Weird IAB

[Thomas Durante]

Hi guys,

Here is an interesting IAB that popped up on Carsten Baldes' site yesterday, don't recall ever seeing this design before. It is pretty close to the F&CL IAB design, and has some nice detail, especially to the acorn caps, leaves, etc. The base metal looks correct zink and hinge seems like a typical wartime small block hinge. But the catch is certainly a red flag, not something used on wartime badges. Could be a repair on an original unknown IAB, or are we looking at a new fake here?

Tom

[Graeme]

Hi Tom


I think the badge is good, but "may" have had a catch replacement as you suggest.


These have shown up from time to time but usually with a question mark catch soldered directly to the badge. This raised hinge guide variant, as far as I know, is a recognised variant of the "FCL" design.


regards
Graeme

[Graeme]

Tom


I have just checked my collection and have this example:-


regards
Graeme

[Thomas Durante]

Hi Graeme,

Thanks for the reply and I think you are right, its an unmarked so-called F&CL. The badge in question matches yours and the few others I have on file as I look at it more closely. I think the head was throwing me off with this one, and then when I saw the catch I was quite skeptical.

Nice example you posted, this is a pretty uncommon variant as I only have a few of them on file.

Tom

[Gaspare]

Wow, thats it. Its a good piece?

The 2 badges are no where close to each other at all..

The first badge,,the legs looks weird. Detail over all is shallow. Catch not right as you observe.. Why not a fake?