Royal Irish Rifles 1903 Pattern cap badge - fitment query.

[John Mulcahy]

Gentlemen

I would appreciate any help please with the 1903 pattern Blackened cap badge (sealed pattern number 5849) to the Royal Irish Rifles.

The information I have shows that this badge was sealed with a vertical shank (slider) in 1903, it was subsequently re-sealed in 1907 as 5849A, there is speculation that the re-sealing was to address the position and/or type of slider to reduce breakage.

I have acquired a sample of the 1903 pattern badge recently, images of which are attached.

The badge looks genuine to me; very crisp strike, pierced scroll ends and the loops look good to me. The badge is in very good condition.

The fact that is has E & W loops is suprising to me. I would have expected a slider. Looking at the back of the crown there is a slight possibility that it may have once had a slider low down on the crown , where it joins the harp – but I can’t be certain.

I would appreciate help with the following.

1) Do any of you have examples of the 1903 pattern badge with loops, is so may I see images of the back or at least know the orientation of the loops and whether there is any evidence of a slider.

2) I would love to see any samples of the back of the 1903 pattern that members have to see the point at which the slider is fixed or whether the slider is “hair pin”. What I am really looking for is an indication of why it was re-sealed in 1907.


3) If any kind soul will be at Kew in the coming weeks (or if info is already available) would they check W0359 A11 Page 218 and A12 Page 154 to see what is mentioned about fitments on this pattern.

any other comments on this item are of course welcome.

thanks


John

[KLR]

Dammit, I was looking at vol 11 last week ! Ah well, next time (in a week or two hopefully) !
H N Y to you
J

[2747andy]

John,
by coincidence I have just posted a reply on the "Wilkinson" thread as a reply to Alans dismissal of solid stringed R I Regt badges.

http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...ead.php?t=8816

I am confident that the badge I have posted with solid strings is also an attempt to resolve breakages by a repositioning of the slider? Julian any chance you could check this one out too?

Best regards and a belated Happy New Year!

Andy

[irishhorse]

Hi John, attached front and back of a badge with slider in my collection.

[Alan O]

Originally Posted by 2747andy

John,
by coincidence I have just posted a reply on the "Wilkinson" thread as a reply to Alans dismissal of solid stringed R I Regt badges.

http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...ead.php?t=8816

I am confident that the badge I have posted with solid strings is also an attempt to resolve breakages by a repositioning of the slider? Julian any chance you could check this one out too?

Best regards and a belated Happy New Year!

Andy

Hang on there was no dismissal of it at all!!!!!! It was merely a comment that it is an example of an old badge that defys the sealed pattern. I doubt it was breakages but rather a way of 'cheapening' the cost of production time.

As regards the RIRifles /RURifles I think that they always had solid stringed and do not have a voided one.

[John Mulcahy]

Originally Posted by irishhorse

Hi John, attached front and back of a badge with slider in my collection.

Many thanks IH - any others out there please?