Luft GCB, wreath silver or not

[Frank Heukemes]

In the recent thread about Osang Luft ground combat badges, we started a discussion whether the wreaths on Osangs or Luft ground combat badges in general were always silver or sometimes "subdued".

This is a very interesting GCB I recently acquired. It is maker marked GB (Gustav Brehmer) and is in mint condition. At least it is unworn and in pristine condition, save for some parts on the reverse where the finish of the badge lost some of its satin shine.

It conforms with other GBs I have seen in form and seems to be made of Feinzink. Characteristic for GBs is a small design mistake. If you draw in your mind a vertical line through the obverse in the middle of the badge, then the wreath band is out of center (to the right). That´s the same for all GB GCBs and can also be seen on this badge.

However, the whole badge has the same dark grey finish all over. A "normal" GCB from GB has a silver finish wreath and silver lightning outlines. Also, normally the applicated eagle has a silver finish or is made from some metal that looks "silvery". This badge has an eagle application made of brassy metal with some sort of "patina laquer" over it.

Hinge, pin catch are bright silver.

I have no doubts the badge is original. Your comments, please!

Somebody posted two GBs recently, can´t remember who it was. Could this member or any other GB GCB owner please come forward and post a "textbook" GB to compare?

Cheers, Frank H.

[Frank Heukemes]

reverse

[Frank Heukemes]

Comment: The colour of the upper half of the reverse is the actual colour of the WHOLE badge, also obverse. The scans give the badge what appers to be different shades of grey. That is not the case in reality. Also the area around the catch is just more glossy, but has the same grey colour.

The brassy eagly is darker in reality.

The mark:

[Frank Heukemes]

catch

[Frank Heukemes]

I adjusted contrast and colours a bit here, so you can see what the true colours of the badge are. This is very close to reality:

[Lorenzo Brown]

Hi Frank. Aside from the dark wreath and unfinished eagle, the badge has a "machined" appearance...too "fresh" looking to me. The eagle lacks in design details and is "soft" looking...not a crisp, sharp strike.

Your description that it has a "satin sheen" and a "patina lacquer" make it sound like it could be a modern souvenier piece.

Overall it looks suspicious to me. BTW- There is a very good fake of the 3-rivet "RK" badge that also has a dark wreath finish like this one. It's also very well made.

[Frank Heukemes]

Dear Lorenzo,

To be honest, I kind of share your thoughts. But yet, I do not want to give this badge up so easily. I do not have good images of other GBs to compare to, just the ones that I will use here below in that comparison. It would be great if the forum member whose pics I have used could come forward and provide me with better pics (or anybody else with a GB). I want to look for characteristics that are possibly common among these badges.

If one takes a look at the blurry comparison below, the perfect matches in form are apparent. Badge in question is on top. Middle badge even has the same catch. Eagle looks to be different in badge 2 and 3. Less pronounced lines, but possibly more detail.

This badge is either a good repro or a GB in an excellent condition. I would like to look a bit more into it before I return it. Anybody can help me with comments or pics of GBs?

Cheers, Frank H.

[Frank Heukemes]

some more structure details of badge in question. Any comments?

[Frank Heukemes]

more detail

[Dirk]

RK Dark Wreath

Edit

[Lorenzo Brown]

Hi Frank. I don't have a GB in hand to compare to, but from the scans, I would agree with you that the badge looks identical in form to the other GBs posted...except for the eagle.

But this gives rise to another question...How are the eagles on these GBs attached? Are they soldered? I thought that Ground Assault badges had either 1, 2 or 3 rivets holding the eagle on...except for the one-piece zinc badges. This would be especially true when the eagle is a different material (tombak or nickel-silver) than the badge (zinc).

The one shown is strange that a buntmetal eagle is not riveted to the zinc base. How about the 2nd two examples...are the eagles zinc or buntmetal? They also lack rivets which implies that they are either one-piece or were soldered to the badge. Curious.

[stogieman]

Silver wreath

Hi Frank, I was looking through a translation of Doehner's 1942 book on German medals, decorations and badges, and it states that these (by specification) had a silver wreath with darkened insert) Have not seen one before with it all dark. Interesting!

[spectre]

The other two badges posted are mine. The brighter one came from the SOS and the other from Manions (1986). GB was the only ones to solder their eagles on ground assaults. I will try and email Frank the bitmap versions of my badges. Those pictures are sharper but huge to download here.

Alan

[Frank Heukemes]

Dear Alan,

That would be great. Please use this adress:

frank.heukemes@freenet.de

I will then make another detailed comparison. This is really important to me and I am glad you can help.

@Lorenzo: Yes, GBs had no rivets, eagle always soldered on.

Cheers, Frank H.

[IVAN]

Hi dear Frank,

I see your badge.

Sorry but I have some doubts about it.
Never I have seen one with this strange eagle and a zinc old 60 years so shining.

I thought cannot be a variant of GB.

Even you are right to said no problem in the reverse with hinge-catch, the very good silvering remain is incoherent with the total vanished silver in the wreath's front.

just my modest opinion.

sincerely
Ivan