Opinions on Luftwaffe GAB Ground Assault Badge

[Asterperious]

Hi everyone,

I posted this on the E-Stand and it was pointed out that it may be a Post War S&L fake. It came to me with decent provenance, but I'd like to see what you all think.

Thanks for any input!

[Asterperious]

Pics

[Sebastien T]

These eagle on LWGAB are fake

Seb

[Asterperious]

Thanks for the help!

[ENGLISH BOB]

Seb,
A lot of trouble to go too for a fake badge,I presume the eagle plate that is riveted should have nickel/chrome finish to it as opposed plain zinc?..

Cheers
Bob

[Sebastien T]

Hi Bob,

On original most eagle from LWGAB are riveted and you find either zinc or tombak eagle.

Seb

[Asterperious]

From what I was told it is a post war S&L which given the history of those badges (from what I've read) it kind of makes sense since I got it from a USGI and supposedly those badges were sold to them.

[ENGLISH BOB]

Hi Bob,

On original most eagle from LWGAB are riveted and you find either zinc or tombak eagle.

Seb

Hi Seb,
Thank you for the reply,to me this Zinc eagle looks separately affixed to the zinc frame,too much shadow running around the base of it,i was thinking the finish had been absorbed where as a tombac eagle would hold the finish very well..
Could you just clarify for me what you are seeing and i am not...thank you

Cheers
Bob

[Thomas Durante]

A common postwar S&L fake. There is no evidence to suggest S&L made the LGAB during the war; these badges do not appear on the postwar souvenier boards put together after the war by S&L, and the hardware on them has the "1957 scrape" on the pin suggesting they were likely made in the late 50s or early 60s.

S&L and Souval were the biggest suppliers of postwar fakes and souveniers after the war, so its no surprise we sometimes find their fakes directly from the hands of veterans.

Tom