Royal Flying Corps - Simple Fake Spotting Guide

[LONGSHANKS]

Can someone answer me why badges are seen with lugs, even though the corps was set up in 1914. I would have imagined they should have been slidered, at least O/R's brass versions.

thanks
Simon.

[fougasse1940]

Originally Posted by 2747andy

Hope Forum Members are not bidding on this one?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VERY-NICE-...item35b8f18281

Andy

Apart from the 'bridge' discussed here the makers mark is fake too.

Rgds,

Thomas.

[LONGSHANKS]

I think even without a makers mark, I would run screaming from that slider shape anyway for the period it was supposed to have been used in.

Simon.

[Ashantee]

Andy with all due respect you have very strong opinions but that does not make you right. The RFC were a very large organisation by late 1916 and 1917 as somebody has already commented.

ON page 230 of "Badges & Insignia of the British Armed Services: The Flying Services" (by John Tanner - a collector of note) and published in 1974, he states for the RFC badge "an economy, or unpierced, variant is known". Yes reproductions did exist in 1974 of a number of badges, but if this was a commonly reproduced badge, by now we would have seen a lot more of them. Tanner would certainly have known this too.

Please identify for me the large numbers now circulating of the unvoided RFC badges, because if you can I will most certainly buy them. I have seen perfectly correct unvoided versions of the similar Royal Engineer economy on lugs, attributed to 1917, so why not the RFC one too? As an army unit, it would have been contracted out to the same manufacturers.

[2747andy]

Originally Posted by Ashantee

Andy with all due respect you have very strong opinions but that does not make you right. The RFC were a very large organisation by late 1916 and 1917 as somebody has already commented.

ON page 230 of "Badges & Insignia of the British Armed Services: The Flying Services" (by John Tanner - a collector of note) and published in 1974, he states for the RFC badge "an economy, or unpierced, variant is known". Yes reproductions did exist in 1974 of a number of badges, but if this was a commonly reproduced badge, by now we would have seen a lot more of them. Tanner would certainly have known this too.

Please identify for me the large numbers now circulating of the unvoided RFC badges, because if you can I will most certainly buy them. I have seen perfectly correct unvoided versions of the similar Royal Engineer economy on lugs, attributed to 1917, so why not the RFC one too? As an army unit, it would have been contracted out to the same manufacturers.

I'm sorry but I have yet to see a non-voided RFC badge that I would be happy to call genuine. Neither have I seen an Economy RE badge with lugs that I would consider genuine either. 1916 Economy badges with lugs of any sort are in my "strong" opinion to be avoided, again only my informed opinion, but the "ONLY" lugged c.1916 that I am aware of, is that of the Royal Scots!

If you search ebay you will see many "Solid" RFC badges, please do not waste your money.

Best regards and welcome to the Forum!

Andy

[Alan O]

Originally Posted by LONGSHANKS

Can someone answer me why badges are seen with lugs, even though the corps was set up in 1914. I would have imagined they should have been slidered, at least O/R's brass versions.

thanks
Simon.

It was established in May 1912 to be exact.

[fougasse1940]

Originally Posted by LONGSHANKS

Can someone answer me why badges are seen with lugs, even though the corps was set up in 1914. I would have imagined they should have been slidered, at least O/R's brass versions.

thanks
Simon.

Clothing Regulations 1914 p. 142 Table XVI-Necessaries states about the Royal Flying Corps Badge, cap: For field cap the badge will be fitted with shanks and pin, and for forage cap, with vertical shank.

Rgds, Thomas.