Authentic 1913 Pattern Military Aviator Badge/Wings Army Signal Corps Blackinton

Description

For your consideration is this 1913 Pattern Military Aviator badge by Blackinton made for use by the original Signal Corps pilots in the mid-to-late 1910's. These wings are the earliest and finest example available - second only to the original 27(or 28) made in 14k Gold by Rock Island Arsenal. They exhibit every detail of fit and finish consistent with military issue badges of the mid-to-late 1910's and those made by Blackinton. They are made of solid Sterling Silver with a very thick gold plating. These are a match to the MA wings offered by V. H. Blackinton in their 1918 catalog, and has been cross examined using known examples of Blackinton wings from the 1910's. It is known Blackinton offered these "Replacement" wings in gold gilt and eventually Sterling silver only in the 1920's and 1930's. This gold gilt example would have been an authorized replacement for wear in uniform by one of the original 27 Aviators. It is the opinion of many collectors, these Blackinton wings are the closest thing to the original that were all struck in solid 14k Gold. It should also be noted that Blackinton did not add their hallmark to badges until the 1930's, so those with "V.H.B." and "Sterling" are made decades after the original - and likely for collectors.
Were these worn or owned by one of the original 27 Army Aviators? Probably. Sadly, we will likely never know which one for sure.  If you are looking at this listing, it is likely you are familiar with the original badges, and that there were limited numbers of replacement badges made in the 1910's for aviators who rated the badge by Blackinton.  If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.  This is a period piece, and we guarantee it with a 100% money back guarantee. We only sell the finest military items, and put our reputation as sellers with flawless feedback with this piece. There is much more information about these wings online. We encourage you to visit ww2wings dot com to see various known early examples of this wing to help you feel more comfortable with the idea of this purchase.
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This item will ship for FREE to anywhere in the United States. It will include signature confirmation and insurance, and will ship to PayPal confirmed addresses only - no exceptions. International buyers should contact us prior to purchase.