GWL Hallmark

[mmiller]

What are some possible explanations, for this GWL hallmark, to have a circle with an irregularity at about 5 0'clock?

1) Repro
2) Collapsed die wall
3) ???

Thanks for your ideas.
Mark

[Bruce Simcox]

Hi Mark.....

.....I'm certainly not an expert on close combat badges, but.....I would be afraid to add that one to my collection. First time I've seen such a badly deformed GWL on anything.

--------------------

Bruce

[Richard]

Mark, I have to agree with Bruce. Since the logo is raised on the badge, the die would have been incuse for the logo. Any die problems or die wear would not deform the circle in the manner shown on your scans. The "L" also does not exhibit the gentle curve that I am used to seeing on the GWL logo.
Richard V

[Tim Calvert]

"gentle curve"??

...or did you mean "genitle curve"

[Lorenzo Brown]

Hi Mark. I'm not a CCC expert, but your badge looks quite similar to the one posted by Mike Kenny on the other thread (I hope Mike doesn't mind using his badge for comparison). The noticeable exception is the small triangular indentions at the corners of the plate. What are those about?

Regarding the mark, possibly the mark could have been misshapen when the badge came out of the die? I have an Aurich flak badge where the circle around the "HA" logo is "smeared", likely resulting from the raised mark sliding accross the reverse die when it was removed. I think this can happen when the badge is first removed from a die and it is still "soft", or not yet fully tempered.

It does appear that the marks on these two badges appear to be the same size and in the same location, and both of them appear angled at about 2-3 degrees off perpindicular.

[Thomas Durante]

GWL badge

Hi Mark and everyone,
Mark, your post sparked my memory. I went through my old Military Advisor mags for an article about the CCC a few years back. The author shows a picture of a GWL clasp and calls it a repro. It has the exact same triangular cut marks at the top of the backplate on the back. The GWL mark on in the article looks a little more uniform than yours does, but its hard to tell from the small picture. I've sent an email to Bender Publishing to try and track down the author and find out what his sources were for the article. I'll let you know when I find out.

Tom

[mmiller]

Wow Tom,

I am impressed. I appreciate the info, but don't kill yourself searching for the source. The person who sent me the badge has kindly agreed for me to send it back. It just didn't sit right, no matter how many times I looked at it.

Mark
'A fellow NKS afficionado'

[Sebastian Bianchi]

Well if we could learn something, please do post it Tom. Thanks.

[Thomas Durante]

If I could have killed myself researching the CCC, it definately would have happened by now! I'll let you guys know what I find out.

Tom

[IVAN]

Hi to all,

I'm not so sure it's a repro 100%.

In my mind I need to see more errors.

Of course today I will not buy a piece with this hallmark's error, but it's very closed to a real one.

Can be die error, as said right Lorenzo, the "L" is not so bad.

Only in measurements and weights can be more sure.

Will be interesting to compare with Lorenzo's badge the front.

Ivan

[mmiller]

Good Idea Ivan!

I've been so preoccupied with the damn hallmark circle, I didn't even post a scan of the front. I can get weight and dimensions tonight.

Let's compare:

[mmiller]

For anyone keeping notes, or for anyone (Mike K.) who has a GWL and can compare:

weight- 32.2 grams

wide- 97.1 mm

high- 26 mm

cast in hinge block- 7 mm wide

thickness of badge at eagle's chest- 4 mm

Magnetic pin and magnetic back plate.