Germany, Wehrmacht. An Infantry Assault Badge, Unknown Maker Variant

(Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Silber). Constructed of silvered zink, the obverse consisting of an oval oak leaf wreath, joined together at the bottom by ribbon, topped by a Heer-style German national eagle clutching a mobile swastika, diagonally across the badge is a Karabiner 98k rifle with the bayonet attached and the carrying sling hanging from the rifle, the reverse with a narrow barrel hinge emanating from a rectangular plate and a vertical pinback meeting a flat wire catch emanating from a circular plate, unmarked but demonstrating the characteristics of a variant produced by an unknown maker as examined in “The Infantry Assault Badges”, Sascha Weber, 2008, pages 182-183, measuring 48.55 mm (w) x 61.06 mm (h), weighing 19.7 grams, demonstrating near-total loss of silver finish, in very fine condition.