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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

My SF Cap Badge


StAubyns

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I am reluctant to post the pics because I have always believed the badge to be genuine and wear it on the side of my Tilley whilst walking.

But really ,I need to know, so tell me the good or bad news :):(

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Geoff

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Trevor,

that is fantastic news, thanks very much.

I bought it about 4 years ago with 2 more badges, a Royal Warwicks & an Essex.

I'm prepared to part with these 2 if anyone is interested but definately not with the Foresters badge. :)

Are these genuine?

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Geoff

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Geoff,

Personally any badges bought within the last ten years can be regarded as "iffy", and that Essex one is as rough as a badgers backside and missing the holes on the reverse of the badge which was used to sweat the whitemetal scroll on. They do all sorts now to age "repro" badges, bend sliders, buff them on machines for give surface wear, used umpteen amounts of Brasso or Soldiers Friend, some even go to the trouble of burying them, anything to give them an aged look.

It's so hard to tell without knowing the dealer or background of the item you buy. If you get them off the wearers family then you're quids in. I'm just pleased I was in this game when "repro" was unheard of and then went onto specialise in just Northumberland Fusiliers stuff, but even some of their stuff has been repro'd.

You can still pick up some genuine pieces in really daft places. At a car boot fair sat in a trinket box was a nice DLI cap badge and a Royal Artillery one. Bought the DLI one and left the artillery one, then went back for it because I couldn't stand the thought of it being alone and unwanted. Luckily I did on closer inspection it was the Territorial Force one with oak leaves insted of "Ubique" on the upper scroll.

Graham.

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Graham,

Thanks for the info. I bought the three of them off ebay, all as genuine, just to get the Foresters badge. Thats Ok so I'm not bothered about the other two.

The Essex is for the bin then. What about the Royal Warwicks, is that Ok or does it need to join the Essex?

I hope your opinion of the Foresters is the same as Trevor's. :)

Geoff

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I wouldn't be too quick to bin your Essex Badge,though it doesn't have the cut outs that some of these badges had by all means NOT all Essex[or other regiment] Badges had them,it also has a good slider,& remembering that the same badge was worn from 1900~1950s & beyond,there are bound to be Maker's variations I have seen much worse in 46 Years of collecting!,the Warwickshire looks to be OK too & Personally I wouldn't be in a hurry to junk either,But if your throwing them away throw them in my direction!

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Your Sherwood Foresters and Warwicks badges look fine, and the Essex badge, on the face of it, looks OK.

Graham's comments are based on the 'standard' essex bade with sweat holes on the back, however there are a number of legitimate manufacturers of badges over a forty year period, and a number of variations.

I am concerned by the appearance of a silver solder where the slider meets the badge. Genuine badges are brazed with brass onto the slider, and give a rock-hard join. Does yours flex or move?

Hope it's OK

Graeme

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That construction of essex badge would suggest WW2. I would be happy with any of those as genuine. There are Essex repros but these are one of the few badges faked with sweat holes but the metals are arther waxy in appearance.

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