SWB?

[thursdaychris]

I have searched through every post I can find about the SWB with no joy, so I'll need to ask some of you fine fellows. The first 2 images attached, show a badge that is currently listed on eBay, the next 2 images show a badge that I have, and which I think may well be a similar badge that has had it's lugs removed and replaced with blades

The badge is 39mm in diameter, and the only possible mention of any such badge I've found is listed as unidentified (Fig 683) at the end of Churchill's SWB section. Of course it may well be just another fake item, which would make the seller, a bit of a naughty boy, for describing it as a SWB, OSD, cap badge with an unusual light bronze finish!

[Fatherofthree]

I have a very limited knowledge of SWB badges, but in my opinion, the badge being offered is a wrong 'un.

My reasons:
Very large footed lugs.

OSD, I believe, as for other Regiments should be on blades and there doesn't appear to be any evidence of blades being removed and replaced with lugs.

Too much Soldiers' Friend to the reverse, (no evidence of such to the front), added to give the impression of age.

As always, I stand to be corrected.

Regards.

Brian

[cbuehler]

I second Brian's appraisal regarding the first badge. Whilst lugs did at times appear on certain OSD cap badges, this is not one of them. The chocolate coating appears artificially "aged" and most OSD badges were cast, not die struck as this. It is held by some that OR issued badges were on occasion converted to bronzed OSD as a field expedient of sorts, but if this were to purport as WW1 economy badge converted, it fails in that regard as they were not lugged, nor does this example match any known genuine economy strike that I know of.

CB

[thursdaychris]

Many thanks, chaps, there is no suggestion that badge #1 is any kind of officers piece, badge #2 was described as such and priced accordingly by an online dealer. I needed a Bronze OSD, SWB, badge to pair up with the silver one, in my latest collection, and although there are quite a few silver ones available, bronze versions seem a bit sparse, so I went for this one. I have had several good badges from this particular dealer, but I do somehow think that I've been "had" with this one, it's probably destined for the bin, when a better one comes along.