stamped Bonze GAB? real/variant?

[nonameno]

Hello,
What is the Forum's opinion on the stamped bronze General Assault badge?
Thanks,
Curtiss

[VonLuger]

Since a Bronze Grade did not exsist, a hollow buntmetal with no silver finish is a possibility...pictures would be helpful

[nonameno]

Hopefully the back of the badge.
I realize an official bronze did not exist, and it does not appear to have ever had a silver wash on it. The speculation would be, if original, that it would be a prototype when there would have been a silver and a bronze grade as in the infantry and panzer assaults.
Thanks,
Curtiss

[Philippe DB]

Hi Curtiss,


Jeff is correct, this is a buntmetall badge with all finish gone or more likely an example that never received any finish. What you see is just the bare bade metal. However hard deep would scratch it the color will always stay the same.

KR
Philippe

[nonameno]

Hello Philippe and Jeff,
Thank you for your responses. This badge was for sale on a website. The seller does not think there is any silver finish or ever was. Does this badge have a lesser value than one which would have a silver finish?
Thank you,
Curtiss

[Philippe DB]

Does this badge have a lesser value than one which would have a silver finish?
Thank you,
Curtiss

Hi Curtiss,

IMO it indeed has a lesser value, because at best it never received finish and as such represents something that was never awarded in this form.

KR
Philippe

[Frank Heukemes]

Hi Curtiss,

I believe your seller is wrong. This badge had a silver finish. Some GABs of this type darken very much and they look almost black. The badge you are looking at is a combination of darkened silver finish and strong wear. These hollow GABs are quite early, feature the "Frank & Reif-style" catch and also have some Frank & Reif related traits (like the "baggy" shoulders), but are not the same as the common Frank & Reif hollow and massive GABs. So maybe a first design or a maker that was in some way related to Frank & Reif. These early GABs come in nickel silver and Tombak. Here is my nickel silver example of this very type:

[Frank Heukemes]

rev

[Frank Heukemes]

Here is another one made of Tombak. See how it darkened in the recesses. You can see the Tombak coming through here and there. Imagine this one with heavy wear and that is what your seller has. This type of GAB is extremely hard to find if your are going to collect different makers of GABs.

[Frank Heukemes]

reverse

[Philippe DB]

Dear Frank,

Talking about F&R, look at this one, nikel silver with a round wire catch. Remember we saw the same use of round wire catches on "difficult to attribute" F&R design PAB's and IAB's

KR
Philippe

[Philippe DB]

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