WWI cutout Silver Wound Badge

[Edelweiss]

Hi Gents,

I've been looking for such a badge for quite some time, and this one's about to enter my collection today. I'm not too worried about it, but I'd be very pleased to hear your opinions and comments about it.

Thanks in advance.

[Edelweiss]

Well, very few comments till now...
If I could at least have a confirmation about its originality guys, that would be great.

[Edelweiss]

No darkness upon this one, it's a very nice and attractive original, as far as my experience in the matter can tell.

Thanks for this precious opinion Mr Bagginses, I must say that I wasn't expecting an answer to my riddle any more.

Chris

PS : I think it would be better to take your ring off next time you post in a thread, thanks.

[packratt713]

Looks good to me.

[Edelweiss]

Well, seems we all share the same feeling. Danke Packratt.

[Mike Kenny]

Looks like an original badge but if it's steel imo it's more likely a Black grade.

Regards
Mike

[Edelweiss]

Hmm, that's actually the kind of comment I was worried to get, given that I bought this one as a silver grade. It's indeed all magnetic, and you can even see two small rust spots on this better picture, at 7 and 11 o'clock. Thanks Mike for the heads up.
Oh BTW : if not steel, what were all the real silver grades made of ???

[Mike Kenny]

There were plenty of Silver examples made in steel but imo steel does not produce a near black patina. The non-worn (protected) areas like the reverse, obverse recesses, edges (eg lower edge of the helm) define the original finish, not the colour of the worn basemetal.

It's much easier to distinguish Silver or Black grade Tombak (probably post-war) examples - harder to pick an original Tombak in Gold for the same reasons as above.

Genuine (800 or more) Silver basemetal examples can be hard to differentiate Black from Silver Grades because uncleaned silver will patina towards black with time. That's why I asked about the basemetal on this example (I can see the rust in the last pic now).

Regards
Mike

[Edelweiss]

I perfectly see what you mean Mike, i.e. the difference on the reverse between the dark patina of silver base material, and the black remnants of the original finish on a steel badge. I had some doubts about a possible black grade once the badge in hands, but couldn't nail the exact reason why ; it's now done.

Well, seems there's some unwanted darkness upon this badge after all... Anyway, I'll deal with it.