Quote:
Originally Posted by Luke H
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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Luke,
I am speaking from having served in the Regiment and a member of the regimental Museum Committee spent years studying our history with access to our extensive records and data, I can 100% assure you we as a Regiments never wore a Bronze Cap Badge Officers design or OR's design. The bases of authenticating regimental insignia contained within the various dress regulations and descriptions of the said item with examples held in the sealed pattern for those who were authorised to manufacture such items, are the bed rock of Regimental Badges and Insignia. You have to look no further for a reliable example of Dress Regulations than the 1900 Officers Dress Regulations which is one of the best because it includes photographs of clothing and badges alike, with instructions to Officers to use reparable authorised regimental tailors when ordering items ensuring that they turn up at there regiment with authentic approved items as per the dress regulations.
There is no question about this, we were never authorised or other wise wore a bronze cap badge. However, the King's Own Borderers officers did wear Bronze Collar badges, (as did most of the Scottish Regiments) these were first introduced in 1881, (prior to this officers rank was worn on the collar) Officers, RSM and Band Master of the King's Own Scottish Borderers continued to wear bronze collar badges on their service dress. Illustrated on page 107 of my book) is the 1904 the example of the sealed pattern officers bronze collar badge, which stood the test of time and remained unaltered in design and material for a 102 years until 2006, unique to the British Army when it comes to uniform insignia.
Warm wishes
Hiram