Royal Irish Regiment

[hindoostan]

Hi,
Can anybody confirm if this badge is good or otherwise. The back looks ok with decent definition and strengtheners but the front looks weak.
Thanks
John

[Luke H]

It’s genuine but badly damaged. The top of the harp is snapped in two and it appear the strengthening bar one side has come away from the harp.

[hindoostan]

Thanks for that Luke. Can't believe I've been looking at it with a jewellers loop and did not spot the obvious split!!
Cheers

John

[Luke H]

It was on eBay recently was it not? I recognise the picture and damage.

Up to you of course but I’d send it back if the damage wasn’t mentioned in the description.

[hindoostan]

Yes it was on ebay, think I paid only about £9 or £10 from memory so may keep it until a better one comes along. They seem to fetch good money, especially from online dealers £30-£40?

Thanks again

John

[Luke H]

£30-40 is dealer list price, perhaps some would charge a fiver more for a nice maker marked example.

One of the things I’ve learned over the year is never pay dealers list prices for ‘ordinary’ infantry badges. They can always be had for less i.e. the price dealers buy them at!

You can often be lucky and get them on eBay for around £25-ish.

Your choice of course but a tenner is almost halfway for a good undamaged example.