8th Union Volunteers
 

Hi could I please ask for opinions on this group , is it original http://militaria-sales.com.au/8th-un...03-p-3599.html thank you in advance

Yes - having seen and held the badge personally (seller is a mate of mine) I can say the badge is good.

Mick

hi Darren
they all look good to me but the collars are unusual in that they have that single lug fixing like British style. don't think I've ever seen this type of lug on another Australian badge. but I could be wrong
bc

Price
 

These have been on his site for quite a while now. Is $1500 a fair price ?

I think so - considering they are a very rare badge. Pretty sure you won't find another one in a hurry.

This is the first one of these badges I have ever seen and I have been collecting for over 15 years now.

Mick

the hat badge comes in 3 finishes, gilt white metal and oxy. the hat badge is rare but there is at least 1 dealer i believe at the moment that has one or 2 of them.
the collars are just as rare and so is the shoulder title, so all up $1500 is fair.
bc

bc,
Do you have a photo of the oxy version of this badge? Reason I ask is that 8 NSW Inf became NSW Irish Rifle Regt in 1903 and 33 Inf in 1912 according to Festberg. Is there a period during the 1890s up until prior to 1914 where oxidised badges were worn in peace-time by the Militia?
Cheers, Keith

hi Keith
I will try and find the pic I have. from memory there are 4 badges, gilt, brass, oxy and whitemetal. will post it when I can but here's another from the forum. what finish would you call this?
bc
http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...ad.php?t=26055

Looks like a blackened or darkened brass finish in the link for sure bc. I wonder if being a Rifle Regiment might have been the reason for it. I was actually thinking of oxidised copper like the wartime stuff.
Thanks, Keith

hi keith
sorry, I was referring to the blackened finish as being oxidised but certainly not like the aussie ww1/2 oxy badges.
I don't know why they would need 4 different finishes but there a nice looking badge.
bc

A couple of scans
 

Sorry the quality is not very good: one is taken through glass from a very old framed collection (not mine unfortunately). The other scan also shows the Irish company of the Union Regiment before it was detached to form the 8th, I think around 1898. Only ever seen a WM version of this, a much thinner striking. The Scottish company became the 5th (one on sale on Ebay at present).

heres another
bc

Could I ask for the link for the Scottish company one on ebay

Ebay link
 

Ebay #131561107891
The NSW Scottish badges were often lead filled and look 'orrible buit are original.

as kingsley says
the NSW Scottish was made of very thin whitemetal. i imagine they bent and broke very easily, therefore they were led filled to the rear. they look terrible from the back but thats the way they were. you can generally see the edge of the badge were the led fill goes. these badges have been copied but the ones ive seen are all led and bend easily.
bc