Panzerkampfabzeichen in Silber, Unmarked William Hobacher

**rbminis** · 11-23-2013, 05:37 PM

by big ned

An honest design type 5 Ralph, I like the rear set up of the block hinge and directly soldered on "?" shaped catch that may well indicate it's one of the early badges from this maker if one goes by the criteria that it matches other makers early initial hardware. Great photo's as usual!

Thanks Ned!

That is my understanding as well.
Ralph.

**Espenlaub Militaria** · 11-23-2013 05:37 PM

We also buy and trade your items and full collections!

**rbminis** · 11-23-2013, 05:45 PM

by Glenn66

Stuff-all detail in the grass area, is that normal with this variant? Can't be wear as the rest of the detail looks crispy fresh.

Hi Glenn,
I believe that all of the Panzerkampf Abzeichen's produced by this maker have little detail in the grass area, similar to Frank & Reif Panzerkampf Abzeichen's
Ralph.

**Glenn66** · 11-23-2013, 06:54 PM

Hi Ralph,

Now that I look at my F&B PAB you have a point, I concur.

**rbminis** · 11-23-2013, 07:14 PM

by glenn66

hi ralph,

now that i look at my f&b panzerkampf abzeichen you have a point, i concur.

f&r .

**big ned** · 11-23-2013, 08:06 PM

by Glenn66

Stuff-all detail in the grass area, is that normal with this variant? Can't be wear as the rest of the detail looks crispy fresh.

Hi Glenn,

You make an interesting point, the type 5 design is a generic one where it's used by multiple makers and is noted for it's very plain grass foreground area. If you look at the Hobacher version above, it can be seen that this area has received a little more detail by the die cutter by the addition of several small grass blades compared to other users of the type, such as Souval, EWE, AWS, Orth and some other unknown makers. The exception to this was the small maker Rudolf Richter of Schlag bei Gablonz (RRS), who after their initial use of the standard type 5 foreground upgraded their dies grass foreground to a more complex one similar to that found on badges by A.S. and AS in Triangle. These are fairly rare, being found at a ratio of 1 for every 20 normal type 5's.

Panzerkampfabzeichen in Silber, Unmarked William Hobacher

Above, a standard type 5 by RRS early on in production, and used by other makers including Hobacher, who slightly modified the foreground from this by adding a few extra grass blades. Here's a bronze Wilhelm Hobacher that shows the slightly different foreground quite well. The difference is slight, but it is there! Note the flaw on the eagles head, showing it's of later production.