pilot badges out of KC grouping

[Gene]

It's featured in Stephen Previtera's book

[Tim Calvert]

Ah, I see it. Would you say the wreath is cast or struck?

[Thomas Durante]

Great question Tim, something I have always wondered about too with Assmann wreaths due to their blurry nature. In my opinion, these Assmann wreaths were die struck. It may be hard to believe due to the raised hinge posts, but several other signs point to these being struck rather than cast:

I think that the integral hinge posts were carried over from when Assmann was using it on their Aluminum badges. Aluminum was quite soft and took the die strike really well. But, when they switched back to nickel silver and tombak, they obviously created a new die for the obverse, but tried to continue the use of the reverse die. Much more pressure was needed to completely fill the reverse die when using nickel silver versus aluminum, so they quickly eliminated the use of that reverse die in lieu of an unmarked one, which is why most Assmann wreaths are found unmarked. That is why these "A" & "DRGM" marked nickel silver badges are so rare IMO. After a year or so, Assmann switched to zink, but continued to die-strike their wreaths with the same obverse and reverse dies (unmarked). It was at this time, when Assmann found that zink was easier to mould than nickel silver due to its very low melting point, did they switch to casting their wreaths instead of die striking them. This progression is best seen on Assmann's Para badges, IABs & GABs, and there is a definate signs of casting (ejector pad marks, die number markings on the reverse, etc.). You don't see any evidence of casting on Gene's badge.

Tom

[Tim Calvert]

Nice theory Tom, I like it! Makes a lot of sense. I thought the wreath looked die stuck, but wondered about the hinge posts.
How many DRGM in in buntmetal were created before they threw in the towel and went with the new die? I'll bet not many.

[Thomas Durante]

How many DRGM in in buntmetal were created before they threw in the towel and went with the new die? I'll bet not many.

I agree, not many at all. How many do we know of in the collecting community? I only knew of 1 until today, know we know of 2. That is saying ALOT since Assmann badges aren't really uncommon at all.

Tom

[Gene]

The wreath on my example is most certainly die struck

[Leroy]

I see two RK cases. Were there two RK's in the group?

[hopsi]

Thanks for your expertise and comments.
Here goes a close up of the ribbon bar. Questioned ribbons are Austrian and Hungarian war commemorative medals.
Regarding the mint condition of DKiG, it was awarded approx. 4 month before KC and thereafter almost never worn again according portraits. KC: Yes cased KC is L/12 800 marked but actually there are 2 KC´s in this grouping, and the other one is fixed into one of his photo albums together with document.

[MedalMike]

You are a lucky man i should keep the grouping together if i were you......think about it...

[VtwinVince]

Who is the recipient?

[Scott C.]

Here goes a close up of the ribbon bar. Questioned ribbons are Austrian and Hungarian war commemorative medals.

Superb grouping. Curious there's no ribbon for the Hindenburg cross - assuming he was a WWI vet?

[Ludwig]

Some close ups of the flight bars would be nice!

[hopsi]

Curious there's no ribbon for the Hindenburg cross - assuming he was a WWI vet?

Sorry, but why he should have received the Hindenburg cross according his ribbons he was just serving for the imperial austro-hungarian empire.