Cut-Out IAB in silver

[schwelch]

Hi guys,

thanks again for your comments - much appreciated!!!
@Norm: thanks for the explication!!! I can't see any silver coating under the frosted finish, I still think that the frosted finish is directly on the base material.

Best regards
Sven

[Norm F]

@Norm: thanks for the explication!!! I can't see any silver coating under the frosted finish, I still think that the frosted finish is directly on the base material.

Best regards
Sven

Thanks for checking, Sven. It's interesting because Dan's previously posted very lightly worn example of the same type of badge clearly shows the difference between the white frosting and a silvered undercoating.

But I love the wear and patina on yours. Great character.

Best regards,
---Norm

[schwelch]

Hi Norm,

maybe you are right. If you have this IAB in hands you can see a silver glimmer on the swastika and on the rifle. I just can't say for sure if this is the patinated frosted finish or a silver undercoating.
There are no areas with a different silver on the IAB. It's the white frosted finish or the dark patinated area.
Sorry that I'm not a big help! :-(

Best regards
Sven

[Norm F]

Sorry the photos aren't great on this one but it still illustrates the point. Here's the corresponding PAB by the same maker. Shows the residual white frosting in the recesses, the worn silvered undercoating and some raw Tombak in the worn highlights. You can see how the silvered area has a very dark patina in areas but on the polished margins and highlights looks silver again.

Best regards,
---Norm

[schwelch]

Hi Norm,

I agree with you that my IAB looks the same like the PAB, but is it sure that there is a silver coating under the frosted finish on the PAB or is it just the used and patinated look of the frosted finish? That's the point where I'm not sure.

Best regards
Sven

[Norm F]

...but is it sure that there is a silver coating under the frosted finish on the PAB or is it just the used and patinated look of the frosted finish? That's the point where I'm not sure.

Hi Sven,

I understand your question now. But frosting doesn't patinate - it can become dull and flat but remains white. We see this all the time on the Minesweeper badges where the central water column and the entire reverse are silvered and then frosted. The frosting wears off quickly and is often completely gone from the obverse.

The layers are seen even better on your other P&L-attributed IAB with the presumably later setup, that you posted previously (details attached). And you can see how some areas of the silvered undercoat on the reverse have patinated to black.

Best regards,
---Norm

[schwelch]

Hi guys,

thanks again for your kind comments - much appreciated!!!
@Norm: Thanks again for all your explanations!!! On my other example it's clearly visible that two different silver finishes were used. On my new one it's not that visible but it can be as well. Unfortunately I don't have a lot of experience with the aging process of the different finishes.

Best regards
Sven