Fixings for officers' badges

[elgee45]

Question that's been nagging at me . . . when did officers' badges go from lug fittings to blades?

Lawrence

[John Mulcahy]

Generally speaking, blades only for bronzed OSD badges and introduced c. 1902 with service dress.

Loops, sliders etc. remaining as before on full dress headdress badges, forage cap badges, FSC Badges etc.

I shall let others correct and elaborate as needed.

John

[badjez]

Blades are most normally associated with Officers' Service Dress (OSD), in which case the early 1900's would be as good a guess as any.

If I recall it was to do with cost, as blades were cheaper than lugs to fit. As OSD badge did not need to be removed from a cap for cleaning there was less wear on the badge's fittings so blades could be used.

Lug fittings remained in use on those badges that needed removal for polishing, or for those needing retaining on the cap for improved security, especially those of more value such as silver ones.

Stephen.

[Alan O]

I would point out that many looped officers bronze collar badges were full sized and can be mistaken for cap badges.

[elgee45]

Thanks, John, Stephen and Alan. No 'thanks' button, unfortunately. I have silver/gilt badges with loops and bronze ones with blades . . . makes sense.

Lawrence

[manchesters]

Hello,

There are of course exceptions and Silver and Silver/Gilt officers cap badges can be found with blades. In my experience usually quite early badges and probably not made like that for long due to the brittle nature of blades when opened and closed.

regards

[Mike H]

Chaplains Dept in black anodised cap badge is also found with blades.
RGBW and the Rifles back badges are also bladed. There is also a silver plate back badge that was supposedly worn in the Wessex Bde period fitted with blades.

[tonyb]

Originally Posted by manchesters

Hello,

There are of course exceptions and Silver and Silver/Gilt officers cap badges can be found with blades. In my experience usually quite early badges and probably not made like that for long due to the brittle nature of blades when opened and closed.

regards

Lawrence, with reference to Simon's post see this example I acquired recently.
http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...ad.php?t=60973
Cheers Tony.

[elgee45]

Thanks, Tony . . . great badge!

Lawrence

[Nobbysr]

Hi I also have a couple of silver/gilt on blades but have always thought that OSD badges were always on blades would like know if this is a hard and fast rule as have seem bronzed badges on lugs???
cheers
Steve

Originally Posted by manchesters

Hello,

There are of course exceptions and Silver and Silver/Gilt officers cap badges can be found with blades. In my experience usually quite early badges and probably not made like that for long due to the brittle nature of blades when opened and closed.

regards

[manchesters]

OSD badges can be either for the cap or the collar, which do you mean?

regards

[KLR]

Not a scientific response (in that I'm only basing the following on King's Regt badges) but the OSD cap badges with loops that I have seen tend to be made by minor makers - Ludlow etc etc rather than the better (?!) companies like Gaunt, Firmin, Jennens etc. I have not seen any badges made by G, F and J with loops. Sliders are found on S or S&G badges, but I've never seen them on OSD badges.