Germany. A Bronze Grade Infantry Assault Badge by Metall & Kunstoff #4

A mint and unissued example of a second war German bronze grade “Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen”; oval shaped oak leaf wreath in dark bronzed zink, with a national eagle clutching a swastika on the top and a bow-tie on the bottom. Diagonally across the badge is a Karabiner 98k with the bayonet attached to the front of the barrel and the carrying sling hanging from the rifle; the reverse plain; with a vertical round wire pinback, a crimped ball hinge and a crimped flat wire catch; maker marked “M.K.4” for “Metall & Kunstoff #4” on the reverse; measuring 48.33 mm (w) x 62.42 mm (h); weighing 34.2 grams; in overall mint and unissued condition.

Footnote: This infantry assault badge stems from the personal collection of predominant historian Thomas Durante, and is depicted on page 138 in his book, “The German Close Combat Clasp of World War II - A Collectors Guide to the German Close Combat Clasp of World War II”.