Sandcast badges and others - British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

Brian Conyngham · #1 10-12-11, 07:03 PM

Hi All

I have for long been fascinated by the so-called alternative non-official produced badges of WW2. Variaties of these are found in lead, copperish materials and the more common "sandcast" badges which appear to have been produced in Egypt and possibly even India., the SA Railways workshops produced the lead one's. The copperish varieties were apparently produced in Italy, although this is yet to be confirmed, hopefully we can clear up exactly where these came from!

My NC Lead badge is in pristine condition, never worn. The lead was given a silver wash to finish it off, others were given a gun metal colour wash. Most of these lead badges have ended up as fishing sinkers. They are rather brittle and the lugs tend to break off easily.

For the purist these will often be passed off as fakes, repros and bad copies.........what is your opinion?

Please feel free to add your examples.

Regards
Brian

Sonofacqms · #2 10-12-11, 08:30 PM

Brian, as an aside to my thread on sandcast badges, I was going to put up another on badges made in Italy c1944-45. You seem to have beaten me to it!

I have a Shropshire Yeomanry KC with a strap, the three loggerheads are voided and it is in white metal with two copperish loops. I think the source of this came from someone who I know served in Italy which is where I think this particular variety was made. Sadly I have no proof of this.

Any further information would be a bonus.

Rob

Tinto · #3 10-12-11, 09:26 PM

Hi Brian and Rob,
Like others on the Forum, I feel that cast badges do have their place in a collection.
Here is my RNC cast badge for comparison.
Cheers, Tinto

Brian Conyngham · #4 11-12-11, 04:40 AM

Tinto

From your first picture it would appear you have a nice "silvered" bronze example , my silvered cast bronze example is not so crisp and is rather rough. Attaching pictures as a comparison.

I also have an "un-silvered" plain bronze version, will post it as well.

How many other examples do you have?

Rob can you post a picture of your Shopshire badge?

Regards
Brian

Artynut · #5 11-12-11, 04:42 AM

Here are four of my S.A. Arty badges. From sand cast to superb!.BTW, a respected S.A. collector assures me that the Q.C. one is right, Any comments? Regards, David J.

Alex Rice · #6 11-12-11, 08:50 AM

Hi All
Yes, the Transvaal Horse Artillery badge is the only SA badge to officially get the QC, though there are also bullion air force badges with a QC.

I have met a couple of veterans over the years who actually wore sand-cast badges during the war, so I think they do deserve a place in collections.

Cheers,

Alex

iaindh · #7 11-12-11, 04:24 PM

Hi all,

I have 3 sand cast badges in my collection. I tend to avoid sand cast badges generally but accept they do have a place in one's collection.

RTR Egypt badge.JPG sand cast 007.jpg

sand cast 004.jpg sand cast 006.jpg

The Sussex regt and RNC tend to look silvery in the photos but they are actually a brass colour like the RTR front view. For some reason there are a few RTR sand cast doing the rounds in SA; perhaps because so many SA regts fought alongside the RTR in the Western desert.

regards,

Iain

Brian Conyngham · #8 11-12-11, 06:09 PM

Guys

Some nice examples, I will get out some more and post some pics. Iain I agree I have seen a number of RTR sandcast badges as well and have one or two versions in the collection.

David nice selection, I have been after a QC THA for years.

Brian

Tinto · #9 13-12-11, 02:13 AM

HI Brian,
In reply to your question, I only have the one badge. It is wholly brass, no sign of any silvering.
Cheers, Tinto

Artynut · #10 13-12-11, 03:47 AM

Hello Alex and Brian, My reason for asking for comments re the Q.C. badge (and it may be that you both did not get my drift) was the fact that it is such a poor quality stamping. Check the miss-matched die cut-out but it's only in one area! but I was told,as stated earlier, that it is definitely a "good-un". Regards, David J.

Brian Conyngham · #11 13-12-11, 04:21 AM

David

Sorry missed that one, to be honest I have only seen one THA QC a very long time ago, and am unable to comment on whether that was also slightly off when manufactured. I would have thought that a mistake like that would have not been issued however that is pure speculation on my part.

Tinto, thanks for clearing that up, from the pictures yours looks slightly silver from the front and bronze from the back.

Brian

Traist · #12 13-12-11, 06:05 PM

I have a few cast WW2 badges. I will try and pull them out and photograph them tomorrow evening. Regards Andrew

Traist · #13 14-12-11, 03:33 PM

Hi, the first picture is of some WW2 sand cast badges I have. The second is of WW2 lead badges, I have also seen General Service and SAMC in lead. The third is of my 2 Transvaal Horse Artillery badges. Both are die struck with sliders. Regards Andrew

ANGLE IRON · #14 14-12-11, 04:10 PM

I once turned down a cast sherwood foresters badge that was [according to the dealer] made in Italy. Kevin

iaindh · #15 02-03-12, 05:43 AM

Hi all,

I thought I would resurrect this thread to show a Transvaal Scottish lead war cast badge I picked up recently.

Tvl Scot war cast 002.jpg

Tvl Scot war cast 003.jpg

Brian mentioned that the lead badges were made in SA Railway workshops; would this have been in the war theatre when soldiers lost badges or because there were shortages which would then make semi official?

Iain