Unidentified Victorian button - British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

Martyn123 · #1 24-07-17, 02:58 PM

Good afternoon

This button is brass with mounted letters that appear to be RA is this a Royal Artillery mess button? By the backstamp it is pre 1894. There is no crown so may not be military?

Any ideas as to what it is?

Many thanks

Martyn

Cribyn · #2 24-07-17, 03:45 PM

Hello Martyn

It is not any form of Royal Artillery button that I recognise, in fact I'm not even sure that the initials are 'RA' - could be 'BH' from where I sit!

It might be a civilian hunt button.

Roger

Martyn123 · #3 24-07-17, 04:15 PM

Many thanks Roger I did think that it was likely to be civilian as there is no crown but still quite nice I think. A hunt is very likely I think.

Regards

Martyn

btns · #4 24-07-17, 04:35 PM

Berkely Hunt
(ref. Hunt Buttons, by Neil McShane, page 31)

Martyn123 · #5 24-07-17, 04:48 PM

Many thanks for that info that's really impressive. They appear to have been introduced in around 1807. The backstamp can be dated to pre 1894 so what's the earliest this button could have been made by this company ?

All the best

Martyn

Cribyn · #6 24-07-17, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martyn123

Many thanks for that info that's really impressive. They appear to have been introduced in around 1807. The backstamp can be dated to pre 1894 so what's the earliest this button could have been made by this company ?

All the best

Martyn

Hello Martyn

It is very difficult to get a lot of information from the backmark because the button is small and more often than not would have had an abbreviated form of name and address (when compared to, say, a 'full size', 25mm button).

However, the 'Ld' part of this backmark shows that this particular button would have been made after 1876. Firmin could have been making this pattern of button for years before that date though.

Roger

Martyn123 · #7 24-07-17, 05:59 PM

Many thanks Roger that narrows it down nicely.

Regards

Martyn