LRDG cap badge help
 

I have purchased a badge from a dealer who I have brought from before and trust. He has invited me to do this research and promised me a full refund should I be unhappy.
He brought the badge back in the 1980s and it was attached to the belt of a an army battle dress, he had had it since then.

I have read many of the previous threads about these cap badges and tried to research as much as I can. I have noted comments like letters not being fretted out and back legs not touching but would still value feedback on the image I am attaching.

An earlier thread said to use digger history as a good point of reference, to me my badge looks identical to the one on this site marked Cast Original.

I have tried to take the best image possible so that it can be enlarged for detail. I cannot seem to upload more than one image so I will send a 2nd post with back image
Thanks in advance for your help.

Welcome to the Forum oakley666. Your account is active and open for posts. There are several members with expertise in the LRDG badges.

Rear image of badge
 

Here is the rear image, comments please.

Hi,
sorry to repeat what you already mentioned ...bad design elements with this badge which DO NOT correspond with the majority of originals ...letters are not cut out, has a edge on outer circle. Scorpions tail end connects with leg.
certainly one that I would NOT purchase. If you are trying to convince yourself its genuine ,then I would send it back !! You will never be happy with it .
A's you have already done and noted there are good examples of real ones on here if you look through the threads.

Thanks for the quick response.
Can you help me further by explaining why the image on the digger history reference page is considered to be original as it has both the traits you have mentioned and looks just like my image.
I am aware mine may be repro but are confused when almost identical images are classed as originals.
Were the cast versions always fretted out ?
Thanks again for your time

Oakley,

Your badge is a fake. Return to the dealer and get your money back.

Furthermore I would be suspicious of buying anything else from the dealer and get my previous purchases, from him, vetted on is forum.

I attach an image of an original LRDG badge for comparison. Note the tail does not touch the legs, the scales on the scorpion back are different, etc.

The next time you are tempted to buy a LRDG badge why not show it on this forum or send me a pm before you part with your money...

Keith

From the images yours looks like a cast copy of a copy, doesn't get any worse than that.

Rgds, Thomas.

Thanks for the valued and helpful replies.

I wonder if you can help me further my knowledge and understanding by pointing out the different characteristics that make this image I am attaching to this thread a cast original and mine a fake. This image is from the diggerhistory.info homepage that earlier posts quoted as a good point of research. To my amateurs eye they are very similar

Thanks

Personally, I would not use the Digger site as an authoritative reference.

I agree with Bill. That site is full of errors.

I would certainly not use it to research the validity of badges. He made no effort to ensure the badge pictures were of original badges IMHO. He just used any old picture he could find or was sent.

Mick

I would certainly take up that particular dealer's offer of a full refund, if I were you!

I use a simple test with LRDG cap badges which is ~95% effective:

Q) Did the badge cost >£600?, IF:
Y - it is likely to be original
N - It is probably a fake

Thanks again everyone for your help and whilst I hoped it was original it seems the hunt is still on.

Enjoy your collecting

Badges..LRDG
 

I of course could be wrong but...from what i have learned over the last few months......the most authoritative researchers on the infamous LRDG cap badge have found five different types that were in use - from New Zealand, to Rhodesia to British...all have slightly different characteristics. However the restruck ones done for the LRDG association in the 1970s are the most commonly 'fake' ones that people get confused with...these are the double rigged ones...which was probably done on purpose to ensure that they were not confused with originals (anyone help me out here if that was the case). They are not technically fakes as they were done for the association but they are clearly not wartime and certain naughty types sometimes file off the outer rim and worse....tie pins, lapel pins, LRG badges...all exist and i have seen some amazing ones in the last few weeks...they are out there....

LRDG cap badge help
 

Send it back straight away. This is a post WW2 copy. I just hope you get your money back.