Badges with partially scooped backs confusion

[Tony & Kaiser]

I am hoping to get some of my confusion cleared up about badges with partially scooped backs.
 I have searched this Forum until near blindness, and read the Badge Construction Techniques page many times.  As well written as that is, it really could use an update with more images.

It is the slightly hollow badges with partially scooped backs that confuse me, PAB, GAB, IAB. The shape seems to indicate they are injection cast into a two-piece die possibly? On a flat-backed badges I would expect to see shear marks from the shearing die, but on these scooped-out badges there are usually little seams around the voided areas, especially on the inside, which would seem to indicate injection. If anyone would be kind enough to explain how these were made I would appreciate it.

[Lj90]

Hi,
The ‘scooped back’ was a result of die forging. I believe they changed to die casting later in the war to keep the costs as low as possible. I know a lot of later war badges were stamped also, and were made of a thinner sheet metal.
The ‘seams’ you mentioned are sheer marks that were partially disguised by hand and can be hard to spot sometimes. They are more apparent on the inner areas that are harder to reach so to speak, but under close inspection the lines are most certinaly visible.
‘Scooped back’ badges can sometimes have small imperfections to the surface also.
As you could imagine, this industry is a competitive one and each maker would strive to have the best badges, making each one unique in quality and collectibility.
Casted badges tend to have ejection marks on them. In light of cost saving, I’m guessing they weren’t particular about this as they are on the reverse of the badge and and the overall process was cheaper.
Hope this helps and I’m sure the experts here who know a lot more than me will contribute soon

[Tony & Kaiser]

Thank you very much for clearing this up for me.

What was confusing me, was so many I see for sale are described as "die struck" which made no sense to me as they are thick, and die struck would simple not be possible. Thank you again, and now I can begin my search for a nice Frank & Reif GAB with more confidence.

Appreciate it!

[Lj90]

Thank you very much for clearing this up for me.

What was confusing me, was so many I see for sale are described as "die struck" which made no sense to me as they are thick, and die struck would simple not be possible. Thank you again, and now I can begin my search for a nice Frank & Reif GAB with more confidence.

Appreciate it!

I wish you all the best in your collecting
Die forging or “striking” did indeed produce the thicker more complex shaped badges. Die stamped pieces tend to show the impression of the obverse on the reverse due to the thinner metal. Die forged pieces usually have a solid or semi-hollow reverse.
Casted pieces are similar to die forged but have the added advantage of allowing things like the catch for example, to be casted into the badge itself. This is opposed to fitting them later on as in die forged badges.

Wound badges are a brilliant starting point to help understand how the processes work and what the results of each look like