A Silver Wound Badge

[George Stimson]

Here it is:



Height: 44.4 mm
Width: 36.8 mm
Weight: 25.85 g
Maker's mark: 107 in a cartouche
While this badge at first appears to be quite dissimilar to the gold badge I posted yesterday (different maker's mark, different weight, different pin and catch, the gold was tombak this one looks like zinc) the features of the obverse are identical on both badges. Both have the flattened left side of the right sword handle and straighter "waves" on that handle. If you look at both badges through a jeweler's loupe, even the stippled dots in the background are EXACTLY the same. Is there an explanation for this?
(For some reason, I cannot access the Wound Badges web site.)
Thanks,
George

[Luftm40]

George, I would say that one is also a textbook original. Until recently, most people didn't pay much attention to die characteristics, especially on more common items. I've noticed identical die characteristics between originals by different makers on many things, including Luft badges. Conventional collecting wisdom always held that each maker had their own dies, but if you think about it, that would have been ridiculous, given the expense etc. The German used subcontracting extensively for other things, so why not badges? A smaller company wanting to get a contract, but not wanting to lay out the $ for their own dies might buy parts, or have another firm make things for them with their mm, then assemble the item themselves using their own labor. Seems logical to me. I think both of your badges are genuine though

Andy

[ 07 January 2002: Message edited by: Andy Hopkins ]

[ 07 January 2002: Message edited by: Andy Hopkins ]

[Greg]

George,
I had not before noticed the similarities on the obverse of these Carl Wild (107) wound badges with those of other makers, I echo Andy. Your example appears identical to three other Carl Wild silver wound badges I have had. It does seem likely that some smaller firms got the basic badges from a different firm, and set them up with their own pin assemblies. Although this would seem to necessitate at least a different reverse die.

Greg

[Chrvip68]

George,

We have done on this forum one month ago a thread about the wound badges marked "107".
That topic cover the two versions from all types of this maker.If you search through the files you must find it,if still there.

I agree with Andy and Greg,several WB's from different makers has the same design even the same die characteristics.
We must no forget the WB subject is more complicated for more than 24 firms were produced them.