Are stamped silver and gold wound badges real?
I am sure we have all heard of these stamped silver and gold wound badges, that supposedly were made late war to save on supplies or something. Im sorry, but I have a hard time believing this, and heres why.
The argument that they were made late war is obviously an assumption derived from the cheap maufacture of what was once a heavy badge. It seems to me that if it was late war, there would be plenty of them around. How much more common are late war zink badges of commonality, like the IAB or GAB as opposed to early buntmetal or bronze/brass types?
These supposed stamped wound badges never have an applied finish, always natural metal, such as steel and brass. Though brass was used au natural on several war badges, it certainly wouldnt have been readliy accessible late war. It probably would have actually been cheaper to just dip a zinc badge in gold color than using sheet brass. That writes off the gold ones, but what about the silver ones? Granted, you can polish steel so it shines, and possibly clear coat it, but doing so would rub off the details on the badge. I just cant see any manufacturer using a regular steel colored badge as a substitute for silver.
These could have actually never been finished with the black paint, so removal wasnt necessary. It would be highly likely that Allied soldiers, when securing a town, would come across these badge factories and have the opertunity to grab badges in all forms of completion, including un-painted. I also think this may explain KM badges with no finish applied, among others. When they got there, that was it...no more badge making. Let the looting begin.
Would not there have to be a decree of some sort from the Reich Chancellory stating the new way to make "late war" gold and silver stamped wound badges? I just cant see some company taking up themselves to blow off the official standards and start stamping these out.
Am I missing something? What are other thoughts on this?
I am sure we have all heard of these stamped silver and gold wound badges, that supposedly were made late war to save on supplies or something. Im sorry, but I have a hard time believing this, and heres why.
The argument that they were made late war is obviously an assumption derived from the cheap maufacture of what was once a heavy badge. It seems to me that if it was late war, there would be plenty of them around. How much more common are late war zink badges of commonality, like the IAB or GAB as opposed to early buntmetal or bronze/brass types?
These supposed stamped wound badges never have an applied finish, always natural metal, such as steel and brass. Though brass was used au natural on several war badges, it certainly wouldnt have been readliy accessible late war. It probably would have actually been cheaper to just dip a zinc badge in gold color than using sheet brass. That writes off the gold ones, but what about the silver ones? Granted, you can polish steel so it shines, and possibly clear coat it, but doing so would rub off the details on the badge. I just cant see any manufacturer using a regular steel colored badge as a substitute for silver.
These could have actually never been finished with the black paint, so removal wasnt necessary. It would be highly likely that Allied soldiers, when securing a town, would come across these badge factories and have the opertunity to grab badges in all forms of completion, including un-painted. I also think this may explain KM badges with no finish applied, among others. When they got there, that was it...no more badge making. Let the looting begin.
Would not there have to be a decree of some sort from the Reich Chancellory stating the new way to make "late war" gold and silver stamped wound badges? I just cant see some company taking up themselves to blow off the official standards and start stamping these out.
Am I missing something? What are other thoughts on this?
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