Bags of Canadian Badges

[ard-ri]

I have bags of Canadian badges I got for pennies years ago. Thing is, they seem to be very cheaply made. They seem to be a gilt or yellow type metal, lug backed but some have some very bad discolouration around the lugs. They don't bend easily, all are stamped. A couple are bi-metal. Anyone have any idea if these are re-strike / fake or what. Some are listed below, like I said I have bags of them.

17th Duke of Yorks Royal Canadian Hussars.
Le Regiment De Maisonneuve KC bi-metal.
British Columbia Dragoons KC.
17th Prince Edward Island Regiment KC.
Ontario Regiment KC.
Royal Canadian Army Cadets KC
Le Regiment Du Saguenay KC
Canadian Women's Army Corps bi-metal
Royal Montreal Regt.
Princess Louise's N.B. Hussars.
7/11 Hussars KC.
Le Regiment De Joliette KC
Le Regiment De Hull KC
R.C.A.P.C.
Princess Louise Dragoon Guards.

and one in white metal with an armoured arm holding three maple leaves below a Queen's Crown and above a scroll which reads Truth. Duty. Valour.

As mentioned, they are a yellow metal, not really gilt and not staybrite. Any ideas fellas

Michael

[Michael Reintjes]

,,,some like to call these the Ersatz badges,definately original badges but probably out of stores at Camp Borden or the like.The badges you listed seem to have been made in massive quantities during the war and often show up in that yellowy mint unissued condition.They used to show up by the bag full but in recent years are seen less in quantity,You don't need to be worried that they are fakes though,just quantities of common unissued types.

[ard-ri]

Thanks Michael,

Next question, what are they worth?

[Bill A]

Worth, on a good day, about $3 - $5 each. (If you can sell them.) Actually, I had some luck with lots like these and flea market vendors. They seemed to like the badges and either paid me for them in lots or traded me some "good" stuff they had in stock.
If you watch ebay you will see these badges repeatedly offered. As Mike says, someone somewhere took huge amounts of these and put them on the market. Maybe, instead of being destroyed or buried they were snuck out the back door of stores?

[guest_000]

Originally Posted by ard-ri

Thanks Michael,

Next question, what are they worth?

low level dealer now lol

[ard-ri]

Better a low level dealer than a (insert Expletive here)

[Bill A]

Gentlemen, lets keep the discussion about the badges and refrain from shots at each other. Thanks.

[ard-ri]

But he started it! Just kidding, not a problem.

[guest_000]

Originally Posted by ard-ri

But he started it! Just kidding, not a problem.

let me be clear here two can play at this and I like to play you want to stop the cheap shots then I will no problem what is it to be and I never started this but would certainly like to end it.

PAUL

[servicepub]

The "Truth, Duty, Valour" badge is from the Royal Military College.

[Bill A]

The sandbox is a place to throw grit at each other, not the forum. Posts that become personal in nature about forum members will be deleted. Enough said. Lets talk about badges.

[Phillip Herring]

When I first started collecting, these badges could be found en mass with some of the dealers. I particularly remember Newberry's in Victoria having them overflowing and they could be bought for about $1.50. The militaria store a few blocks away was selling them for 3.00-5.00! This was about 1977-79.
Other dealers often carried this same "series" in their bulk bins. Does anybody remember the old Migory lists? Same badges, similar prices at the time. It was a great way to get started in the hobby...my experience. Sort of like a pusher givng you some cheap smack and then you're hooked!

[Chrisr]

Originally Posted by Bill A

Worth, on a good day, about $3 - $5 each. (If you can sell them.) Actually, I had some luck with lots like these and flea market vendors. They seemed to like the badges and either paid me for them in lots or traded me some "good" stuff they had in stock.

Bill,

Are you saying these badges are "no good" as far as Canadian collectors are concerned? If they are original badges what is it that makes them less well regarded than other originals - is it the quantity produced or the quality of them?

Cheers
Chris

[Bill A]

Hi Chris, There are some kc Canadian badges that are so common and available that the laws of supply and demand puts little value on them. The list that Michael supplied at the start of this thread are all easily found badges.
Most of these are "new old stock" badges. Eg original unissued badges that have somehow made it out of stores and onto the market. In large quantities.
In a strange sort of twist, I actually try to find many of these badges from veteran's estates. Actually worn on service vs a badge from a box, never issued and never worn.

[Chrisr]

Bill,

Thanks for that. Makes sense.

Cheers
Chris