Presumed fake luft GAB

[Karl S]

more..

[Thomas Durante]

Hi Karl,

Thanks for the additional pics. In my opinion, its a nice original, but ofcourse with a repaired catch. These indeed were CAST, which is evidenced by the integral hinge and catch. It would be extremely difficult to die-stamp a badge like this, and it was most certainly cast in my opinion. These were late war products, and casting was introduced in the last few years of the war as a labor savings alternative to having to solder on reverse hardware. Saved materials, labor and time. This is something seen with other LW makers such as FLL, GWL and Assmann to name a few.

Tom

[Karl S]

Thanks Thomas

This badge has been in my possesion for at least 12 years and I have been sceptical about it for at least 10 years. No one would be happier than me, if this was in fact declared original.

I will now remove it from the fake/maybe box to the displaycabinett.

Karl

[90th Light]

No problem with that badge, 101% original before May 1945.

The one you have is a particulary nice example with the grey sky/ clouds & ground but a black arrow. I have one exactly like this and got mine off Detlev Niemann.

I had the paint analyised by one of the experts at the Art history school here and his findings were that it matched exactly the type of paint used on the out-side of the grommets of several of my tropical M40 caps and thus is 101% period.

Over the years I have picked up 6 of this type of badge and every one of them has a different color to the sky, arrow and ground but they have used the same color of paint for all 3 except the one by this maker which is the only example I have seen where they used two different colors of paint on the same badge.

Nice interesting period example,

Chris

[AndyC]

IMO its a good original Arno


Andy

[ValhallaMilitaria]

Its a real one IMO.

[ERIC S.]

I'll throw in my couple of pennies too - a good Arno Walpach with repaired (rather nicely done) catch. I've no problem with it.
ERIC

[Karl S]

Thanks guys

Karl