Malayan Scouts
 

Original? Any thoughts on this piece would be greatly appreciated.

I like it, think it's a good original badge, seen a few. Regards Mark

Personally I would want a very clear in shot pic front and back just my opinion.
Cheers
Steve

Imo NOT original. Ive owned it
 

Hi all. DESERT RAT in particular.
I owned this a few years back.
The seller sold it in good faith.
You can see the top rear right corner where i pulled back the leather to check the rear as something didnt sit right.
When i used a UV light it lit up like Christmas.
I returned it and Cadet direct (current owners) bought it thinking it was an original to base their several versions of copies on.
I live in the same town as cadet direct and was offered the chance to buy an original MS patch from then by a guy i know who works for them.
I jumped at the chance to add another to my collection.
As my mate started to describe it, i had to stop him and described it to a Tee (even to the corner).
To say they were gutted is an understatement.
I offered them a decent price to buy it as a replica as its a good (copy imo).
They turned it down saying they wanted what they had paid for it.
I did inform them that if it was offered on the market as original, i would share my thoughts to prevent someone buying a possible fake.
Its your money so invest if you wish.
My opinion is only that...
MY opinion.
PSA a couple of pix from my dropbox from 5 years ago.Attachment 215506

Attachment 215507

Attachment 215508

As above, not an original badge

Jon is 'the' man on these (and many other similar items) - I for one will be steering clear. It does look rather 'woolly' to me. There appear to be several other stand out alarms if you look closely at the Kris and border.
Mike

Thank you Jon. The information is much appreciated.

The badge is an old copy one of Trevor Bate from about 1989 , we really need to do a album on his wares ....

Trevor Bate
 

Hi Michael ive never heard the name mate. Now that worries me lol.

Good morning , ARH Trevor Bate - the ` mischief maker` back in the dark an distant days of the 1980s There was a militaria dealer Trevor Bate( Paul Laycock may remember him ) who stood the arms fairs elderly gent even back then always wore a base ball cap think his thing was American Air Force items , any way Trevor used to have copied victorian helmet plates rare metal badges / cap badges etc .

Along with all these he had a little folder of reproduction special forces cloth items included S.A.S wings,F.A.N.Y shoulder titles parachute wings Malaya Scout patch and shoulder titles and RFC / RAF wings a rather good Eagle squadron patch.

Now let me state quite clearly to the best of my knowledge Trevor never intended to deceive he sold every thing as space fillers the special forces cloth sold for 4/5 quid it was when other dealers got involved and started aging the badges.

Now the big problem here for special forces collectors is the fact that these early badges although made in Pakistan were of a lot finer quality so when a perhaps less experienced collector handles a set of Trevors badges because they differ slightly from the known copies of today they get excited and presume they have an original.

All I can say is the ones I saw were good but ` just not right` a lot of these S.A.S wings were attached to B.D,S and service dress 20 odd years ago and offered by high end UK dealers often genuinely so they are now well and truly bedded in the food chain....

I would recommend any one wanting to learn more would be to join the WEHRMACHT AWARDS forum and view the british section this was one of the first and best forums that covered british S.F insignia if they old threads exist Trevors badges are shown and discussed



........an a lot of nasty men are gona hate me for writing this thread ...

Michael - thanks for the detailed update. Another reason why manufacturing 'space fillers', reproductions, etc should be regarded as Criminal - perhaps unless marked thoroughly for re-enactors and the like. Your reference to 'no intention to deceive', and 'now truly bedded in the food chain' absolutely encapsulates the dangers of manufacturing such tat. In my own opinion only - a space filler is a blot in a collection. I would rather leave a gap or even just place a photograph or illustration in a display - rather than something pretending to be something it is not.
Hoping readers will excuse my rant, but this sort of deception undermines our hobby.
Mike

Yes. You're right and some on this forum do it.

I'm sure they will. And there are people on this forum that make out that butter wouldn't melt in their mouths but are involved in undermining the hobby in more ways than one.

Probably why this forum is on its arse

So why is this Forum " on its arse " ?
Andy