Please help on some QC RCN Badge ID's

[LLWill]

Just got these wire bullion badges and I have no idea what they are! Could some one help - PLEASE

Thanks

Larry

[boots and saddles]

Petty Officer 1st class and two Commisioned Naval Officers badges the larger two Queens crown 1953 or later the first a Kings crown up to 1953. The expert on RCN is a fellow here on the forum known by just that name RCN ,his real name Bryan, Ask him anything he'll have the answer. Ray

[RCN]

I have been away for a bit & had a few other things on my plate to deal with so am somewhat behind, & apologies are offered to regular readers of this & other of my RCN threads.

Larry the badges you have pictured are from left to right -
Petty Officer 1st class (Kings crown) cap badge - that is a pre 1953 badge.

The two other are Officer's cap badges & both are post 1953 types.

Bryan

[LLWill]

Thanks - very much

[RCN]

Larry the reason one sees different styles of these gold wire badges (ie: noticable in the construction of the crown & leaves around the anchor), & this can be seen in the two officer's cap badges you have shown.

This is due to the fact that many contractors were engaged to manufacture them, & also some were hand made by military tailors. So quite a few variants can be seen on the market. You also have to keep in mind that thousands of them were made during WWII.

& iI have to add that these RN/RCN badges are being reproduced a lot the past few yrs. I have seen many at shows in my area. If its looks really new & bright, & very stiff, its in all probability a repro. The crowns are usually not all that well done either, if you have seen original crowns you can usually tell a repro example. I dont have a repro example to show tho. Another thing - Gold wire embroidery tarnishes with time & exposure to sunlight, so an original badge will have a patina & some visible wear to it.

Bryan