Gwl Maker Mark

[Joseph D'Errico]

Hello Gentleman,

I am currently shopping a GWL Para badge. Badge appears to be a nice honet example, BUT, on the maker mark wich is correct; lthe example lacks the die flaw (broken circle) at 7 o' clock. Can someone post a pic or comment on this.


Best Regards,
JD

[Yuri D.]

I have seen all types of GWL badges without the flaw. I'd say about 1 in 10 do not have the flaw from what I have observed.

Yuri

[Joseph D'Errico]

Hello Yuri,

Here are some pics

[ERIC S.]

Hi Joe,
They unquestionably exist without the flaw. The ones that have the flaw are the more common, the ones you see most. If the rest of the badge has all the GWL traits and this is the only thing you see "different" from the norm, I wouldn't worry about it.
Here's the GWL Flak Badge I recently picked up from Jos which has the unflawed mark you speak of.
ERIC

[Joseph D'Errico]

Hi Again,

Having a little trouble with the pics. Here is the Obverse.

Thanks,
JD

[Joseph D'Errico]

The Reverse

[ERIC S.]

Right on the money, Joe. Great finish too!
ERIC

[Yuri D.]

Very nice original badge. Standard zinc GWL with most of its finish intact.

Yuri

[skip]

Great badge Joe, also one that I am looking for, hard to find these GWLs.
So you were the lucky guy that grabbed the JMME observermoremad
Rats!!! to late again.

Skip

[Lorenzo Brown]

I think that the "broken circle" only appears on GWL Pilot, Observer and Pilot-Observer badges. I have never seen it on any other type of badge. The break in the stamp occurred over-time, so the earlier badges don't have it.

[Lorenzo Brown]

What is interesting is that GWL Erdkampf and Flak badges seem to have their own distinctive "flaw" in the mark. It is a small section to the left of the "W" where the circle is a little straighter and deeper. here are scans of three Erdkampf (top) and two Flak (bottom) GWL marks.

It is similar to the "broken circle" that appears on the Flight badges...but not identical. I wonder if this is a repair to that stamp that was then used on the Erdkampf and Flak badges, which are both later-war zinc badges???

[ERIC S.]

Paras Too?

Hi Lorenzo,
I see what you mean regarding the two different style flaws. If you look close at the Para Joe posted, it seems to have the "repaired" flaw also. This badge is zinc, as are the Flak and GCBs. The Pilot, Pilot/Observer, and Observer tend to be early war buntmetall badges - and these have the "broken circle" flaw.
It seems to me that the "broken circle" mark tended to be found on earlier (buntmetall) badges and the "repaired" mark found on the later (zinc) badges, so I'm going to have to disagree about the stamp being damaged over time. It looks as though the stamp was defective from the start and fixed later as time went on from the evidence we have here. That being said, I do admit you have an eagle eye there my friend!!
ERIC

[Lorenzo Brown]

Hi Eric. I would like to see a close-up of the mark on Joe's Para badge...I don't see the flaw in his picture, but a close-up would help. I know that on my GWL Para there is no flaw...neither the "broken circle" nor the "repaired" type.

Joe...can you post a close-up of the mark on your Para?.

The Para is interesting, because the eagle is tombak and the wreath is zinc...kind of a "hybrid".

Regarding the stamp being damaged from the start---you could be right. However, I do think the damage got worse over time. Some badges have a lesser degree of "break" than others.

"It seems to me that the "broken circle" mark tended to be found on earlier (buntmetall) badges and the "repaired" mark found on the later (zinc) badges, so I'm going to have to disagree about the stamp being damaged over time.

We are not in disagreement here. I agree that the earlier buntmetal badges display the "break"....and the later zinc badges display the "repaired" look.

[Mark S.]

Bronze IAB:

[Joseph D'Errico]

Hello Gentleman,

Sorry, but the seller sold this piece from under me , so that is that.

Best Regards,
JD