RK PAB - so ugly it's beautiful

[pavels_2005]

Hi All,

interesting thread! I think the quality inspector in RK factory was not very strict or maybe his glasses were not clean :-) I already noticed that especially the late ware examples of RK badges were not made with high quality. Worn dies, lost of details, sharp and not clean edges. See an example of RK GAB + PAB with not cut area from my database. It was clearly finished ( complete silver coating ) but has a similar quality problem as the PAB that Dale posted.

Best regards
Pavel

[pavels_2005]

1

[pavels_2005]

Another example of RK PAB with problematic barrel area....

[Stepdale]

Nice examples of badges that made it past the inspector, especially that nicely chromed first one you posted. I suspect that as the war progressed poorly for the Germans, especially by late 44 and early 45, the Gablonz makers were almost overwhelmed with orders to meet the military's need for badges. That coupled with the shortage of manpower would explain the degradation in quality standards.

[Wiking44]

Nice examples of badges that made it past the inspector, especially that nicely chromed first one you posted. I suspect that as the war progressed poorly for the Germans, especially by late 44 and early 45, the Gablonz makers were almost overwhelmed with orders to meet the military's need for badges. That coupled with the shortage of manpower would explain the degradation in quality standards.

That and the incessant bombing and advancing of Allied armies on every front!