National Rifle Association NSW badge circa 1860s
 

hi all
just arrived today, never seen another for sale or just seen another other than in Greberts book. Thanks to grebert for the reference.
looks to be a very thin strike and led filled on the back as per a few early NSW badges.
any info on this badge welcomed
bc

Hi BC,

Great find indeed. Never seen one of these, surprised it's metal as most of these early NRA type badges seem to be bullion.

Thanks for sharing.

Cheerio,

Roy

There is a lot of info around about rifle matches held in NSW and other states in the 1860s by the newly-formed city and country Rifle Vol companies. There is a book by Don Corcoran called "The Target Rifle in Australia" published around 30 years ago illustrating prize rifles with presentation plaques on the butts. Some matches were for "All Comers" meaning that civilians could compete against military contestants.

The colonial (and UK) forces were intoxicated by the idea that you could actually hit a target with the new 1853 3-band Enfield and a Minie bullet. Civilian rifle clubs followed. Years ago I cast some bullets and had a go myself with excellent results.

It is no coincidence that bullion sleeve badges for skill in musketry appeared at the same time, and of course are still in use today.

It was a great advance on the Waterloo concept well-drilled massed ranks firing virtually unaimed volleys, and its effectiveness was proved by the huge casualties of the American Civil War in the same period.

Th 19th C newspaper website "Trove" has photocopies of early Australian colonial newspapers. If you type in Rifle Match you will get a lot of entries right into the 20th Century.