Royal Devon Yeomanry RFA?

[3903]

Hello forum members,

I would appreciate opinions on the attached cap badge please.
What I like about it is the detail in the voiding and the overall wear.
What I don't like is the font (too round?) and the attachment of the crown to the lion's belly.

I believe it was only issued for a short period after amalgamation in the 20's...

Is this a fake?

Thanks in advance,

Nick

[Luke H]

Yes it’s a repro.

[3903]

Thanks Luke....what's the give away please? (for my own education)...thanks, Nick

[Luke H]

It’s very different to the genuine badge.

The poorly proportioned chunky lion screams Martin Marsh fake, which it is no. 504, and is typical of several fakes in his catalogue. Voids on the lion are also wrong. The rounded ToysRus letter ends. The bands on the torse run in the wrong direction. Barons coronet is too big etc. etc. all mark it out as fake.

Final nails in the coffin are badges from that die are sold by a couple of big eBay repro sellers in scotmint and wiwer3.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/The-Royal...8da6%7Ciid%3A1

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ROYAL-DEV...40e2%7Ciid%3A1

Beware as is there is more than one fake die for this badge which was short-lived and is scarce.

[fairlie63]

Thanks Luke for that explanation.

Had these two for nearly 30 years but they stood out from my Firmin officer's silver, the bronzed and the chromed KC, and the anodised QC RDYA badges I had because the lions on the latter are all voided and much finer. I had always wondered if they were fakes, in fact I assumed the RDY RFA was because of the amount I see on ebay.

Now I know. Which begs the question, was a QC RDYA badge ever struck?

Regards, Keith

[Luke H]

Your KC badge is indeed fake. Sorry I don’t collect QC badges so don’t know, but if you like I can ask a man who I’m sure would?

[fairlie63]

Thanks Luke, no hurry.

I'll put it aside, it has many of the attributes of the fake RDY RFA so I'm happy to accept its not good unless your man knows otherwise.

Keith

[Luke H]

Sorry I forgot about this. Yes there were two QC versions, one has a spelling mistake where Yeomanry is misspelled.

[Artynut]

Well, I might as well throw my lot in for analysis, I now suspect that from the foregoing posts, the two badges on the upper & lower left are fakes? What a bummer!

[fairlie63]

Originally Posted by Luke H

Sorry I forgot about this. Yes there were two QC versions, one has a spelling mistake where Yeomanry is misspelled.

Thanks Luke. I'll keep an eye out then.

Keith

[Artynut]

My post # 9 in this thread was not responded to. No one had a chance as thread was changed in less than 11 hours. I ask again, any confirmation on my post #9?

[Luke H]

Originally Posted by Artynut

Well, I might as well throw my lot in for analysis, I now suspect that from the foregoing posts, the two badges on the upper & lower left are fakes? What a bummer!

Yes that’s correct. The pair on the left are fakes.

I’ve never seen a badge like your middle on before. Is it in WM or SP? Also would that be a makers stamp I can see behind the crown?

Here is the erroneous QC version. One recently sold on eBay which was either bronzed finish or heavily patina-ed. It went for more than I was prepared to pay, but then again I do not collect QC era so had little affection for it.

[Artynut]

Luke, Many thanks for your input, you saved me putting them into my albums. The centre badge you refer to is certainly marked behind the crown Firmin over London. I have never touched or polished the badge. The black “crud” is my own fault (we learn by our mistakes!) many years ago I rolled a ball of electricians tape inside out and stuck the badge to a board along with some other badges. Finding the board a few weeks ago, the tape had dried out, the badges dropped to the bottom of the board. I cleaned a tang on one of the other badges (not these) and had great difficulty getting the crud off! ( the product “Goo-Gone” would not melt it) maybe I’ll try gasoline or acetate. At any rate, not sure if it’s SP or W/M, pretty sure if it were silver, it would have tarnished more in the years I’ve had it. the spurious badge you show is missing the N was that ever issued?
Many thanks again. David J.

[Luke H]

I have actually seen a Firmin one like that before also with copper loops. Certainly not an ORs badge. In SP I believe.

The QC badge I showed with the spelling mistake is not spurious it’s genuine. I know that they were quickly withdrawn. I’ve seen some with signs of wear.