Unmarked Juncker Ground Assault Badge

[Robert P.]

This is the same badge I posted about two weeks ago for review. It just arrived today in the mail. There is something very interesting about this badge that I have not seen on any 3rd Reich badge before. The hinge barrel is split lengthwise and the hinge pin I suppose is under a compression fit to secure it. Very unique design. Leave it to those Germans to come up with something better. I really like this Juncker badge. The burnished highlights are really polished to almost a mirror finish, especially the riveted nickel-silver eagle. Heavy for a zinc badge. It's a longterm keeper.

Very satisfied.
Robert

p.s. Still looking for a nice GWL.

[Robert P.]

reverse with single rivet hidden under pin...

[Robert P.]

a few more photos including the split hinge...

[Neil Howes]

Hi Robert,

Very nice, could almost tip me over into buying a non-tombac piece!

Regards,

Neil

[Philippe DB]

Hi Robert,

Very strange that split hinge. Just looked at mine under magnification and I cleary can see the split but it is alsmost completely worked away and looks nicely closed. Did they forget to do that on yours?

Neil these badges aren't made of low quality zink. I think that it has to be a better quality metal but i'm stil not sure what they are made of. On the highspots were mine shows some wear there is a golden base metal visible, for sure not the dark zink tone.


KR
Philippe

[Robert P.]

Thanks, neil and Philippe.

The first thing that comes to mind here concerning the zinc basemetal of this badge is the description given by the dealer(s). They either describe them (the zinc pieces) as zinc or feinzinc. A difference?

I can clearly see a crack to the left of the eagle on the wreath that resembles the characteristics of the early nickel-silver wreaths by the same maker. Perhaps the metal (zinc) was of a little different composition than ordinary zinc that was used in the die-casting process later on in the war. I don't know. Maybe Yuri could add something. I know he has been studying these badges with his new 1,000,000 X microscope.

Regards.
Robert

[Robert P.]

Philippe,
To answer your question about the hinge, I don't know. Your guess is as good or better than mine. It appears that the hinge pin is very tight and all things are closed as much as possible. I was thinking that the pin was a little tapered at the very start and it was pressed into the hinge under a little compression to secure it. The other end of the pin that is hidden in the photo is just a little smaller in diameter at the very end.

Robert

[skip]

Thats a real beut. Robert, definatly worth keeping.
As regards to the brass colour shining through the silver, some makers brass or copper plated their zinc badges befors silver plating them as this held the silver better. I have seen several Juncker badges that have this trait and you only have to look at all the minty Junckers to see that they wre not wrong in doing this.

Split hinge is a newbie for me and something worth looking for when buying these maybe.

@ Neil, stay to your Tombacs otherwise you´ll end up with a sacful of these zincers as well ;-)

Skip

[Philippe DB]

Dear Robert,

Here are two scans of the hinge on my luft GAB. Since the quality isn't that good I hope you can see it.

In the first scan I underlined the impressions left by the closed split. In the second picture just focus on the darker horizontal lines a little above 2/3 of the hinge.

I would think there are 2 possible explanations for the open split on yours. Or they forgot to close it or due to pressure applied it sprung open again.

Anyhow can you image how much time and effort it must have taken just to perfectly finish this type of quality hinge.

KR
Philippe

[Philippe DB]

Luft GCB hinge detail

[Robert P.]

Thank you, Philippe for the photos of the hinge on your badge.

Yes, Juncker must have felt that this pin assembly was stronger than the coke-bottle pins used on other such as R.K., etc. The hinge and catch on these badges were really made to last. Can you please include a shot of the obverse of your badge, Philippe?

Thanks, Skip. That answers a lot of questions for me about the base metal on this badge and others like it. I once had an R.K. GAB that indeed had this finish characteristic. I assumed it was tombak until I compared it's weight to others on the thread. A lot of work went into these multi-coated badges. The Luft GAB's are one of my favorite badges, and I jumped at this Juncker when I first saw it for sale. The symbolism of the Luftwaffe attack-eagle in the dark cloud with the lightning bolt striking unbroken ground is very interesting. The designers were very creative on this one.

Thanks to all.
Robert

[Philippe DB]

Dear Robert,

I posted my badge in the other thread you started.

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...ad.php?t=31140

KR
Philippe

[skip]

I could´nt agree with you more Robert, the design of these Ground Assault Badges is one of my favorites to. Professor von Weech did a very good job on this one.


I did used to own a Tombac GAB in my first collection but unfortunatly sold it a few years ago(silly me).

Skip

[Philippe DB]

The designers were very creative on this one.

Robert

Robert, isn't that the main reason why we all like to collect these german WWII badges so much.

IMO no other country ever put so much imagination and artistic skills in to the production of military awards as Germany did during the second WW. And that for me is without a doubt what facinates and attrackts me the most in this hobby.

KR
Philippe

[Robert P.]

That's the reason I collect them too, you guys. They have a lot of eye-appeal. I really like the simplicity of the Eastern Front Campaign Medal. It was really the combat soldier's campaign medal with the helmet and hand grenade positioned above the national eagle with the static swasi. I know tombak versions of this medal exist...but to find one for sale. Anyway, it too has always been one of my favorites because of what it says in it's design. Lot of fun.

I really think the American medal designers picked up some inspiration for their Air Medal from the German Para eagle combined with the Air Gunner's lightning bolts. What do you think? I don't know which came first, although I'm assuming the pre-war German Para and AG showed up before the Air Medal.

Best.
Robert