What The Naked Eye Won't Necessarily Show You

[rhodesianmilitaria]

I have always found that raw photos taken at macro show more detail that what can necessarily be seen with the naked eye. Even looking at the item through a camera lens can show small details that can help one to tell the difference between a period genuine item and a copy and a fake.
From my experience once you know that and you have see enough copies or fakes, it then becomes quite easy to tell within a very short period of time.

Here's an example and these photos were taken with a relatively cheap camera many years ago.

In case anyone is wondering they are of a Selous Scouts officers beret badge and these were struck from silver and made by Reuteler Manufacturing. The reason I have shown the reverse is because I have always been able to tell just by looking at the reverse.

SSOB_05.jpg SSOB_06.jpg SSOB_09.jpg

[wright241]

Thanks Peter. Wish I had one I could take pictures of....
Rgds, David

[Frank Kelley]

Hello Peter,
Anything you would care to add, in particular, regarding the horse in your copyright mark, is the horse yours?

[rhodesianmilitaria]

Haha yes that was one of my horses. He was a cow-horse.

[rhodesianmilitaria]

• The badges are struck.
• There were seven different stampings on the reverse.
• There were always striations on the reverse.
• The lugs were always brass.

[Frank Kelley]

Hello Peter,
That is certainly a good point to raise regarding the lugs, to people that are used to looking at officers badges of the British Armies regiments, they would, I think, find it a rather odd fact.
Kind regards Frank

Originally Posted by rhodesianmilitaria

• The badges are struck.
• There were seven different stampings on the reverse.
• There were always striations on the reverse.
• The lugs were always brass.

[rhodesianmilitaria]

Rhodesian light Infantry officers badges made in the UK pre Rhodesian UDI had silver lugs and were hallmarked. These were primarily worn until 1970.

RLI_UK.jpgRLI-Officer's-Beret-Badge-S.jpg

When Rhodesian became a Republic in 1970 the Queens Crown was replaced with the ribbon. These badges came with flat backs (solid silver) or hollow back (silver). I have only ever seen the flat back badges with brass lugs but the hollow backs came with brass or silver lugs.

RLI_02.jpgRLI_01.jpg

Tomorrow I will take a photo of the hollow back officers badges with silver lugs and post them in this thread.

[manchesters]

Peter,

Do you have any officers SRA cap badges to show please?

regards

[rhodesianmilitaria]

No I only collected officers badges to the Selous Scouts, RLI, RAR and Greys Scouts.

[rhodesianmilitaria]

These are photos of an RLI officer's hollow backed beret and collar badge with silver lugs instead of brass.
They are not stamped 'SILVER' and yet are clearly made from silver and made by Reuteler Manufacturing in Salisbury.

Beret badge.

bb.jpgberet-badge.jpg

Collar badge. Lugs in a vertical line.

cb_obv.jpgcb_rev.jpgcb.jpg

[Frank Kelley]

I think the little silver Firmin RLI is a super little badge, not so easy to find these days either.

Originally Posted by rhodesianmilitaria

Rhodesian light Infantry officers badges made in the UK pre Rhodesian UDI had silver lugs and were hallmarked. These were primarily worn until 1970.

Attachment 114558Attachment 114559

When Rhodesian became a Republic in 1970 the Queens Crown was replaced with the ribbon. These badges came with flat backs (solid silver) or hollow back (silver). I have only ever seen the flat back badges with brass lugs but the hollow backs came with brass or silver lugs.

Attachment 114561Attachment 114560

Tomorrow I will take a photo of the hollow back officers badges with silver lugs and post them in this thread.

[rhodesianmilitaria]

RLI Queen's crown mess dress badge made by Firmin. All of the English made RLI officer's badges are becoming scarcer. Mess dress are the scarcest.

firmin—-rev.jpgfirmin-lugs.jpg

Peter,

Many thanks for posting the pictures of the badges and for confirming about the lugs, most useful information which may well saved me from getting stung when it comes to acquiring an officers Scouts badge.

Cheers,
Marcus

[rhodesianmilitaria]

Originally Posted by HAMMO2440

Peter,

Many thanks for posting the pictures of the badges and for confirming about the lugs, most useful information which may well saved me from getting stung when it comes to acquiring an officers Scouts badge.

Cheers,
Marcus

An email to me with photos of the prospective badge would stop you from getting stung.

Closeup photos of the lugs on a Selous Scout officer's beret badge.

Selous Scout Off_lugs.jpgSelous-lug.jpg

[rhodesianmilitaria]

And then we have these types of pebbled reverses on RLI and RAR (Rhodesian African Rifles) officers collar badges.
These are very scarce, especially the RLI ones. The story I was told many years ago that one or two Africans that worked for Werner Reuteler took the liberty of adorning the reverse with this pattern. I don't know if it's true but it sounds good.

RAR officers collar badges were also worn by officers as beret badges.

rar_obv.jpgRAR-OFF-collar-badge_rev.jpgRAR-OFF-cb_rev.jpg