Military Horse Brass.......

[dragonz18]

Hi all,
I would like to start a new 'specialised' thread here on Military Horse Brasses. It's a field that I have a great interest in (both civilian & military), but cannot find a lot of accurate information on these interesting items.
Hopefully we can help each other out here, with pics & reliable details.
I have about a dozen or so badges ,at present & am still looking !
Just another little 'sideline collection' ( one of many ), you understand ?
Will post some shortly,but in the meantime, feel free to pre-empt any of my future postings.
Martingale, bridle ,etc....all items & Regts. acceptable here !!
Cheers !
Steve

[Eddie Parks]

Nice idea for a thread. Somebody had a picture of a really nice Mounted Infantry Officer's martingale badge on another thread recently.

I used to have a Bombay Horse Artillery officer's martingale but I'm afraid its gone!

Eddie

[dragonz18]

Just a couple of general information pics.........
First a Military Bit ,with Bosses still attached.Fairly old o/r's type. Also ,sadly, a little worse for wear & time, by an uncaring previous owner. But shows how they looked .Uncleaned (but stabalised) as yet ,in this case.And not sure how far to go with any refurbishing here.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
(Have had some nice Officer's nickle ones ,in the past,but they were all NZMR ,so did not fit in with my main collecting now & have been traded on.)
Secondly a variety of the standard back fittings.
Top left, Bit Boss, 2 studs N&S ,all are like this.Sometimes used with washers at back on martingales also.
Top right, Martingale badge/boss, with older variety of fixtures.
Bottom left, Bridle Boss, worn at the juncture of the cheek straps & brow band.
Bottom right, Martingale Boss with more standard style of fixings . The number used can vary.
Also found are things like Stirrup strap slides,etc with Regt. embellishments.
Hope this thread will show some great items & solve some mysteries, as unless they are specifically named,I know of no reference that explains their Unit connections,etc properly.

Cheers !
Steve

[dragonz18]

A couple to start it off..........
Fairly obvious Cavalry examples ,the first,KC( Third Kings Own Hussars) may be an Officer's variety,the second,VC / Guelphic ( a little worn & studs removed ) probably an o/r's ( 4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards) . Both are Bit Bosses .

Cheers!
Steve

[dragonz18]

More.......
1. Universal Pattern ,Victorian ,Officer's. Front. Used by all ,with no 'special' badges of their own.
2. Back of same ,showing this to be die-struck (like a cap badge) from a very heavy guage plate of brass.Modern badge makers cannot believe this was possible to produce at that time ,in this way & of this quality.
3. Variation of UP with wreath below.Appears to be gilded Silver metal.Front gilt mostly worn off. Not a clue who used this one.
4. Back of same,showing gilding retained there. A die-cast manufacture here.

The first is a Bit Boss & the second a Martingale badge.

Cheers !
Steve

[dragonz18]

Hi all !
My holiday reading has thrown some further light on this subject.
Some basics ,for British forces only, here.......
Known varieties exist for: 1st & 2nd Life Guards, RHG, all Cavalry(all different), Scots Guards, Rifle regts.(all different), all other Line Infantry ( a standard type here), plus Generals,etc.
Know that RE used the Universal Pattern & assume RA & most others did also.

There is a very large amount of 'special colonial variations' also. NZMR's,etc.
The UP was also used by many here.

Cheers !
Steve

[dragonz18]

Universal pattern EVII.......
1. Standard ,die-cast, front
2. back of same, replaced studs with screws, smaller spaced apart than normal,assumed Bit Boss, but could be a martingale.
3. Standard , die-struck(cap badge thickness), light weight version, sourced from the Burma region.(possible hot climate issue ?? ) Front.
4. back of same, studs removed , more standard spacing for a bit boss)

Both are assumed to be O/R's versions here.

[dragonz18]

This one is a 'bit' ( )of a puzzle.
Obviously Scottish, but which Regt. ?
Dress Regs. 1900 states that the Scots Guards used the Star of the Order of the Thistle. No 'Star' here, though the mottoe is right.
Rifle Regts. had their own srecific versions & Line Regts., a common variety for all, supposedly.
Any info. appeciated here.
This is a Bit Boss with a silver(w/m) centre & brass surround....assumed an Officer's version here.
Fixings cut off ,showing it was removed from the bit by a hacksaw ,or similar.This seems to be a fairly common method of removal. Possibly to retrieve the nickel from the actual Bit ,for scrap metal ?

Cheers !
Steve

[dragonz18]

This is one of the more standard patterns.....
'Infantry Mounted Officers', used by most of the Line Infantry ,excluding the Rifle Regts. that have their own varieties & possibly some ,as yet, unknown ( by me anyways) ,special variations.
Have seem some Volunteer Regt. varieties also ,but cannot be certain of their authenticity.
1. Front ,with most of the Gilding still intact ( die cast )
2. Back ,with fixings intact ( a Bit Boss here ) & showing gilding on edges also.
This is a very nice condition piece, all around. Virtually as mint as is possible.

Note here that the bottom of the strap is in front of the main circlet, this is a variation that I have seen on the UP also. Though not shown here ,as yet. ( As I do'nt have one to show. )

Cheers !
Steve

[Adam H]

Hi All,

I have read this thread with interest. I have the badge pictured below. It matches KK1429 in style, but is very large (about 70x50mm) and has folding tangs on the reverse.

Is this an item of horse brass, or something else?

Cheers,

Adam

[Adam H]

Here is a view of the reverse:

[dragonz18]

Adam,
it looks very much like a Martingale Badge ,by the size, manufacture & fixings used here.
Not sure how the system worked for Yeomanry, yet, but being the Cavalry's Territorials, their 'Horse Furniture' may well follow a similar path of special devices for each Regt. (or for some, anyway ? ) Have seen things like Lothian & Border Horse Bridle Bosses,etc. so items do exist.But would think that these are probably harder to find ,just like their Cap badges ?
Thanks very much for showing this.
Another piece ,another puzzle ?

Cheers !
Steve

[Adam H]

Steve,

Many thanks for your reply. Shame this badge has had a hard life, but it's still handsome in its own right.

Seems this is an area that requires quite a bit of research...hopefully the forum will be able to solve some of the mysteries.

Cheers,

Adam

[dragonz18]

Adam,
Indeed , still a nice piece & I hope you are right. It's hard to find much in the way of good ,reliable information on this topic. But it's likely that there is(are) some book(s), on the subject ,out there, just have not found it(them) yet !
Still, postings of items ,by others ,may help show us the scope available, for further research?

Cheers !
Steve

[dragonz18]

Another one to ponder on ........
Once again,not a clue as to who used this one. Have also seen a couple of others of this pattern.
Fully cast, early style of attachments, Martingale badge with some signs of old gilding.

Cheers !
Steve