Rare PAB in silver

[Ljungberg]

Good afternoon gents!
I wonder if somebody could tell me how rare this one is.
Have a nice weekend
http://militaria-berlin.de/verkauf/n...untmetall.html

[Thomas Durante]

I would say quite rare, especially in that condition. Hardware is textbook and unmessed with too making it even more special IMO.

It would be exceedingly rare if it was a true brass/tombak example. Its so mint that I am not sure we can tell if its brass/tombak rather than a just heavily-coated zinker.

Tom

[Jelle M.]

You don't have much opportunities to aquire such a nice badge but the price is crazy.

[waterloo]

I think the price for the bronze GWL CCC is even crazier .
Best regards
waterloo

[vonStubben]

It's gone from the site. Anyone capture a photo of it?

[Jelle M.]

Here ya go... pics are still online.

[Jelle M.]

more

[Graeme]

Thanks for posting the pics, it looks a great badge

Ljungberg, never post links, they disappear over time.

best regards
Graeme

[Ljungberg]

Thanks so far. What do you think, is it zink that mr Durante mention (not saying)or tomback as described?

[Chet Sowersby]

A superb example. Having owned two of these I am of the opinion that even these examples of the early type hardware badges are made of zinc. The finish that was employed by this manufacture has well stood the test of time.
By the way, what was the asking price?

Chet

[Militaria-Berlin]

We both are pretty sure it's tombak, you can kinda see the yellow shimmer coming through. The directly soldered hinge and the way the hinge is attached, with no sign of solder spill, make a good case for that we feel.
It's also pretty analogue to the GWL IABs so why should this one be zinc?
Naturally it could be high quality, copper coated zinc but apart from damaging it I see no way to be absolutely certain.

[Chet Sowersby]

Militaria-Berlin,
If the buyer is happy with it who cares what it is made of? Opinions were asked and I offered mine,
By the way, what does this exmaple weigh?

Chet

[Militaria-Berlin]

Hi Chef,


Certainly you are entitled to your opinion and we both like to see healthy discussions about badges and the stuff we offer.
However, and probably unfortunately, many people base their decisions on what is written here, especially when it's from such experienced and respected collectors as Tom and yourself.

Toms and your comments that "we can't tell if it's zinc or brass" and yours that it's zinc have caused the buyer to reconsider his purchase if the badge is not made of tombak.

So there is somebody who cares and is now unsure if he's happy or not.


I'll get the weight on Monday when I'm back at the office.

[Thomas Durante]

Hi guys,

When it comes to GWL badges, it is very difficult to tell what the base metal is. They used a very high quality fine-zink on their early badges and they also used really good finishes which stand the test of time well. I have seen zink badges, with zinc-type reverse hardware that don't look like zink even when they are worn down on the obverse. Here is a good example, sold by Jamie Cross a few years back. Clearly a zink badge based on the reverse hardware setup, yet from the obverse it looks like a nickel-silver based badge when looking at the worn areas on the grenade head and bayonet tip. Certainly doesn't look like zinc to me, and that is because GWL used a very high quality fine zink on their early badges IMO.

Did GWL make some of their badges in tombak/nickel silver? It is certainly possible, I don't doubt that. And I have seen some badges that certainly look like they are made from brass or nickel silver, but in each of these cases, the finish is so minty and perfect that it is impossible to tell for sure what the base metal is.

If GWL did make a brass/nickel Silver PAB, then the one sold by Militaria Berlin would be the best candidate for it. The particular reverse hardware setup, with small sheet metal hinge and crescent-moon catch soldered directly to the reverse are good indicators of a brass/nickel silver base metal IMO. It is one I would certainly add to the collection if I had the chance, simply due to the quality of the finish and hardware is intact. This is what I have told the buyer when he PM'd me yesterday.

Skip, if the sale falls through, I am sorry to hear it. But I suspect that there will still be a line of replacement buyers for this badge because it is no doubt early, good quality hardware and gorgeous finish.

Tom

[Christopher G.]

There is a large price difference if this badge is zinc or tombak. So if i were the buyer i would want to be damn sure its tombak if that is what i am paying for. Nice badge btw...

Regards,
Chris G.