DavidM

Hello Paul As I said, what truth there is in the story behind this award I have no idea. Either way, these were produced as legitimate 57 re-issue awards. Let's face it, it could be some veterans claimed, or maybe even had some sort of evidence they had been involved in 200 or more engagements, and persuaded the manufacturers to make this for them. At the end of the day it's the same GAB as used for 75 engagements, just the number plaque stuck onto it is different. Either way, I love the eagles on these. Real brutes !!

Rear & Side

Hello I've just received some more 57 items for my collection. Here is a General Assault Badge. It retains all of it's frosted finish and has burnished highlights to the edge of the knife and the eagles shoulders. As usual, any comments or observations welcome. Regards David

Rear & Side

Hello I've just received some more 57 items for my collection. Here is a General Assault Badge for 75 engagements. As usual, any comments or observations welcome. Regards David

Rear & Side

Hello I've just received some more 57 items for my collection. Here is a General Assault Badge for 200 engagements. I'm given to understand that, although part of the 1957 re-issue awards and badges, none of these 200 GABs are known to have been awarded during WW2. However, I have heard tell that some WW2 veterans claim that they were told that they were to be awarded the 200 GAB towards the very end of the war, but the actual badges were never presented. What, if any, truth there is in this I have no idea, but I suppose if there were some who had fought at say Stalingrad, on the Eastern front and continued fighting the Russians up until Berlin fell, they could well have been involved in 200 or more engagements.Whatever the truth in this story, apparently this is why the 200 GAB was produced in a 57 re-issue form. As usual, any comments or observations welcome. Regards David

Rear & Side

Hello I've just received some more 57 items for my collection. Here is a Luftwaffe Ground Assault Badge for 200 engagements. I believe that, although produced as part of the 1957 re-issue awards and badges, only one of these awards was actually given during WW2. As usual, any comments or observations welcome. Regards David

Rear & Side

Hello I've just received some more 57 items for my collection. Here is an Infantry Assault Badge. As usual, any comments or observations welcome. Regards David

Rear & side view

Front of award

Hello I've just received some more 57 items for my collection. Here is a Destroyer badge with it's paper packet. As usual, any comments or observations welcome. Regards David

Hello Ok Jody, just admit it. You have a workshop in your garage that you made this in Seriously, an absolutely stunning piece. That has to be one of the best conditioned awards I have seen.

Hello That's the best looking zinc piece I've seen. Good detailing, good looking and quite a bit of finish left as well. Great catch Eric. Thanks for showing it.

Hello I'm by no means an expert on these 1870 EKs, but I don't like this one. The pin is to me more reminiscent of the WW2 style of pin, and the cross seems to lack the overall quality of the very originals of these that I have seen. Just my opinion, but I don't think this a genuine, period piece.

Hello I have just got my first 57 close combat clasp, (thanks to Grant Broadhurst), and it's a really nice early one. It looks much better 'in the hand' than in my photos, (not much daylight in the UK at the moment), with beautifully silvered parts and frosted areas. The clasp is nicely vaulted. I hope you like it as much as I do.

Hello I've not had my copy of Gordons book for very long. I sourced mine via Amazon, and located a brand new, unwrapped copy in the USA through one of their approved 'partner' sellers. The price was very reasonable as well. Worth a look to see if any are still out there. Edit. Just had a quick look on Amazon.com and one seller is listing brand new copies of Gordons book at $159.88 plus $3.49 shipping via Warbooks. The price of these has gone up a lot in the last few months. You can also sometimes find Gordons book for sale on E-Bay. Hope this is of use.

Hello All look to be by the same unknown maker to me. Among other areas which match, look at the style of the '1' and the '3' in date box. Also the rear hardware, especially the pin and the catch are all identical. In my opinion all three shown here are good.

Hello Good to see you over here on the GMIC. I believe this type of spange, (bar), to be a good original one, although the actual maker is unknown. There are examples of this bar in reference books, e.g. Gordon Williamsons 'The Iron Cross of 1939', page 185. I have seen these elsewhere and they are described as original by an unknown maker. So in my opinion, the bar is a good original.

Hello Many thanks for that. The GAB has been ordered.

Rear View

Hello Items such as this as GAB are not my normal area of collecting or knowledge. I am considering buying this piece and as such would value your opinions on it. Many thanks in advance.

Hello Joel Oh dear. The first one. You do realise what you have done don't you ? There is no turning back now. Welcome the slippery slope that is collecting maker marked EKs. It always starts with just one. Then another comes along, and another, and another.........before you know it you have loads of them Seriously, though, EKs are highly addictive and very pleasurable. Enjoy.