A para badge rarity

[Patrick W]

Was lucky to just find this extremely rare badge sitting with a dealer. As far as I am aware there is only one other example known which surfaced a couple of years ago and is now also shown in the Luft badges database-

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=675033

This is the earliest GWL para with thin nickel silver wreath and tombak eagle. The setup is the earliest type hinge and catch used by this maker and is seen on a few examples of their early PABs and GABs.

There was obviously an issue with the riveting system on these badges which was ineffective hence both feature tightening marks to the rivets. Really interesting is that my badge has an identical triple line strike mark to the left rivet as the other badge has to the right rivet which makes me think this may have been factory done due to the wobbly eagles.

Anyway enjoy!

[Patrick W]

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[Patrick W]

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[jlga]

Outstanding

[Sebastien T]

Hey Pat,

WOW you are so lucky to snap such a rarity. And I am so happy that you actually show it as I have one in my collection and I never be able to compare it with another one. I sent it to Tom for a hands inspection and we came to the same conclusion as you that they have some issues with the riveting process. Yours have the exact same rivets and as you mentionned they have bee strikes more than once and it twist the wreath a little bit on my example. We tought the rivets was more pressed rather than punched. But the center depression and the circle around it is typical GWL. I have researched this variant and yes the catch and hinge are use on the early GWL nickel silver GABs and PABs. This is the example in databse from my personal collection. That make two examples now.... Is yours have a very thin wreath as well?

Great find Pat and thank for showing.

Seb

[Thomas Durante]

Hi Patrick,

Indeed, an EXCELLENT addition! Very nice to see another one of these, and yours is in similar excellent condition like Sebs. Seb was very kind enough to send his to me a few months ago and really enjoyed handling it; In hand there is NO QUESTION with originality even though it was the only one we had known about (forensically speaking ofcourse, and something document guys will never understand ).

As Seb says, the rivetting was the most interesting part; they seem to match GWL PBs, etc but seemed more flat. Now seeing the similar marks on your rivets, it reveals that they had trouble at the factory with their Paras and quite possibly the reason why they are so rare.

Gorgeous example my friend.

Tom

[Patrick W]

Thanks very much guys, Seb is that the one that was owned by Phillipe De Bock? The wreath is as you say very thin and comparable to the earlier badges by Assmann and Juncker so I would guess it would date to the same period as those ones 1938-39, after the first pattern egg shape wreath badges.

I looked and looked at this badge when I first saw it as I had missed this variant being posted in our database here and noticed some distinct GWL traits as mentioned. Tom I think you are totally correct that the riveting problem with this production meant it was only a short run and GWL then later must have focused on the pilots and observers and by the time they revisited the para things were transitioning into zinc.

Like the other tombak GWL luft badges, the quality of strike and finish is extremely high and from the obverse this is one of the more attractive para badges in my opinion.

Comparing the 2 badges I really do think that the additional work on the rivets was factory done due to the similarity and obviously shared trait of ineffective rivets. There is also a good deal of heavy filing to the wreath of mine so it appears they weren't that concerned about the appearance of the reverse!

Finding stuff like this is what really drives me in this hobby, these 2 rare surviving twins may be the only 2 left in the world and 3 years ago were completely unknown. It's great to see things still evolving in our collecting field!

[Sebastien T]

Hi Pat,

Yes its Phil's former badge but I bought it from another member here on WAF 2 years ago. It also come with the original mint case.

Like the other tombak GWL luft badges, the quality of strike and finish is extremely high and from the obverse this is one of the more attractive para badges in my opinion.

Comparing the 2 badges I really do think that the additional work on the rivets was factory done due to the similarity and obviously shared trait of ineffective rivets. There is also a good deal of heavy filing to the wreath of mine so it appears they weren't that concerned about the appearance of the reverse!

Finding stuff like this is what really drives me in this hobby, these 2 rare surviving twins may be the only 2 left in the world and 3 years ago were completely unknown. It's great to see things still evolving in our collecting field!

I totally agree, when I received mine the rivets always bother me for some reasons but I knew they were OK. Your statement that I quote make totally sens and goes in the same direction me and Tom ended as a conclusion. The finish quality is just like the mint pilot examples around. Another keeper

Thanks

Seb