Strange Wits Rifles badge?

[Brian Conyngham]

Hi all

Had this badge for a number of years, anyone know why it is not voided as per normal ?

Was this to attach a hackle/pipers badge?

Brian

[Traist]

Hi Brian, no idea. Can you take a picture of the back? Regards Andrew

[Brian Conyngham]

Andrew

Here it is in close-up.

I am no expert on these but did they not sometimes wear a green hackle? For a long time I thought that possibly the hackle was attached via this hole by some means, then again this might be totally incorrect?

Brian

[Traist]

Very Strange. I have no idea, but it looks purpose made. Regards Andrew

[Milmed]

Hi,
This is an incomplete fretted badge. From a post I read long ago on a badge forum, I understand badges were pressed out on a machiene and then the internal details were cut out with a fretting saw.
The hole you see is where the badge was predrilled and where the fretting blade would be inserted to start the cutting process. You will sometimes see WWII economy badges were the background was not fretted/cut out (to save on costs and delivery time I suspect).

Steven

[Brian Conyngham]

Steven

Thanks for the input.

I too have heard of fretting being carried out but always thought that it was done on early Officers badges, in many instances Scottish Officers silver badges. I am not so sure about mass produced badges such as the SADF badges produced by possibly Metalart in Pretoria, fretting takes a long time (some Scottish badges took up to a week to be hand fretted!), possibly this example of mine was not properly stamped out in the manufacturing process?

Only one ever seen like this so it is possible it missed the quality controller on the production line? I wonder if this will increase it's value the same as a fault on a coin or stamp here's wishing!

Brian