IAB in silver - is it good?

[Yuri D.]

Clearing out remnants of my old collection. Is this IAB genuine?

Thank you.

[Yuri D.]

Photos of hinge and catch:

[Norm F]

Hi Yuri,

I know nothing about IABs and probably have no business commenting as a KM guy, but the details and finish of that badge look like pure Staegemeir to me.

I'm sure some Heer guys will chip in shortly.

Best regards,
---Norm

[Thomas Durante]

Hi Yuri,

I too am very suspicious of this one. It is either a Staegemeir fake, or an original that has had new hinge, pin and catch installed and refinished with a weird gold plating.

Tom

[Yuri D.]

It's actually all bright silver colored. The gold effect is reflection.

[Thomas Durante]

Either way Yuri, it is not the type of finish used by S&L during the war IMO.

Tom

[Norm F]

...and refinished with a weird gold plating.

Tom

Hi Tom,

You can tell from the lower part of the photos that the finish is silver coloured -- I believe the gold tinge comes from the reflection of yellowish indoor lighting.

Best regards,
---Norm

Edit: Yikes, the messages were coming fast and furious rendering my comment obsolete! Please ignore.

[scott3000]

I have to agree, its at the least a refinished badge

[Graeme]

Hi Yuri

Too many issues with this one for me.

The hinge and catch are usually crimped in. The catch is definitely not as originals and the hinge has been soldered on, and not at time of manufacture, as you can see the mark from the original tension hook.

The fact that the edges of the wreath, inside and out, are not nice and neat, makes me feel this is a copy, having the hinge and catch soldered on after.

Check out the outline of the wreath on this worn bronze example.

best regards
Graeme

[Norm F]

The hinge and catch are usually crimped in. The catch is definitely not as originals and the hinge has been soldered on, and not at time of manufacture, as you can see the mark from the original tension hook.

Exactly, typical features of a cast reproduction, much like Staegemeir's earlier attempts to mimic the look of "crimped" badges. So in this case the soldering was indeed done at the time of manufacture, and the old crimp bases and tension foot marking were duplicated by the casting before the hardware was soldered on and a lovely silver finish applied.

Best regards,
---Norm

[Graeme]

Hi Norm

I agree with you.

My comment about the hinge and catch not being applied at the time of manufacture was meant for those that thought that the body of the badge might be original. It is not always easy to determine from pics.

From my other comments in the thread, you can see that I also felt that the badge was fake.

regards
Graeme