I do respect your opinion and extensive research Hiram but to imply authenticity hinges on a sealed pattern existing and total conformity to it can, in my experience, be a tad short of reality sometimes.
Below are a selection of badges, no sealed patterns exist yet they very much do, are authentic and feature in period photos.
Conversely we know of plenty examples of badges ‘authorised but not worn’.
Throw into the mix also manufacturing errors (metals & designs) some of which are well recorded.
Altogether this adds intrigue to the hobby but makes it one where sometimes the official records do not tell ‘the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth’ when it comes to the realities of the world beyond the walls of the War Office.
I’m no KOSB specialist but I can say it’s certainly not from the repro dies in the Marsh catalogue. Admittedly repros neither start nor end with Marsh. But I’d also hazard with a high degree of confidence that whatever it may be, from its construction, materials and the fixings it is of period manufacture.
I would entirely agree there are a couple unfathomable aspects to its construction. Maybe one day something will turn up and until then it’ll live safely in my ? box.
Best wishes,
Luke
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