New GWL Flak Badge Fake

[Alex K.]

Hi,
i am pretty sure there is a new GWL Flak Badge Fake out. Here are the scans of the piece i have in hand.

The weight is 29,95 gramms (my original badge: 27,83 gramms). Measurements of the wreath: 56,21 x 44,33 mm (Original: 56,67 x 44,61 mm)
In my opinion the material is not Zinc.

I found a similar badge on a website and the 2 pieces share the same bubbles and marks on the back.

Here are high-res scans:

Front: http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/1425/lwgwl1islg8.jpg
Back 1: http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/5739/lwgwl2iswy7.jpg
Back 2: http://img379.imageshack.us/img379/5695/lwgwl3isjz4.jpg

[Alex K.]

back 1

[Alex K.]

back 2

[Alex K.]

This is the badge i found in the net. Comparise the marks and bubbles on the reverse. They are the same.

[Alex K.]

2

[Alex K.]

3

[Lorenzo Brown]

Hi Alex..That is a very interesting badge and I will make a few observations without committing to whether it is fake or real:

I agree that the badge shares the same reverse die flaw characteristics as the second badge you found, however, the second badge has more acceptacle rivets. I don't see the same die flaws on an authentic GWL Flak.

The bubbling on the reverse appears on both badges, however, it is strange that on the large picture I don't see where any of these "bubbles" have been broken. This bubbling is caused by gases escaping the zinc and usually some of them will be broken.

The odd thing is that the cannon and eagle details look pretty good to me with some of the finer details showing up.

If it's a fake it is a damned good one. Need more opinions, but I think I would pass on that one.

[Marc Garlasco]

I would really like to have this one in hand. Very interesting. The most troubling issues for me are that there are no cracks in the base - would be the first GWL Flak I have ever seen without cracks in the base of the gun pedestal. Also, the reverse has much sharper edges than I expect in a GWL Flak. The metal does not look like zinc. But the obverse die looks to be spot on. Measurements seem well within norms, though I do not have mine handy and I am going by Alex's. I post the maker mark - the second one is a real GWL from my book. Now that I have examined them some more I really think the mm is bad, and the badge is a most excellent fake. Alex - might I use it for the book?

[IVAN]

Hi guys,

I think me too is not an original GWL, especially for bad rivets and eagle.