TANK Badge with cutout above grass

[Sgt Heat]

Hi,
what can you tell me about this badge?
I've seen Junkers with the cut out but
is this a Junker?
What is the value on one like this?

Joe

[rbminis]

It looks to be a St. & L
Ralph.

[Sgt Heat]

is that Steinhauer and Luck then?

[rbminis]

is that Steinhauer and Luck then?

Yes.
Ralph.

[Chet Sowersby]

It is a early tombac example by S&L. A very nice example.

Chet

[Sgt Heat]

thanks. All the cut out ones I've seen are Junkers I think. Are these S&L PABs very comon?

[Sgt Heat]

were these CUT OUT badges cut out by jewelers or done at the factory?

[rbminis]

were these CUT OUT badges cut out by jewelers or done at the factory?

I would say likely field level or jeweler. Definitely not at the factory.
Maybe last week, without photographic evidence, you never know.
Ralph.

[Sgt Heat]

the seem so consistent in style of cut, one with grass and the next with no grass so perhaps a special order option (early in the war?) from factory or one or two large jeweler/retailers?

[Bruce Simcox]

Hi Sgt Heat

......All of the suggestions offered, by yourself and the members that responded to your question, are possible.

However, since nary a one of us could have been present when these cut-outs were made, to any particular badge, we'll never really be able to state with absolute authority that such a badge was altered during the TR era.

But wait! On the other hand, if one had rock solid provenance that the badge came from the vet that received it, and it was proven that he ordered the alteration, then perhaps one could honestly claim the alteration had been done during wartime.

Fortunately there is photographic evidence of these badges in wear, so we do know that this practice took place during the war years....and probably beyond.

[Thomas Durante]

Hi Joe,

Gorgeous early S&L in nicely worn condition. These cutouts were definitely not factory done, rather done by the recipients and typically with early panzer crews which yours certainly fits the bill. Nice, early high quality hollow badge.

Tom

[robert]

Nice badge. How scarce is the cutout on an S&L?

[Thomas Durante]

Nice badge. How scarce is the cutout on an S&L?

I would say its relatively rare. Typically you see it on Juncker badges because they were the first PABs issued to the Panzer crews. S&L, Deumer and a few other early makers soon followed and you can find cut outs on these too, but much less common than Juncker IMO.

Tom

[Sgt Heat]

How common or rare is an early S&L like this without the cut out then? How would it value out relative to an early Junker?

[Chet Sowersby]

An early type example such as this is difficult to come by but by no means rare. Some collectors may place more value on it than others considering it is a cutout. There is ample photographic evidence to show this was done early on in the war prior to the institution of the numbered badges. As Tom mentioned Junkers are more commonly encountered than other the other makers. There are also cutout zincers about. I would consider them to be more "rare" (hate that word) than the early buntmetal badges. Still, yours is a beautiful example and I'm sure you've had many offers to purchase it already.

Chet