Pilots badge question

[Vaughan]

I have just seen a pilots badge that I think has an Assman mark. The badge & case both look very old & there is much finish worn from the eagle particularly. on the high points & all finish has gone from the swaz. Where the finish has gone the metal underneath is black. It is this finish that concerns me though because I have not seen any images of an original badge with a gold finish on the eagle. The rivets are absolutely flush with the wreath & the catch is flat wire type. Difficult to say without pics I know, but does this sound as though it might be original or a very early fake?

Sorry i can`t give any more info

thanks

Vaughan

[Jeff V]

It sounds bad. If you can provide some pics it would help. best wishes,
jeff

[Rich G]

Where the finish has gone the metal underneath is black. It is this finish that concerns me though because I have not seen any images of an original badge with a gold finish on the eagle.

Vaughan, your description seems to contradict itself... you mention the finish is black then you say you're concerned about the finish being gold .

Rich

[Vaughan]

Gold eagle?

Sorry if I didn`t make it clear. The original finish of the eagle is in gold, there is considerable wear to that finish on the obverse & underneath the exposed areas the metal is (or has patinated to) black. Both badge & case exhibit considerable age.

If there is no known period badge with a gilted / gold eagle then this must be a reproduction. That is all I am trying to verify. I wish I could provide a pic but didn`t have my camera with me & I doubt that if I go back the owner will appreciate me doubting his assurance that it is genuine by asking to take pics for second opinions. If a gold eagle rules it out it would save me a lot of time. Edged weapons are my interest & so I don`t have any reference for badges, just thought it would look nice to display.

Thanks
Regards
Vaughan

[Mike Kenny]

Hi,

Vaughan, is the gold colour actual finish (ie something applied over basemetal) or is it the colour of the basemetal? Could a tombak eagle have been worn/polished back to basemetal and then patinaed black in places? Alternatively, an original badge may have been re-painted by someone who didn't know what they were doing for display purposes. Too hard to say withough pics and I would not write a badge off based on the info you're provided so far. It doesn't sound good though.

There was no official gold coloured eagle variation for either Pilot or Pilot-Observer Badges.

Regards
Mike

[Vaughan]

Thanks

many thanks for the information. the original finish is gold & 100% present on the reverse. I guess that really rules it out as genuine then but heck it`s a good repo. I`ll try & get a pic next time I go to town as I am sure that it will be of interest for reference purposes

Thank you again!

regards

Vaughan