Opinions & Info Please - British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

Alex Rice · #1 09-10-20, 03:41 PM

Hi All
Are these badges ok? RIR, 25 Dragoons & Lowland Yeo. Is the Lowland Yeo a cap or collar? What is the RIR badge?
Thanks, cheers,
Alex

Luke H · #2 09-10-20, 03:58 PM

It’s an Edwardian Royal Irish Rifles fsc which has lost its blacking. It is indeed genuine.

Home Guard · #3 09-10-20, 04:19 PM

How common is it for a badge to loose the blacking? I've seen badges listed like that but was always dubious about that. Thanks,

Terry

cbuehler · #4 09-10-20, 11:57 PM

I doubt that RIR ever was blackened in the first place. Every originally blackened badge that I have ever seen had a least some remnants in the nooks and crannies.
I am not sure that the RIR ever wore these badges in the brass state as they were either blackened or WM. Some units such as the L'pool Irish did remove the blacking on purpose.
CB

Luke H · #5 10-10-20, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbuehler

I doubt that RIR ever was blackened in the first place. Every originally blackened badge that I have ever seen had a least some remnants in the nooks and crannies.
I am not sure that the RIR ever wore these badges in the brass state as they were either blackened or WM. Some units such as the L'pool Irish did remove the blacking on purpose.
CB

You mean like these bits...

Badges can be chemically stripped and depending how well this is done it will not leave a trace of blacking.

No photographic evidence exists of the WM version of this badge being worn in any setting.

cbuehler · #6 10-10-20, 01:35 AM

Yes, I saw those marks as well. However, in my opinion, they do not appear to be remnants of blacking, but small corrosion spots.
I am thinking this badge somehow survived from the maker without having been finished.

CB