Souval PAB

[Gorg]

Hello,

Can you tell me if this Souval PAB is common or not? I'm looking on the web, I cannot find a similar one with so much color remaining.
I have no doubt about its originality, that's the 1st type, and both flaw are present (7 on wing, and material close to the cross).

Thanks mate.

Gorg.

[Thomas Durante]

Hi Gorg,

Not necessarily a rare PAB to find, but in that condition its pretty hard to come across. Usually Souval's are pretty faded and this one has some really nice finish remaining. Ofcourse with Souval its difficult to be sure when it was made or finished given their postwar activities, but as far as I am concerned yours is a fine, wartime compatible example.

Tom

[Gorg]

Hi Thomas,

The only one similar I can see is the PAB in the De Bock's book. The 1st time I saw this one, I expected it was a copy due to this "strange" copper color, and because the 2nd PAB sold with it was a known fake...
I never saw any other badge with such a color
I prefer mint badges, but I think I'll keep this one for a while

Gorg.

[stewy]

Nice one Gorg. Looks ok to me. Any chance of a pic of the makers mark please. Just to see how the R Souval flaw progressed. The PKA & ISA had declining makers marks over time. Kind regards, Stewy

[Gorg]

Here's the picture. The R is ok to me, the flaw is more on the S for what I can see.

Gorg.

[stewy]

Thanks for the pic Gorg. Stewy

[Gorg]

No problem! With 5Mo picture, that's easy to cut any pic to have a close up without taking another pic!

Gorg.

[stewy]

That's it Gorg, far too technical for me. I'm lost, thanks again for the pic though. Stewy

[Chet Sowersby]

Gorg,
You spoke of a example that showed a "coppery" finish. Some silver wartime zinc Souval examples did receive a copper coating prior to the finish being applied. Those silver wartime examples held their finish much better than the strictly zinc examples. I have never seen a wartime bronze example that had received a copper coating. I'm sure there are some just the same.
On another note and this is JMO, I would stay away from examples that are described as "wartime compatible". For a example such as this which is common as dirt you would be better suited to purchase another example.

Chet

[Gorg]

Hi Chet,

The coppery finish is what I think to be the best to describe its color. All I can say is this badge's color is perfectly textbook (p488).

I understand your opinion, but that way you won't ever have any Souval award. This set up is referenced as the set up of the earlier Souval PAB badges. I understand that the "smile" design can be suspicious because it's produced at the end or jsut after the war. But this one was made during 42-43. Why Souval would try to produce earlier PAB when he already has everything to produce PAB now?

Gorg.