Comparisons : KC HLI

[Harry Man of Kent]

Two different patterns here. Large vs small elephant. From memory I bought the small elephant version from under the Arches at Charing Cross c 1980 (presumably a Gaunt and the larger version elephant (one lug missing) from a junk box years later, although I reaaly can't remember).

Views much appreciated in whether the large elephant version is ok?

[hagwalther]

Hi Harry,

HLI in KC is as rare as rocking horse shit.

The one on the right may be a good one though but difficult to tell from the images.

The one on the left is a 1980's copy (along with many others made during this era).

HLI in QC was never authorised although I have an example which looks like a prototype by Gaunt that was neither anodised nor colour dyed.

Regards

Chris

[Harry Man of Kent]

Do you have a photo of a genuine KC? I would be interested to find out if the large elephant pattern is ok? Not sure how to tell. As you say the one on the left is an 80's copy, I remember these copies, a different one coming out every few weeks and at about £5 a pop I bought them as stop gaps. I do have an HLI QC, not sure who I got it.

[hagwalther]

Originally Posted by Harry Man of Kent

Do you have a photo of a genuine KC? I would be interested to find out if the large elephant pattern is ok? Not sure how to tell. As you say the one on the left is an 80's copy, I remember these copies, a different one coming out every few weeks and at about £5 a pop I bought them as stop gaps. I do have an HLI QC, not sure who I got it.

Hi Harry,

The duds have more obverse detail than the real thing and are made very thin aluminium. The main issue though is the shape of the 'star'. The east-west points are more elongated in the real thing and also the real badge not so detailed on the back.

Regards

Chris

[Harry Man of Kent]

Thanks Chris, by those criteria mine has a reasonable chance. There is no substitute for handling one you know is good & I don't think I have ever seen any others than mine. Wish I could remember how and when I got it, it certainly wasn't hyped or expensive.