Artists Rifles suspected fake

[Dave S]

am I right in thinking this is a repro or could I be wrong

[Luke H]

A true restrike.

[49lassiepen]

100% restrike

[dumdum]

Out of interest and related to this post, here are two Artists badges with a 100% provenance.

I've posted these before but they may be of interest to new members. At the time I did so, members were kind enough to reply with some service details of the owner. I'll post his name later when I can retrieve the group from storage.

He was my adopted aunt's husband and she gave these to me along with his medals.

[Alan O]

They are fantastic pre WW1 examples. The LH one being the pre-1908.

Superb and thanks for sharing.

[Alan O]

They are fantastic pre WW1 examples. The LH one being the pre-1908.

Superb and thanks for sharing.

As an aside was there ever a genuine w/m version of the full title badge?

The final pattern Artists badge worn in WW2 was w/m but I have always wondered about the pre WW1 era badge and whehter the brass ones were for khaki hats and what was worn on their pre 1914 No1 Dress caps. BB?

[Luke H]

Do you mean this one Alan? If so I’ve a couple. They’re scarce, been told worn by NCOs.

dumdum - believe you showed those previously in another thread. All very nice.

https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...ad.php?t=82655

[Alan O]

That's it. It would be nice if there were dress regulations form the time to show whether it was NCOs or a for a type of hat but being volunteers they often did not record such things with as much dedication as the Regular Army Dress Regulations of the time.

Thanks for showing that one - one more for my 'want's list.

Alan

[Luke H]

Thanks Alan.

There was also a BB version of the Artists Rifles pattern. Again it’s scarce and where it fits in I know not.

[dumdum]

Originally Posted by Luke H

Do you mean this one Alan? If so I’ve a couple. They’re scarce, been told worn by NCOs.

dumdum - believe you showed those previously in another thread. All very nice.

https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...ad.php?t=82655

Hi Luke

Yes, you are correct but I was prompted by the thread and thought that it may add to the discussion to see a "good 'un" right next to a dud.

I also find that I can't always locate a previous post without a bit of digging around. Good to know that the one badge is that early.

There is also a silver pin back sweetheart badge that was part of the lot that I received from Aunt Rosemary. If I've not posted that before, I'll do so.

Is that subdued shoulder title unusual?

[leigh kitchen]

Originally Posted by Luke H

Thanks Alan.

There was also a BB version of the Artists Rifles pattern. Again it’s scarce and where it fits in I know not.

I'm probably way out but was the blackened badge worn on a slouch or smasher type cap?

[Luke H]

Originally Posted by leigh kitchen

I'm probably way out but was the blackened badge worn on a slouch or smasher type cap?

The pre-1908 ‘Artists’ badge was certainly worn on the slouch hat, we have a lovely Boer War era photograph of a NCO wearing it.

The BB ‘Artists Rifles’ badges which are factory blackened rather than DIY jobs are all from the same die. The Minerva with eyeliner die as I call it.

Better pic here:
https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...9&d=1457125562

I’ve never considered these particularly early examples, mostly owing to the slider style, but I may be wrong.

[leigh kitchen]

I've got a blackened (remains of) "greatcoat size" button but that's it, never got a blackened badge.

[Luke H]

As Alan alluded to I think a lot would become clear if we had their dress regs.

As RV and in the early days they worn grey dress uniform, we obviously also have khaki SD and then in 1937 when under the umbrella of The Rifle Brigade potentially a green uniform briefly?

Obviously then by WW2 they were functioning as an Officer Training Corps.

Throw in permutations of rank to above and a very unclear running order of badges pre-WW1 where both patterns were worn and then presumably re-readopted it’s a real quandary.