About a Coastal Artillary badge I had for review..

[Van]

Hi all, last week I put up a Coastal Artillary badge for review that got good aproval and possible attribute to S&L, Well today I was getting ready to post it up for sale and was looking at it with a magnifiying glass to give a description of it and noticed some pitting... could you guys tell me if this is pitting from corrossion or from being cast.. I appreciat any help... thanks
this is the link from where it was discussed and I am adding some close up shots(as close as I can get) of the pitting.
Van
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=205916
I cant see the pitting with the naked eye..

[Van]

the pitting is along the gun breach and the gun housing but no where else on the badge.

[Mike Kenny]

Hi Van,

Some general observations/comments.

Regarding the hinge on this example, I'm sure a faker operating in California (?80s) used this style of folded hinge to complete his "work" BUT the badges were relatively crude castings. I think your badge exhibits the correct basemetal colour and finish remnants and has fairly crisp details, so I do not think your badge is one of the fakes.

Regarding pitting, sometimes it might have been possible in a genuine die-cast badge. I would probably come down to metal temperatures and imperfections. Someone with a metallurgical/engineering background will have to comment in more detail.

The other thing to keep in mind about pitting, especially on zinc KM badges, is that these may have genuinely been exposed to salt water when worn, which can definitely pit a genuine badge. Not all pitting means casting! I have a well worn but imo salt-water pitted RS E-boat badge in my collection that is 100% genuine.

Salt water pitting tends to effect a badge over it's entire area though, not limited to certain areas/recesses as in your example. My guess is that your badge is only exhibiting a production imperfection of some sort, but is not indicative of a cast repro in this case - when all other factors from the badge are taken into account.

Regards
Mike

[Van]

Exellent reply Mike, Thank you. Ill give a day or two more and then put on the Estand..
Van