Fake Gaunt Buttons

[Rob Miller]

Around 1983/84 when I was in my early teens I visited Newhaven Fort in Sussex quite a few times. They had a gift shop there which always had large tubs of military buttons for sale, literally 100s of each type and I think I bought one of each type they had.

They were all made by Gaunt and quite a few had the makers mark badly stamped on the rear.

Just recently I've heard references to badly stamped Gaunt buttons being fakes or restrikes.

So my question is are these genuine?

All these came from Newhaven in the early 80s.

[peter seaman]

Good morning Rob,

As my research for my book "For Hostilities Only" only covered the WW2 raised cavalry regiments (22D to 27L) I can say that the 24th & 27th Lancers buttons shown were produced in the early 1970's by Gaunts. I defer to other Forum members for their comments on the other buttons shown.
All good wishes,
Peter

[Rob Miller]

Hi Peter

Thanks for the reply, are you able to share your evidence?

Rob.

[peter seaman]

Good evening Rob,

My evidence came from an exchange of letters in the early 1990's with Firmins whilst carrying out reserch for my book "For Hostilities Only". They supplied me with a list of Gaunts re-issued WW2 raised cavalry head dress insignia that had been produced in the early years of the 1970's and that the 24th & 27th Lancers buttons had also been produced at that time. Also with information supplied by Ian a fellow Forum member and respected military button dealer, along with information supplied by both Walter Lambert and Hugh King.
The list of this insignia is reproduced in my book along with costs at the time of their release.
Regards,

Peter

[Rob Miller]

Thank you Peter

I wasn't questioning your integrity, its just that there are so many myths in this hobby (and other hobbies) that seem to become true the more often they get repeated.

So was the bad stamping a deliberate mark to differentiate a 70s Gaunt restrike button or a worn out die?

And did Gaunt ever actually make buttons for the 24th & 27th Lancers during the war? and if so was it a similar stamp but better stamped or the earlier "J.R GAUNT & SONS Ltd LONDON ENGD" mark ?

Regards Rob.

[peter seaman]

Good afternoon Rob,

I really don't object to anyone questioning my source of information or my integrity. As to the miss stamped letter 'T' I'm sorry that I'm unable to confirm if this was a deliberate 'mistake' by Gaunts.
The wartime back mark for the large button was "C. Pitt & Co. Ltd. London W1". The medium buttons "Pitt & Co. Maddox St. London". The small cap buttons are unmarked. I
have a small bronze 24L button marked "Made in England". Pitt & Co also produced the 27th Lancers buttons "Pitt & Co. Ltd. 31. Maddox St. London", as did Gaunts with a back mark "J.R. Gaunt & Son. London England".
The Gaunt 27th Lancers buttons are slightly more domed that the Pitt & Co product and the stampings are of equal quality.

Regards,

Peter

[Rob Miller]

Good afternoon Peter.

Thats very intersting, "the UK detector finds buttons makers index" states that J.R.Gaunt bought out Pitt & Co in 1973 so presumable they obtained the Pitt dies (and possibly some unfinished button parts) at this point. Could it be that Gaunt also had there own dies for the 24th prior to 1948 but didn't expect these Regiments to be disbanded so quickly?

But I can't help but wonder why Gaunt then manufactured buttons for a Regiment that had ceased to be nearly 30 year previously, after all there can't have been a huge demand from collectors in the early 70s for brand new buttons?

Did officers buy Regimental buttons to wear on blazers, and was there a surge in Regimental re-unions 30 years after the war?

Regards Rob.