SAC cap badge without crown

[Charterhouse.ca]

I've had the gilted officer's cap badge for a while and just assumed that the crown was broken off. However, I recently purchased a similar "silver" badge.

I've now taken a much closer look and have changed my mind. It appears that both badges were originally made without the crown. Plus, the back "lugs" are totally different.

Can anyone help? I'm thinking that these may have been used as the Constabulary was transitioning to their civilian roles circa 1907/08.

Thanks!

[Phil2M]

I would suggest they are from belt buckles

[Charterhouse.ca]

Thanks for the help. Are there any pictures what the belt might have looked like and/or how these would have been placed?

[Phil2M]

I am only putting two and two together and maybe making five. I imagine something like the one below, but with a pin through the eyelets instead of the solder. I am not a SAC expert and especially not one on belts, its just a sort of educated guess

[Milmed]

I doubt very much whether these are for belt buckles.

These are sand cast and not official UK manufactured badges as most SAC badges were. Whether they are period pieces should be the question?

If they are, then my guess would be the central device placed within the circle of the original SAC Victorian crown badge (the one that had a large gapping hole. Try to fit your cast badge without crown into one of these early badges. I suspect it would be a good fit.

Steven

[Charterhouse.ca]

Thanks Steven. That's a definite possiblity.

The small badge does fit nicely into the center of the 1st issue Queens badge. However, then the "South African Constabulary" would be duplicated. Also, it was my understanding that in the centre was the Division's letter, i.e. a C or E.

Possibly this was a short time "fix" between the 1st & 2nd issues.