Glider Pilot Regt cap badge???

[DougSA]

Any thoughts on the authenticity of this one?

D.

[2747andy]

Doug,

I'm sure you are aware that it is a 1940s Army Air Corps (worn by Glider Pilots/Crew) Badge.

As for the badge itself, the rear photo gets a little blurred when blown up!! The presence of metal polish residue on the back is a Fakers trait to give the impression of age and always worries me, especially when the front of the badge looks unpolished? I'd like to see a clearer picture of the slider, until then I'll err towards "Copy" (my opinion).

Best wishes!

Andy

[DougSA]

Thank you for the reply!

Herewith, the best close-up I can do for now on the slider.

Doug

[2747andy]

Doug,
thanks for the additional image, I'm still dubious! Your badge seems rather shiny and the residue may be there to mask it!

I've attached images of ORs and Officers Silver Plate (uncleaned sorry!!) badge for comparison! - (I now know these are FAKE!)

Regards!

Andy

[cbuehler]

While polish residue on an otherwise shiney reverse may be a potential problem, it is by no means an outright indicator of whether a badge is genuine or not. I can see no obvious problems with Doug's badge, but as with many badges that are made in solid WM or GM, it can sometimes be impossible to determine a good restrike from a genuine example with certainty, no matter how "expert" one may be.

CB

[Luc]

Doug, Andy, I'm afraid all examples shown are replicas. As far as I'm aware there are 5 different original patterns, this is the most common one in whitemetal:

[Luc]

Then there is a similar one in white metal, but with a solid crown and a huge cast fault mainly around the eagle's head. Then there is solid silver (hallmarked), cast bronze and last the economy version in plastic/bakalite.

[Luc]

Example with cast fault:

[Luc]

Example of the cast bronze badge:

[Alan O]

Originally Posted by Luc

Example with cast fault:

I have this version with indisputable WW2 provenance.

Alan

[rubicon]

Hello Gentlemen,
I present my Army Air Corps OR white metal cap badge that I believe to be an original, it shows some wear in particular on the AAC letters. In my possession for long time and long before eBay was existing! Your thoughts are welcom. J-F

[Luc]

I would like to see the one in bullion, I've never seen that one apart from the modern day AAC examples.

Rubicon, you will see that yours is identical to the ones on ebay which in my view is the most common replica:

370162504871, 260363797438, 220360053879, 380089285376, 150308196283, 220299911672, 350171121209, 370162258991, 120378269740, 390031059999, 200309938691

[rubicon]

Thanks Luc, mine looks wrong now...
The main differences between your white metal cap badge and all the other seem to be in the eagle beak and claws which have a better definition on yours.
Do you assume all the original OR white metal cap badges are made exactly like yours? J-F

[fougasse1940]

[QUOTE=Luc;33569]I would like to see the one in bullion, I've never seen that one apart from the modern day AAC examples.

See for instance: Claude Smith: 'History of the Glider Pilot Regiment' between pp. 110-111; photo #20 or (same photo, but less clear) Alan Wood 'The Glider Soldiers' between pp. 186-187 S/Sgt. Tommy Moore MM.

Rgds,
fougasse1940.

[Luc]

J-F, I assume that is Jean-Francois? As far as I know there are 2 WWII patterns of this badge in whitemetal, the one I show and the one with th die flaw.

Fougasse, I don't have either of those books, I don't suppose you can make a scan?