Motto for inspection
 

I have this motto which I would value opinions on.

Thanks for looking

Rob

It was amongst the listings offered by this seller who responsible for the ‘gems’ in this thread…

https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...065#post577065

Not a badge I would have bought if solely out of principle.

.....did somebody run over it?

Motto
 

It seems the bones on the end are a bit flat, quite why this is I have no idea, the rest is OK.

Rob

.... its a bit difficult to appraise in that state Rob?

The entire badge is flattened, including the skull. Strange in that it has what appear to be good lugs that are often found pinched on older badges with short lugs. Even though it does not appear to be one of the myriad of fakes and restrikes, I would not want it. I can't even tell if it is GM or WM.

CB

Hi, Not sure why, but I can't follow the link. It says something about not having permission to access the page?

Ellis

Motto
 

Sorry if appears that the badge has been completely flattened, as I said it is only the ends of the cross bones that are flattened, I will take some metal polish to it to discover what metal it is made from, either W/M or G/M.

Rob

Motto for ideas
 

When I saw this motto on ebay there was something different about it, something I could not put my finger on, but different . . !

Placed in a tub of vinegar and given a scrub with soap and water, hey what happens . . !

A hole in the head or rather the skull, now I know this old veteran has had the bone ends flattened for whatever reason, but how come the hole?

Some dealers may tell you it was caused by shrapnel on the Western Front, and they could be correct.

But apart from the vandalism and the hole in the head could anyone tell me when this badge was worn?

Rob

Seeing the back cleaned like that I believe even more it’s modern and a repro.

As I said at the time the same seller ‘albert.doris’ sold these gems. He/she had no genuine badges for sale. Many rubbed flat with an emery board and dark artificial staining, even a couple holes punched in a wonky Cambs… .

Sorry but I think you’ve been had.

The classic why do repro-ers do this, because someone always buys it for curiosity or thinking they got something special.

Indeed same seller has another motto for sale, again heavily stained, nose and brow emeried and this time a bit of filing to the spur bone joints.

Very inventive. I don’t wonder if it’s a cottage industry in their shed.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/203945333...sAAOSwTCNieUjf

The motto is . . !
 

I must admit that after many years of collecting badges I find this appalling, the badge was not that expensive and it is certainly a lesson learned on how far people will go regarding the "aging" of badges.

My only fear is that they may in the future get hold of an original badge and ruin that by "aging".

Thanks to all who commented on this "old veteran".

Rob

Motto outcome
 

Well forum members, the long and short of it I got a full refund, happy days . . !

Thanks for your comments.

Rob

Great news Rob, well done.