SAS tropical wings , pin back !!! ??

[arrestingu]

Hi
Bought these , thought they were curious as never seen a set real or copies with rear pin ...can anyone add any info ??
Thanks
Steve

[pontecagnano]

Originally Posted by arrestingu

Hi
Bought these , thought they were curious as never seen a set real or copies with rear pin ...can anyone add any info ??

Hi Steve,

The brooch fitting looks like it's a later addition and covers the site of original lugs. So far so good but the interesting thing is the main badge casting. I don't think I've seen one of that pattern before. It's neither original nor a known copy (of which there are many) as far as I'm aware and I have just about all the variations, good (including anodised) and bad, of this badge. A great mystery item to research though

Cheers,

Graham

[arrestingu]

Thanks buddy, I appreciate that ! Some further digging I think !!
All the best
Steve

[JON188]

Hi graham,
Could you share photos of your known original patterns please?
Thanks pal
Jon

[pontecagnano]

Originally Posted by JON188

Hi graham,
Could you share photos of your known original patterns please?
Thanks pal
Jon

Hi Jon,

Sorry for the delay mate - too much work

Firstly, I have to revise my original observations in an earlier thread regarding lug spacing etc. as these may be inaccurate. The reason for this is that a lot of new information has come to light. I'm now also working on the basis of ruling patterns in rather than ruling them out.

I have spoken personally with a former long serving member of the Regiment who recalls the wings being available for issue and remembers two members of the Regiment, who were transiting through his location in a warm climate back in the 1960s, wearing them on their KD.

I believe the three images attached are of original wings and it is possible to see the strong family resemblance. The first is brass, the second gilding metal and the third anodised. I had posted these previously but wasn't sure of their originality but this has now been confirmed by a former member of the Regiment who owns an original wing and a couple of other reliable sources.

I am also investigating what may be a second pattern which is slightly different but this requires additional research. Hopefully more on this in due course.

All the best,

Graham

[Mike B]

Many thanks for posting - always good to learn more about such items, attribution certainly helps inform opinion.
Mike