Need an ok or no-way on this GAB

[John T]

Please somebody explain to me how the badge that started this thread is a repro? I have two RK's in hand and the die flaws on each eagle are identical?

[John T]

That's the one, Peter, and thanks.

Here is a link to the fake one I posted - http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=250580. As you should be able to see, there is enough difference between the eagle on yours, the eagle on my fake, and the eagle on Peter's original to compare them all and see the differences, as well as the various other differences between the other parts of the badges . I still think the one that started this thread is a repro, but time for me to back out and let those with a better eye for detail than I make their judgements.
Dale

This badge is nothing like the one that started the thread.

[John T]

Hi Matt,

I am a little skeptical, can you show some closeups of the hinge and catch and rivets?

Some poor detailing on this one, especially around the eagle.

Tom

Catch has the stress lines, what do you need to see on the rivets (they are magnetic btw)? Picture came out overexposed on a low res setting so details are blurry, comes in at 27.65 grams, best, J

[John T]

eagle

[Scott C.]

Dimensions & weight of this new repro?

[Raymond55]

Important to address John's comments

Guys,

I feel kind of un-certain now?? Is this a repro or no? If you start at the beginning of the thread and review the info and take into account the new information John at germanwarbooty.com has provided and maybe we need to look closer??

[John T]

I just checked my records this was indeed a piece from an indirect vet source...Here is info from an email in May (name edited) to me:

The badge belonged to (edit name removed) ( my cohort in crime ) and was brought back to the U.S. after the war as a souvenir. It was his uncle who fought and luckily returned...

I know that vet stories can be made up and often are but I do not do that as I let the item speak on its own merits but if I do get an item from a vet or family source I will ad that to the description as it will help me remember where I got it from and also help serve as reference.

John

[Thomas Durante]

Catch has the stress lines, what do you need to see on the rivets (they are magnetic btw)? Picture came out overexposed on a low res setting so details are blurry, comes in at 27.65 grams, best, J

Hi John,

I didn't say the badge was a fake, only that there are some questionable aspects to it and some better pics of the hardware would tell us more. The eagle has some poor detail, but that could be due to wear. I like the bubbling on it, but hard to be sure because the pictures were really bright.

The other questionable areas I saw were the catch, it looks cast into the badge around the base. Rivets look loose too, so that is why I asked for some closeups and angled shots of the catch and hinge area.

Tom

[John T]

HI Tom,

The catch is not cast in but it is crimped in and I will provide a picture. Your opinion holds a lot of weight and if you express doubt about an item that is the kiss of death.

John

[Thomas Durante]

HI Tom,

The catch is not cast in but it is crimped in and I will provide a picture. Your opinion holds a lot of weight and if you express doubt about an item that is the kiss of death.

John

That is why I didn't say it was a fake, but asked for better pics of the hardware first. We can only judge a badge from the pics provided.

Tom

[John T]

HI Tom,

I well understand, I will have consider a way to increese the resolution on my pictures...they are at low resolution due to page-load speed considerations, here are details of the catch and rivet area-

John

[Thomas Durante]

Hi John,

Thanks for the closeups, they show the catch is crimped and not cast as originally suspected. The rivet closeups also look good to me. I think the badge is just fine, thanks for the new images.

Tom

[Stepdale]

Hi John,

Thanks for the closeups, they show the catch is crimped and not cast as originally suspected. The rivet closeups also look good to me. I think the badge is just fine, thanks for the new images.

Tom

Hi John,
I'm with Tom on this one of yours as he certainly far exceeds my level of expertise. For my thread about the original badge that started this thread, all I was trying to say was that there were enough subtle differences between the various original and doubtful? badges/eagles posted throughout the thread for someone like Tom to make a final call. Believe me, I'm just as confused and unsure as most of the rest of you about whether or not the first badge is an original or a "new" repro on the market. I'm hoping "they" (hint, that means you, Tom) say original as it may give me a better shot at getting one of these new Gablonz "variations" before they get too expensive!
Dale