Recent Purchases/surprises - British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

Charlie585 · #1 08-09-10, 11:03 AM

Hi gents,

The following badges are fairly recent EBay buys, all sold as originals, I’ve been waiting for them all to arrive before posting apart from the THR which I did include in a previous thread.

You’ll see that they are a mixed bag, some expensively disappointing others pleasantly surprising!

1. KC Para, I have had it confirmed by a highly respected member that this badge is not as described due to the Maker’s mark on the slider, that said others have commented that it does appear to have been worn!
Price paid £24.00

2. Reconnaissance Corps brass, I have strong doubts about this one due to the modern looking lugs which definitely have feet.
Price paid £9.49

3. RAC 1st pattern, in my opinion this appears to be genuine and has a very feint crimp to the slider.
Price paid £4.20

More to follow:

Charlie585 · #2 08-09-10, 11:06 AM

4. RMLI, I think this is an original partly due to the good reverse definition in the globe, however I failed to notice that the bugle strings are missing / snapped off which is a shame as I don’t hold out much hope of a repair here without a good donor badge.
Price paid £3.99

5. Tower Hamlets Rifles, this was listed as a good original Rifle Brigade badge with no reference to the shabby repair. It turns out however to be a genuine THR and is currently in for a proper repair.
Price paid £7.70

As I said a mixed bag but redeemed by the THR so no great loss financially, however I am in a quandary as to leaving feedback so I’ll be contacting the seller direct first to share my findings.

Opinions on all the above are welcome.
Regards to all
Ry

Alex Rice · #3 08-09-10, 12:03 PM

Hi Ry
I posted a para beret badge ages ago which was just like yours, with the parachutes lines not matching up symmetrically. At the end of many opinions I still am not sure if it is genuine, but their seemed to be a 50/50 split. I haven't binned mine in case it is good.
Cheers,
Alex

Charlie585 · #4 08-09-10, 12:20 PM

Hi Alex,

thanks for your reply, interesting to hear of yours.

I know that it might go against the grain but I think that just sometimes not enough allowance is made for manufacturing defects that may slip through the net.

I have a friend who is ex 3 Para from the fifties who has his original two badges of the period.

His "best" badge is chromed as his troop were getting fed up with having to change badges once they were worn due to polishing.They decided en masse to have them chromed.

His second badge is a very polished example from his works dress beret but this badge does have a very obvious flaw,

the Square area at the bottom of the rigging is offset to the left by miles.

He is adamant that both badges are originals from the time of 16th Independent Para Brigade and keeps them in pride of place with his other family badges which include his grandfather's WW1 ASC and his brothers WW2 army comando dagger beret badge.

Regards
Ry

fougasse1940 · #5 09-09-10, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlie585

I have a friend who is ex 3 Para from the fifties who has his original two badges of the period.

Are both his badges slidered?

Rgds,
fougasse1940.

Charlie585 · #6 09-09-10, 08:53 PM

Hi, fougasse1940,

Both the badges in question are lugged I did wonder about this myself!

I had assumed that from what I have read that post 1945 the badges would be slidered.

I'd be grateful for some clarification as given the flaw in the one mentioned even though I would rather give him the benefit of the doubt could this be a cause for alarm bells?

Not that these badges are for sale.

Regards
Ry

fougasse1940 · #7 09-09-10, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlie585

Hi, fougasse1940,

Both the badges in question are lugged I did wonder about this myself!

I had assumed that from what I have read that post 1945 the badges would be slidered.

I'd be grateful for some clarification as given the flaw in the one mentioned even though I would rather give him the benefit of the doubt could this be a cause for alarm bells?

Not that these badges are for sale.

Regards
Ry

The flaw could be a stamping misstrike? Hard to tell without an image.

Rgds,
fougasse1940

Charlie585 · #8 11-09-10, 11:45 AM

Thanks,

I'll see if I can get them photo'd,

Can anyone confirm my doubts on the Recce Corps badge please?

Regards
Ry

Luc · #9 12-09-10, 10:39 AM

Ry, I believe all KC parachute regiment cap badges with a slider are replicas.
The shroud lines are not symmetrical on most solid crown examples; however if you look at the 4th line from the left you can see it touches the middle line around the middle. On good examples it is just below the middle.
Let me know if this makes sense or I'll draw a sketch to clarify.

Jibba Jabba · #10 12-09-10, 10:42 AM

Good call on the Tower hamlets Charlie.

I think you've got all your money back on just that one.

Charlie585 · #11 12-09-10, 10:45 PM

Hi gents,

Thanks Luc,

your points highlighted all my suspicions and although the badge has already been confirmed to me as a fake at least now I know all the reasons, at last!

Jibba Jabba,

Yes mate "Phew"! I was hoping that these badges might finance a nice purchase that I've been after for a while but at least no loss and the THR will go some way towards it once it is repaired.

Regards
Ry

Alex Rice · #12 13-09-10, 07:30 AM

Hi Ry
I should have noticed first time round that my para badge is lugged and not slidered, but it has the same offset shroud lines.
Cheers,
Alex

Charlie585 · #13 14-09-10, 10:27 AM

Hi gents,

The plot thickens, please see this thread:

http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...ed=1#post82326

Regards
Ry