Heer Flak Badges

[Steve Conway]

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone can tell me what the finish on a Heer Flak badge is supposed to look like in mint condition, I have a Heer Flak which appears to be black or very dark grey.

IAB's, GAB's and PAB's are fairly obvious in that they were made with a silver or bronze finish but I can't quite work out whether the finish on my Heer Flak has been absorbed by the badge or whether it is supposed to be a black/dark grey finish.

Any help appreciated.

Regards

Steve

[stewy]

Either the finish has gone or I think Hermann Aurich did produce a very dark Heer Flak. Stewy.

[Steve Conway]

Hi Stewwy,

So what is the finish supposed to be, is it silver wash/brenlac?

Regards

Steve

[stewy]

That I can't tell you. The dark Aurich Heer flak's I've seen are almost an "oil wash". Tom D can sum it up a lot better than me. Stewy

[JJS]

Steve
Who is maker of your badge? Aurich finished their Heer flak badges in a glossy jet black color. Some other heer flak badge makers also on occasion finished their badges with a very dark finish like S&L, Forster & Barth, Funk & Bruninghaus, Souval and the maker of the pillow crimp badge. I would stress that not all heeresflaks of all the above makers came out of the factories black. But some examples from each maker had very dark finishes applied to them.
See Marc Garlasco's book.
JJS

[Nick Carraway]

All colors and finishes from bright silver plate to darkest brenlack

[Tony]

Great Army Flak collection Nick

Tony

[Steve Conway]

Photos of my Flak

Hi, Thanks for the pics and advice, I have my awards in picture frames and they aren't easy to photograph behind glass so I have taken the FLAK out to photo it. I have no idea of the maker, I bought this off e-stand about 2009.

It is not as black as it appears when next to PABs, GABs and IABs, it actually appears to be dark grey although whether this is the finish or whether the zinc has absorbed it I don't know.

Once again any help appreciated.

Regards

Steve

[stewy]

It's an S&L. Stewy

[Nick Carraway]

Indeed an original S&L whose finish I believe is gone but still a very nice original