Buntmetall IABs

[Frank Heukemes]

Dear Seba,

Beautiful JFS! I have this one as well, they are in most cases in mint to very good condition but I think they are actually zink with a very good bronze finish. At least that is what I assumed, my badge also shows no base metal.

Cheers, Frank H.

[Greg]

Echoing Frank, I think these nice bronze JFS IABs are actually zinc. Though my "minty" one shows no damage to the finish where I can see base metal. Paul Massucci showed one way back when we talked about these particular JFS badges; his had some finish deterioration and appeared to be zinc. (I can't find that thread in the archives, and the badge isn't on Paul's site.) I have a silver one (see the Image Gallery) that has some bubbling to the finish, and its base metal is zinc.

Regards,
Greg

[Sebastian Bianchi]

Oh, ok, great, thanks. I was actually thinking this morning as I posted this that one of the hardest things for me to learn was the different metals used and exactly how to tell them apart. I saw no bubbling, it was smooth, and it had all the finish so I thought I assumed it was not zinc (but we know what happens when you assume ). Tonight I will post more pictures of other IAB I have which (hopefully) will fit the criteria of this thread.

Seba

[Tony Barto]

I have one made from CUPAL if anyone would be interested in seeing it.

[Frank Heukemes]

Sure, Tony! And how do you know it is Cupal?

Cheers, Frank H.

[Luftm40]

Hi Frank, on mine the "spots" are actually the remains of silver polish, and areas where the finish has darkened. You can also see the buildup of polish between the swastika and rifle. The vet kept some of his medals in a glass case in his home, and I think this is the IAB he used for his display, as it has been repeatedly polished. You can also see where there was a frosted finish on it at one time, but most of it is worn off. Here are his other IABs, a zinc hollow one (probably one that was worn in the field, but not much to look at), and another high quality metal version made by the Vienna mint

[Luftm40]

Back

[Luftm40]

zinc front

[Bruce Simcox]

About JFS.....

.....when Mr. Paul Masucci had his sale, I ended up with his JFS IAB in bronze. It is definitely a wash over zinc.

Pictures later.

--------------------

Bruce

[Tony Barto]

Hi Frank;

I have to take some pix of it which will be in the next few days. It's the same type of material that Zimmerman used on their German Crosses which I believe is CUPAL. It's extremely light, you'd think that it was plastic but it isn't and the catch is attached like you'd see on a zinc badge with a base to the catch.

[Sebastian Bianchi]

I should have paid more attention. Here is a comparason shot between the rifle butts, and you can see a difference and slight bubbling in the JFS, while the FLL is totally smooth.

The FLL weights 32.7g.

To be perfectly clear, and for the benefit of those who (like me) didn’t always know; as I understand it, “buntmetall” is “bright metal”, a generic term to describe higher quality metals like nickel and tombac.

[Sebastian Bianchi]

FLL marked,

[Sebastian Bianchi]

back (catch repaired of course)

[Mark S.]

Thats one heavy IAB, Seba. What ever type of white metal that is made from is what I think my Aurich Heer Flak badge is made from, or very similiar, anyway.

Does anyone have pictures of the really early bronze IAB's that were stamped from sheet bronze? Last one I have seen for sale was on Mike Tucker's site a couple months ago.

[Bruce Simcox]

Picture #1

Here is my own JFS IAB.

-------------------------

Bruce