No2 Commando cap badge

[Roy]

I was catching up on some old threads and noticed some reference to the original No2 Commando cap badge hand-made from ‘spoons’. No one posted any images, so I thought this would be a good place to share my example. These were made with the ‘SS’ (Special Service) and without.

Regards, Roy.

[Alan O]

Roy,

Thanks for the photo. First genuine one that I have ever seen. I feel there will be a few fakes being moved out of collections when people see that one.

Alan

[Roy]

Thanks Alan,

I have only seen a couple of others over the years, all are slightly different being hand made. A good friend of mine has one without the SS but has the same marking on the reverse and the same style of construction.

Regards, Roy.

[Luc]

So, a serviceman would handover his spoon to a manufacturer who would craft a badge from it, then stamp it and (whoops) apply a lug over the firm name.

I'm not buying that story.

[Unknownsoldier]

The stamp is already there, it's the maker of the spoon not the badge. And the badges themselves were usually made by the men, as a kind of trench art from what I'm lead to believe or by one the CFN in the unit (armourer, mechanic etc.).

Tom

[Roy]

I believe these early examples were hand-made ‘in camp’ and not sent out to a professional maker. So the ‘spoons’ were just on hand I guess or likely ‘pilfered‘ from the officers mess! The few examples in Peters book (Allied Special Forces Insignia page 46) along with my example and the others I have seen are all different and unique, indicating ‘hand-made’. Although all seem to exhibit similar construction methods.

Regards, Roy.

[Unknownsoldier]

That was my understanding Roy, Baldwin did make cutlery during the early half of the 20thC, so it could be a silver officers piece.....

T

[Roy]

Thanks T

Makes sense to me. My friends example (without the SS) has the same makers mark.

Regards, Roy.

[Unknownsoldier]

Originally Posted by Roy

Thanks T

Makes sense to me. My friends example (without the SS) has the same makers mark.

Regards, Roy.

Roy,

I can just imagine the commando's wandering off with a canteen of cutlery

Also with commando's there was a lot of down time between training and so I guess it was the ww2 equivalent of scrimshaw/trenchart.

Lovely badge BTW, absolutely lovely.

Tom

[wright241]

Originally Posted by Roy

I believe these early examples were hand-made ‘in camp’ and not sent out to a professional maker. So the ‘spoons’ were just on hand I guess or likely ‘pilfered‘ from the officers mess! The few examples in Peters book (Allied Special Forces Insignia page 46) along with my example and the others I have seen are all different and unique, indicating ‘hand-made’. Although all seem to exhibit similar construction methods.

Regards, Roy.

For what its worth, here is an closeup of a couple of the marks that
are still visible of a 'converted spoon'. These are from 'standard' commando
knife only cap badge, not the 'SS" one.
david

[Unknownsoldier]

Originally Posted by wright241

For what its worth, here is an closeup of a couple of the marks that
are still visible of a 'converted spoon'. These are from 'standard' commando
knife only cap badge, not the 'SS" one.
david

Very nice silver marks on that spoon, possibly because it is a softer metal to work in?

[wright241]

Originally Posted by Unknownsoldier

Very nice silver marks on that spoon, possibly because it is a softer metal to work in?

Unknownsoldier, Probably is - so it may have been 'borrowed' from officers
mess cutlery drawer. I haven't had it tested yet but it has the all the signs
of being silver - patina, colour, marks paper etc. When its alongside a HM
silver piece, they look exactly the same. Once I have had it checked by a#
local jeweller, I will post.

[Unknownsoldier]

Silver mark looks to be 1783 Edinburgh to me........ http://www.925-1000.com/dlEdinburgh.html So enough age to be a regimental thing or even an odd spoon from family....

Although it could be 1848 Glasgow, the lion also seems to fit the very rubbed outline preceeding the date letter. At least it doesn't read 1958 or something ;-) LOL

Tom

[wright241]

Originally Posted by Unknownsoldier

Silver mark looks to be 1783 Edinburgh to me........ http://www.925-1000.com/dlEdinburgh.html So enough age to be a regimental thing or even an odd spoon from family....

Although it could be 1848 Glasgow, the lion also seems to fit the very rubbed outline preceeding the date letter. At least it doesn't read 1958 or something ;-) LOL

Tom

My thoughts as well... its obviously from an old spoon - but 1958 would really
put the cat amongst the pigeons wouldn't it.........

I'll see if I can get an even better picture with improved lighting.

[ncc]

thats not a silver hallmark but one they put on electro plate possibly atkin bros birmingham hard to tell without seeing the other bit.but still of the period.
Bob