Strange Black/Silver/Gold wound badge

[wehrpasswilly]

Good morning fellow collectors. I was recently tidying up my collection and came across one of the first medals I bought when I started collecting around 20 years ago. The item in question was a non MM silver wound badge (that was attributed to a waffen SS soldier - yeah right - but I was a young 'green' collector) however after collecting and learning over the years this award is now throwing up more questions than answers. The first being that it is a hollow back, which as we all know is incorrect as all SWB are deemed to be solid backs. Secondly, the medal had been heavily polished over the years with a fair bit of the detail (like the hilts of the swords) being polished away, so, as there is not a trace of black paint on the medal we can assume its a well polished steel BWB. However, when looking at the medal the eye picks up traces of 'gold' in the recesses of the pebbleing and in other places around the medal. I have tried to photograph but the camera does not pick up what the eye see's (unfortunately). Can we 'assume' that as the base metal is steel and it cannot be a SWB that its is a steel BWB that was issued as a late war GWB that was destroyed by its subsiqent owners after the war with the gold finish being polished awayto nothing?

[Mike Kenny]

Before assuming it is polished steel, stick a magnet on it and CONFIRM it is steel (or not). Then get back to us, preferably with pics!

Regards
Mike

[wehrpasswilly]

Good point well delivered, just checked and its non magnetic Will try and take pics that pic up the 'gold' residue after work tonight although someone will have to volunteer to post them for me as I am unable to do so

[wehrpasswilly]

Hi all, now have pics of this strange beast - would anyone be so kind to post them for me for discussion

[wehrpasswilly]

Mike has kindly offered to post pics for me, thanks Mike

[Mike Kenny]

Posting pics....obverse..

[juoneen]

from the photos it does seem to have some traces of black paint in the recesses, IE: wreathleaves edges, and in recesses on the back. Have you checked it with a loupe....to examine it very closely....I'd say its a black , just polished , or painted....just the way the photos look...in hand is the best way to see it, but still think its a black. Just my opinion.

[wehrpasswilly]

Hi mate, have checked with loupe and yes there are some faint traces of black. Not sure if its paint or a build up pf metal cleaner. If we say that these are traces of black paint which has been cleaned down to the silver base metal, then what of the gold residue which can be seen on the leaves and pebbleing on the onverse

[Ron P]

Odd indeed. If it is non-magnetic, you would think the "gold" is the base metal. From here, the silver finish does not look painted and to me, the "black" residue looks like oxidized silver. I would like to have it in hand. Regards, Ron.

[wehrpasswilly]

I can confirm that the silver finish is definately not painted

[Darrell]

Originally Posted by wehrpasswilly

.......The first being that it is a hollow back, which as we all know is incorrect as all SWB are deemed to be solid backs. ....

Really? Who's been feeding you that mis-information?

[juoneen]

I can say IV"E ever seen a hollowback silver i was convinced was originally awarded, but that doesn't mean anything...Heck they used 2nd class IC's as RK's when they couldnt get one to award in the field. plating isnt that difficult with a silver coin, some chemicals,water, and a battery...it aint rocket science. The wound badge freaks will know better than I. I did score a real nice WW1 silver a while back , but never got a gold i was convinced was a WW1 gold version. happy holidays.

[wehrpasswilly]

Originally Posted by Darrell

Really? Who's been feeding you that mis-information?

I can assure all that as a model maker, this badge has not been painted, plated possibly but defo not painted. Regards Paul