Unknown Rifles Buttons
 

Hi there,

Hopefully somebody might have a positive ID for these buttons.

They are similar to the Kings Royal Rifle Corps (Ripley 379), except that these pattern buttons have cords/tassels hanging down from the bow/knot whereas the KRRC button just has the bugle strings terminating in the bow/knot.
As there are two different makers, I think it is unlikely to be a manufacturers variation/error etc.

[Ripley 1855-200 - #379 : The King's Royal Rifle Corps. Officers Black Metal QVC, KC and QC. 1881-1958]

Or is it a Rifle Brigade variation?

Any ideas please?

The versions shown below are:
1. QVC, Blackened Brass, 25mm diameter with backmark “JENNENS & Co LONDON (PoW Plumes).
2. KC, Blackened Brass, 25.8mm diameter with backmark “J.R. GAUNT & SON Ltd LONDON ENGd”.
3. KC, White Metal – possibly Blackened or just dirty, 26mm diameter with backmark “J.R. GAUNT & SON LONDON”.

For comparison purposes etc. I have also shown on red backgrounds
4. A KRRC Officer’s button (Ripley 379)
5. A Rifle Brigade button which is of similar design

But again it is the tassels/cords that is the difference. Am I reading too much in to them?

Any help of suggestions gratefully received.

Ian

Hello Ian

I have seen these buttons before (might even have one somewhere) but I have always thought this was just a manufacturer's variation. The 1900 Dress Regulations just specifies a bugle with strings (no specific mention of with or without tassels) and I suppose this was open to interpretation!

As you know there are lots of minor variations on buttons, different spellings and so on. If this is not such a variation then it could be a Colonial or Volunteer Rifles button but if so I am at a loss to make a suggestion.

Regards
Roger

Hi Roger,

Thanks for your reply.
I did wonder if I was reading too much into the presence of the cords/tassels, so will put them down as a 'Manufacturers variation'.
I think I have another couple of examples in boxes upstairs somewhere as well - so they are fairly common.

I have also seen them described as Rifle Brigade as well, but I think you are correct in stating that they are a 'Manufacturers variation' on "The King's Royal Rifle Corps - Officers Black Metal QVC, KC and QC. 1881-1958".

So that is another 3 buttons I can remove from my unknown's box.

All the best

Ian