Luftwaffe breast eagle opinion

[sanya13]

Hí guys
I found on the side this is a General Luftwaffe breast eagle
what do you think about it good or bad ?

[sanya13]

nobody

[GAMS1]

First type eagle ...IMO original eagle but regarding the gold colour, it looks nice but not sure if it is really period ?
Nick

[Jean-Claude]

I agree with Nick...Nice original 1st pattern summer eagle but the gold finish on this one makes me very nervous and I cant find one to compare to. Lets just say that John at Germanwarbooty had a nice credible gold one with worn finish that went for $1200. USD and Weitze still has a gilded aluminum 2nd pattern by Assmann with repaired catch for sale at 1200 euros so if this one should be a whopper!

As a biker I can say that getting quality gold plating these days for motorcycle parts (or old lamps or old bathtub legs you would want to refinish) from a chrome shop or even getting a "kit gilder" to come to your place to gold plate small parts is certainly not a problem so I would be very eery about this one unless I could compare the finish to that of another specimen by the same maker...

JC

[Jos L C]

Certain dealers are selling post war upgraded officer to general Summer eagles, be careful..
Better pics in day light might tell ..
Price might be a indication as well.

Jos.

[sanya13]

Thanks for answer to everyone, then this the piece not original (I mean the gilding) ?
here are more pictures now sent to me the seller

[sanya13]

wings

[sanya13]

the hinge

[Jos L C]

There's a lot of pitting at the back and there's something with the feather tips .., this might be a cast eagle.
I would pass..
Here's a silver one to compare.

Jos.

[Jos L C]

Here's a original A DRGM 2nd model, not to confuse with the total shiny gold ones on certain dealer sites..

Jos.

[Jean-Claude]

Congratulations: Beautiful Gold aluminum DRGM Assmann Jos

As for the gold one that started this thread...I still think the bird is original as I have seen this version with either the standing or the laying block hinge and the barrel hinge assembly and my silver one is also beginning to show a slight flaw at the same location (left wing) as this one but I beleive its a refinished silver specimen not a gold one

The worn silver ones (with the nickle finish missing in spots) of this pattern I have seen are made of tombac/brass. I think both the silver (actually nickel in this case) or the gold plating would be applied to the "raw" (tombac) birds in both cases: not by overplating silver ones to make gold ones. Early gilding/fire gilding directly applied to tombac or brass pieces is a durable finish as we can see from flight badges (PO/Para) and the more numerous specimens of gold Heer/KM tombac summer eagles equivalent to this one. But, as Jos mentions, the gold appears to be pitting/bubbling on the back of this specimen. I suspect the presence of the original nickel finish under the gilding could be affecting the adherence of the gold "refinish" and more obviously on the smooth back side where there is is no detail/texture for the gold to adhere to.

Under the circumstances I would pass too but that is just my opinion

Take care

JC

[sanya13]

Thanks for answer Jean Claude
then this the bird your opinion not good not wartime piece(I mean the bird is good only in the recent gold)
the price is was 450€

Congratulations: Beautiful Gold aluminum DRGM Assmann Jos

As for the gold one that started this thread...I still think the bird is original as I have seen this version with either the standing or the laying block hinge and the barrel hinge assembly and my silver one is also beginning to show a slight flaw at the same location (left wing) as this one but I beleive its a refinished silver specimen not a gold one

The worn silver ones (with the nickle finish missing in spots) of this pattern I have seen are made of tombac/brass. I think both the silver (actually nickel in this case) or the gold plating would be applied to the "raw" (tombac) birds in both cases: not by overplating silver ones to make gold ones. Early gilding/fire gilding directly applied to tombac or brass pieces is a durable finish as we can see from flight badges (PO/Para) and the more numerous specimens of gold Heer/KM tombac summer eagles equivalent to this one. But, as Jos mentions, the gold appears to be pitting/bubbling on the back of this specimen. I suspect the presence of the original nickel finish under the gilding could be affecting the adherence of the gold "refinish" and more obviously on the smooth back side where there is is no detail/texture for the gold to adhere to.

Under the circumstances I would pass too but that is just my opinion

Take care

JC

[Jean-Claude]

Thanks for answer Jean Claude
then this the bird your opinion not good not wartime piece(I mean the bird is good only in the recent gold)
the price is was 450€

About the price of a regular silver first pattern these days, not what you would expect to pay for a gold one so I suspect the seller has a very good idea of what it is...IMO its certainly not not worth anywhere near that now. How unfortunate: another bit of not so easy to find history flushed down the toilet for the sake of greed

JC

[sanya13]

Thanks for your opinion and help
then pity of this the piece
you are the best

About the price of a regular silver first pattern these days, not what you would expect to pay for a gold one so I suspect the seller has a very good idea of what it is...IMO its certainly not not worth anywhere near that now. How unfortunate: another bit of not so easy to find history flushed down the toilet for the sake of greed

JC

[AndyC]

I am not a beliver in this eagles finish.
It would be interesting to see som pictures taken in daylight.


Andy