Were Third Reich badges ever cast?

[Snoman]

Z

[Wagriff]

Third Reich medals and badges were made under a variety of different methods and materials over the years-the later they were, the more cruder they became.

[Redcap]

Casting was widely used in the production of wartime badges. Just because something is cast does not mean it will be crude. The pressure die casting method, which involves injecting molten metal under extreme pressure into the tooling can produce badges/medals which are ever bit as detailed as die-struck or die-forged pieces.
Casting was generally used to speed up the production process so that, for example, a hinge or hook could be cast integrally with the badge thus saving on additional steps in the process where on traditional die-struck pieces these parts would have to be time-consumingly soldered to the back of the badge.

These cast pieces though still often used a cropping tool to remove excess metal "flashing" left around the edges of the item, and will leave the same striations around the edge that you find on die struck pieces. It was still a high quality process ( apart from the fact that the use of Zinc meant that the actual finish - such as the gilt finish on Kriegsmarine badges, - would not last very long compared with the finish on die struck awards made from for instance, Tombak ).

These original cast pieces were a world away from the crap quality you find on many fake cast pieces which were made using a rubber mould produced using an original piece as a "master", and still involved the use of costly die tooling.



You can also see it on medals where the small eye for the suspensionring is cast integrally with the medal rather than being a separate small ring which had to be soldered.

[Wagriff]

Very nicely said, Redcap! Then there were badges with only Some of the parts cast-such as the wreaths, etc, which were then affixed to the rest by a separate process. Some of these were very high prestigious badges that were made in this manner, such as the Luftwaffe Diamond Pilot/Observer badge. Cast absolutely does Not always mean junk!

[Danmark]

Member Yellow12 started a thread on ground found buckles mainly - https://www.warrelics.eu/forum/belt-...nhorst-183647/ - hope it is OK to use your pix here? and in that thread he posted some images that blew my mind more than the buckles ..... and they were the scrap from luftwaffe stamped badges and it clearly showed the process of first, stamping out a basic shape, then forging / coining the impression and then a trim tool ( as Redcap says ) to finish off the badge.
I can see the scrap from a Ground Assault Badge, a fighter operational clasp ( one has been mis-struck ) and an army eagle!!

So, cast, pressure die cast AND stamped .......

Dan

[Snoman]

Appreciate your prompt responses.Very helpful.Thanks

[Adrian]

So, cast, pressure die cast AND stamped .......

And injection moulded - unless that's what you're calling pressure die cast?

[Danmark]

HI Adrian,
Yes, in the trade it goes by both names, usualy PDC ( pressure die cast ) is for metals and 'injection moulding' is for plastics.
Cheers, Dan

[Walkwolf]

The difference is in the way fakers make them - They 'cast' them by pouring
hot liquid/molten metal into a mould made of sand or plaster. This is the
term used for 'casting' fakes that I know of. This method has been
used for centuries by jewellers, etc.

The other term used, is 'die casting' or 'die stamping'. This is the correct
manner of manufacture for TR badges - which is shown above - where
the insignia, badge, or unfinished 'planchet' or 'flan' is stamped
out of a sheet of metal using a 'die'.........

[Adrian]

HI Adrian,
Yes, in the trade it goes by both names, usualy PDC ( pressure die cast ) is for metals and 'injection moulding' is for plastics.
Cheers, Dan

I had a feeling that's what you meant. The badges with the circular marks on the reverse from the injectors spring to mind.