British Napoleonic Shako plates,

[Drummer1]

Does anyone know a "go to guy" for British Napoleonic stuff, anyone with any authority or experience handling the stuff, Plate in question below

[49lassiepen]

Dixon P

[manchesters]

Originally Posted by Drummer1

Does anyone know a "go to guy" for British Napoleonic stuff, anyone with any authority or experience handling the stuff, Plate in question below

Drummer,

The front doesnt inspire me, can you show me the rear please.

regards

[Neibelungen]

If genuine, it would have been an officer's plate to a non-badged regiment. (ie, one that used a similar plate but carrying badges and devices specific to their regiment. eg, 1st, 27th foot etc).
The holes would be for numerals for the regiment number.
Officers plates had a seeded ground. O/R's were flat. Officer's plates were commonly gilt copper, but a few brass alloy ones exist too. Plates were generally thin by badge standards today, often around a 22 or 24 g metal

However, these numerals were often more usually stamped integral to the plate and rarely mounted separately, though there are a few examples but these are more likely to be precedence numbers for volunteer or militia than regular line regiments.

These plates have been widely reproduced for film and reenactment purposes so a great deal of caution needs to be had in evaluating them.

Key features would the signs of mercury gilding on the front only with only a small spill around the edges. The edges of the plate are often 'turned' in on the rear rather than pierced or cut, but it's not universal.
Lugs (or traces of) to the rear would be a 'U' loop of soft soldered iron wire. Lugs were never used.

The plate should be 5 1/2" tall and many reproductions are often slightly smaller. Width can vary but should be 3 1/2 to 3 3/4".

These plates were only in use from 1812 to 1816 and a number of regiments only changed over to them in 1813/14 so they are quite scarce.

Hope that helps, but a back view would definitely assist.