they are copies. The original maker of this PAB variant was the most versatile of all PAB manufacturers with variants in white metall, messing, kupal, and zinc both hollow and massive. This creation doesn't fit it anywhere.

KR
Philippe

Hello Phillipe,

Thank you very much for the informative post. I did not realize that the early 70's was known as the golden age of reproductions...interesting to know, and very true there were alot of repros of all different types of stuff back then.

Regards

[sb98]

I did not realize that the early 70's was known as the golden age of reproductions...interesting to know, and very true there were alot of repros of all different types of stuff back then.

And now these old fakes have genuine age to them. It can be hard to tell if something is 35 years old or 65 years old sometimes (I'm starting to feel that way too). Then they get mixed in with good pieces and re-surface for sale from an "old collection" adding to the confusion. Luckily most fakes weren't as good then as they've become lately.
Tim