War Dept stamp

[Waterloo1815]

I wonder if anyone can tell me if the War Dept stamp on this Inniskilling badge can help to date it?

[Bill A]

Hello Waterloo1815, welcome to the Forum. Your account is active and open for posts.

[Luke H]

Yes it does, they appeared in the 1990s as I recall. Only found on fakes.

[Waterloo1815]

Oh that's very disappointing. Nonetheless it will fill a gap in a wall display for now. I wonder why these people go to all the effort to create false stamps as I would probably have bought it anyway (without a stamp) as it looked like a nice badge (yes, I'm a beginner at badge collecting & clearly have a lot to learn!). That's a seller I'll be crossing off my list.

[magpie]

Still on sale as far as I'm aware.

[Home Guard]

Waterloo, stick around the forum long enough and you'll realize nearly everybody here, if not everybody hear has picked up fakes and duds.

I have to agree with you about why people even bother to ruin the hobby by making fakes, but it all comes down to the almighty dollar/pound - greed!

I usually pass my duds on to friends who like military bits, but who are not collectors as they seem to enjoy them anyway. I do tell them why they're getting it, i.e. because it's a fake.

Don't be discouraged, seek reliable sources you trust and stick with them. Also keep an eye on the classified section and also don't hesitate to list your wants. I feel you can comfortably trust the folks here.

Terry

[Waterloo1815]

Terry, many thanks for the info. I have been collecting militaria for many years, but only very recently turned to cap badges as a more affordable extension to my hobby. My previous militaria purchases have been from trusted sources, but I know nothing about cap badges. Is there a list of trusted sellers/shops, or places/people to avoid?
Regards,
Leo

[Lancer 17]

G'day Waterloo1815

First off welcome to the forum, theres lots of folks here who will / can help you, but I recommend that you get a few reference books, theres lots that cover cap, collar and shoulder titles without going on to the more specialised ones. If you can find them theres 2 Kipling & King volumes that most collectors and dealers use as a reference.

Keep an eye on the fakes and repros section at the top of the home page and badges for identification and don't be afraid to ask questions.

And for the record the 6th Inneskilling Dragoons badge that you have shown is as far as I know, always a Bi Metal badge.

Good luck

Phil.

[Waterloo1815]

Phil,
Many thanks for the advice. I already have the K&K ref books as someone suggested them to me awhile ago and I managed to pick up both volumes for £75, which I was told was a reasonable price to pay. I just wish I had come across this forum awhile back as it would have saved me some money by avoiding fakes/copies/restrikes (still not sure what the correct term is). Going through my small collection I calculate that possibly a fifth are fakes. I did check the Inniskilling badge in K&K before I purchased it, but the War Dept stamp fooled me, oh well, live and learn as they say.
Regards,
Leo

[Alan O]

The tell-tales are:

The die is a well know fake ie the flag pole length and style and 4 rows of bricks above the central windows are a give away.
The tower windows are not pierced but solid.
The WD stamp is a fake mark and never used on cap badges.
The cap badge was only made in bi-metal for ORs. Only a handful of cavalry regt badges were authorized for production in all brass in 1916.

[Waterloo1815]

Alan,
Again, many thanks for the info. Is there a list of recommended dealers so that I can steer clear of any charlatans?
Regards,
Leo

[Alan O]

Leo

Unfortunately I do not like to proffer such advice as I am afraid that even some of the long established dealers' websites contain badges that I would not buy. Worringly in fact the offering on some of the longer established dealer's sites recently seem to be full of an increasing number of fakes.

Many dealers sites (and I think of the most well known ones) price at 50-100% over the auction prices so there are few bargains to be had.

Badges in the forum sales page are far more competitively priced.

Ebay is full of fakes but you can find a decently priced genuine badge if you do your research. the forum has some excellent threads and I think there is probably a thread on most badges that point out the tell-tales and the fakes.

Alan

[Waterloo1815]

Alan,
Again, many thanks for the pointers. As I replied elsewhere, I am already compiling my own list of good or bad sellers (based on my own limited experience), so I'll continue with this and hopefully gain more experience as I go along. Yes, I understand the reluctance to point to any 'dodgy dealers', and on reflection it was an unfair question for me to ask.
Regards,
Leo