Bronze GAB?

[Stepdale]

Hello,
Picked this one up at the SoS. Thought about it for a day and finally decided I had to buy it. Fully original as far as I can tell, and never had a silver finish that I can find evidence of. Also, it appears to have a bronze finish to it, not a coppery coat that may have been applied prior to the final silver wash, but not my area of expertise to make a final determination. Came from a dealer who said he got it in a veteran returned lot from a hotel buy. Sorry for the quick pictures in full daylight, but I'm always in a rush these days it seems.
Thank you,
Dale

[Stepdale]

a

[Stepdale]

b

[Stepdale]

c

[Stepdale]

d

[DaveJ]

I have one from a different maker that was a known maker of GABs confirmed by a really versed badge guy. There is no explanation for them.

[Werner.L]

Original GAB attributed to R.K IMO.

[Bruce Simcox]

Hi guys

......One should be careful with these badges. It seems that they are appearing more frequently than in past years, and by differing manufacturers. Are we seeing the tip of an emerging iceberg? I'm curious as to just how many different bronze GAB's are really around.

Personally, I consider them as mere curiosities. Unless some really rock solid, indisputable evidence is revealed to demonstrate that bronze GAB's are wartime then, to me, they fit into a class somewhere below that of the Balloon badge.

A nice looking badge to be speculated about.

[Stepdale]

Thanks all. I saw the recent threads and knew there is a lot of controversy, but when I saw it I just couldn't get it out of my head that I needed to get it just to have as Gablonz badges are my main focus.

[RKC]

Congratulations Dale .. A very nice award as it stands.


Ron.

[Tony Bologna]

I would think this one is a fake. Even though the horizontal lines appear on good hinges, I would note a curious similarity between the hinge on this one and a fake PAB reviewed here just the other day: http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=953269

[Giel VW]

Hi Dale,

I'm sorry I didn't meet up with you anymore at the SOS. Imo this is not an original piece, like Tony says. The obverse is a lot softer than variants I'm used to.

[Stepdale]

Well, now you've got me worried as to date the fakes I've seen have been cast from originals and the hardware has not been truly crimped in like on originals. I have a return privilege so I'm not worried about that, but the fakes on even common badges like this have gotten so good that it's increased my paranoia to the point that I almost don't want to collect anymore.
Dale

[Stepdale]

Still hoping the guru of all things badges will chime in here eventually!

[Stepdale]

Anybody else want to comment before I return it to the seller?
Thank you,
Dale