Farkas

On 13/12/2023 at 01:19, hxihiu111 said:

It looks weird to me.

It does to me as well…

there is an extra line I think here too 

and the rim on the left is much wider than that on the right…

However, I’ve just seen some with different but equally dodgy looking variations being sold by reputable dealers so your guess is as good as mine 🤷‍♂️
 

The medal below doesn’t seem right either but to those in the know it’s a known variant 👇

Unless one of our experienced Gents chips in with a ’thumbs up’ I wouldn’t trust it myself.

Such a minefield this game… ☹️
 

tony 🍻

53 minutes ago, Christian1962 said:

This appears to be a Bundesheer Generalmajor between 1933 and 1938:

 

Nice pic at all. Is there an inscription on the backside?

Regards

Christian

Hello Christian,

unfortunately not on this one.

it is a glossy photograph rather than a postcard/rppc which would make sense for that later period.

I’ve tried to get a better image of him…

tony 🍻

15 minutes ago, Farkas said:

just noticed you said F-S 😪

how about this one instead?

tony 🍻

On 03/04/2023 at 14:30, Carlo said:

Hi all, I have had this miniature chain for a while, clearly from an officer who survived the war, based on the toucan silver mark W 4 used since 1922.

In addition to this it also have a manufacturer's mark F-S, which I haven't been able to identify yet, does anyone know anything about it?

 

Carlo

Carlo, a good chance it’s this fella 👇

tony 🍻
 

edit…

just noticed you said F-S 😪

Hello Gents,

no prizes for guessing the theme.,.

& the reverse with all names 👇

& the reverse 👇

cheers 🍻

tony

1 hour ago, Harry the Mole said:

Some nice pistols there. Are you going to buy any?

On 13/12/2023 at 22:45, SillyOldGrandad said:

Because I used to have a thing about Nurse Gladys Emmanuel.        Pete.

Can’t argue with you there Pete…

—-/://—-

On 13/12/2023 at 04:15, dpk said:

They may have (but not confirmed) a link to Liverpool Police.

DPK, I don’t know your reason for a possible Liverpool connection so it may be coincidence but in it’s earliest days there was a strong Liverpool connection with the QNI.

tony 🍻

On 14/12/2023 at 17:48, TracA said:

Farkas,

 

Wow, what a great story and a great way for it to turn out. Being able to dig up records about the seller's father is wonderful icing on the cake.

 

All the best,

 

Tracy

Exactly 🍻

I haven’t a clue what they’re worth yet but I’m going to try and find some similar ones, hopefully, to get an idea.

He’s a retired MOD blacksmith and for years he picked them up whenever he saw one. He just enjoyed cleaning them up, there’s no work required on them… if I’m ever getting one now’s the time!

I’ve got first dibs but I suspect they are going to be worth a few quid. 

Any thoughts about them Steve?

PS… I like the third one from the left, the one below the one with the ring… 

23 hours ago, Harry the Mole said:

Hi Tony,

 

Just to muddy the waters a bit more for you, it should really be referred to as a 'Caliver'. The Caliver was a shorter version of the Arquebus - although both were matchlock. The standard matchlock of the Civil War period came in a variety of bores, and this caused problems for the musketeers on the battlefields - who often found that they had to deform the shape of musket balls to make them fit the barrel. A shorter version of the Arquebus was introduced with a standard bore of barrel, and this was known as the Caliver . The word Caliver  was a corruption of the Italian word for internal measurement - which was Calibre. And that is basically how the word Calibre or Caliber came to mean the size of the bullet for any particular weapon.

 

The matchlock was replaced by the wheellock - a system of igniting the powder which had many advantages over the matchlock, but was rather complicated and expensive to make. The (VERY) basic principle of how it works is when the trigger is squeezed, a wheel spins and causes sparks, which in turn ignites the powder in the pan. After that came the Snaphaunce and Doglock. The Doglock had no internal half-cock position, so the hammer  was held back by a catch - the 'dog' - which engaged with the hammer as it was drawn to the rear. The gun could then be safely loaded and the hammer fully drawn to the rear and ready to fire.

 

The next stage in the evolution of these weapons was the Flintlock, with this variation having an internal half-cock position, As the hammer was drawn to the rear, it was held at half-cock and rendered safe to load. This next bit is off topic, but serves to illustrate the use of half-cock as a safety feature.

 

Even some relatively modern weapons used the half-cock as a safety device rather than a proper safety catch. The Maxim-type guns had no safety as such, and during WW1 the guns were kept at readiness by having them at half-cock. Maxim type guns had to be cocked twice to load them, the first pull of the crank merely placed the extractor over the base of the round in the belt when the action was cycled. This was the half-cock position.

 

On the second pull of the crank, the cartridge was withdrawn from the feed belt and taken to the rear. As the lock returned to battery, the round was fed into the breech, the extractors moved up and grabbed the base of the next round, and the gun was ready to fire. Unlike other machine guns, the Maxi guns - of which the Vickers gun was a modified Maxim - the gun fired from a closed bolt. In other words, there was ALWAYS a round in the breech unless the gun was at half-cock. This was why Maxim guns were water cooled - it was to stop the round cooking off in a hot barrel.

 

Cheers,

            Steve

 

 

Steve, thanks for taking the time to impart some knowledge… 

I now know the expression ‘going off half cocked’ was around long before I would have guessed.

& you got me googling Arquebus which was a first for me 😊 there is quite a history of evolution which isn’t surprising I know but not something I have considered before.

Between yours and these pictures my friend sent me of his flintlocks… he’s selling up and I was already tempted but now I really want one

Something fresh & interesting that I now want & need to buy a book about 👍 

cheers

tony 🍻

49 minutes ago, SillyOldGrandad said:

The Queen's Institute of District Nursing.         Pete.

How did ya know that Pete? 👏
 

😁
 

What an awesome looking thing Steve, well done mate. Nearly 5 foot, I bet that feels heavier than 7.5lbs after pointing it for a while.

I know nothing about such things but someone I know just sent me a lovely picture of his flintlock collection he’s parting with so I’m curious…
if it’s a musket not a flint lock, doglock or matchlock (2 I’ve not heard of 😊) do they all have different firing mechanisms? Is it all about evolution/different eras or just cost as you mentioned?

I just thought muskets were long guns and flint locks were the small versions but that both worked the same.

Now I see on yours and recall (from films) there is a smouldering string to ignite the powder and then there was flint on a flintlock but what about the other two you mention?

I guess match is a clue but can you teach me the differences 👍 

cheers

tony

On 10/12/2023 at 13:42, SillyOldGrandad said:

Royal Engineers.       Pete.

Nice one Pete, thanks.

Then traditionally it should have a whistle attached I think… though clearly not as useful as this alternative, 🍻🍻

1 hour ago, TracA said:

Farkas,

 

Outstanding! Thanks for sharing. I really love the attention to detail on the design of these buttons. What a fascinating area of collecting.

 

All the best,

 

Tracy

Thanks Tracy,

I was lucky but there was a bit of good karma involved too…

I spotted a button listed in n EBay as ‘unknown’ and managed to work out what it was, I messaged the seller and told him what it was.

It turned out the seller was a lovely fella called Bob, in his seventies, he told me he was selling off his 50 year collection to fund another hobby and apart from a few he would be listing the military ones in joblots shortly. 

I kid you not, I scrambled to get funds ready… and bought every one!

That was 6 x joblots of 68!!

i pissed a few people off apparently but I wasn’t sharing unless I had too!

Apart from knowing they were going to be listed, another advantage I had was, it is usual with large joblots, if someone only wants/needs a few items in it, it is unlikely they’ll spend as much as someone who wants many or all of them.., my advantage was I wanted at least 50 or even 60 out of each lot of 68.

I’ve got a lot of buttons but I don’t spend much on specific ones unless I want them for a uniform that is missing them. I also love a bargain. However mine are 99% post ww1. Because the best are Victorian,  there are so many that are scarce it was a non starter   🤷‍♂️ or so I thought 😊

 

1 hour ago, TracA said:

I really love the attention to detail on the design of these buttons.

They truly are 👍👍

I wasn’t intending to but I can’t resist showing you them all 😊

These were the first

then these

then the artillery lot 

then these 👇 

these got a lot of interest.

Next up these 👇

and lastly these 👇

Even better in the flesh and I’ve not even opened them all up yet.

Truly an honour to pick up Bobs collection. Also a pleasure to tell him they’re staying together with me not being broken up and sold. 

Lastly, over the time I chatted with Bob he mentioned his Father was Royal Navy in both wars but sadly he and his family knew nothing of his service… not even one ship he served on.

So the cherry on the bun was that I was able to find a load of records for him including these 👇

So all because I messaged him about his unknown button, a series of events unfolded that brought some joy to all involved…

That’s good karma in action.

cheers

tony 🍻

On 10/12/2023 at 20:14, TracA said:

Farkas,

 

What a great post. Thank you for sharing. It's fascinating to see the design development, especially when ever so subtle.

 

All the best,

 

Tracy

Thanks Tracy 🍻

—-/::/::;

Below are the examples of other Artillery units…

These 2 are my favourite👇
I believe these MVA (not 100% sure) are Middlesex Volunteer Artillery

Then we have…

Royal Marine Artillery.

New Zealand Forces Artillery.

Some later with a Kings crown.

N.Z.

& Canada

South Africa.

and last but not least…

a little Kent Artillery Volunteers.

Hope you like ‘em

cheers 🍻

tony

21 hours ago, Harry the Mole said:

Hi Tony,

 

I hear what you are saying, but it doesn't ease the sense of frustration when you try to help someone and they cannot even bother to reply.

 

Nice buttons by the way... during my time in the Army Cadets (252 Hulme Cadet Bty RA, 1963- 1969) we had the old wartime BD uniforms with brass buttons & cap badges, whitened lanyards, and blancoe'd belts & gaiters... and I loved every minute of it, But the staybrite junk I had in the regulars was horrendous. No blanco either, belt & gaiters were done with black boot polish! I was a cloud puncher by the way. First on the Bofor's LA40/70, and then the trials unit for Rapier before returning to NI for one last tour of ops in 1974 before leaving the army.

 

Cheers,

            Steve

Cloud puncher!

I like it! A new one to me… 😊

On a  Bofors? Showing your age 😁

///-:///::://

Last thought on the forum…

it’s lost traffic compared to before, as someone said to me, we’re not getting any younger and sadly we lost a few friends/members during covid.

I can only report though, that every time I log on, I have plenty to keep me interested, I have friends I talk to.

The optional patronage was only introduced recently to keep the site advert free and to keep it operating, it is free unless you choose otherwise at some point.

Don’t let the time wasters put you off 👍. 
 

cheers

tony 🍻

Hello Gents,

first I must give credit to this post which I found incredibly helpful identifying the following selection of buttons…
 

I was lucky enough to get a great group of various Artillery buttons recently.

I’d like to share some pictures of them.

First, the Royal Artillery ones.

I’m using the dates that the design was in use, I haven’t yet narrowed down the date of individual buttons using the makers marks on the backs.

Between 1790 - 1802 the design was still that I’m more familiar with nowadays as that of the ordnance corps.

The first 2 and the last small dark one are curved, they are Officer buttons. The remaining 4 are flat and therefore those worn by other ranks.

Between 1802 - 1831 the design below was adopted, I’m missing this one…

Between 1831 - 1840 the design returned to that of the 3 cannon, this time without the shield and the Crown was added. This design was to return in 1855.

Between 1840 - 1855 the addition of a scroll bearing ‘Ubique’ under the cannons made a brief appearance.

Between 1855 - 1872 was the last time the design featuring the 3 cannons was used. The Royal Artillery returned to the simpler 1831-40 design though varieties in colour/finish existed now such as a silvered finish (Officer only) and white metal for volunteers.

Examples of all 3 types together below.

and smaller ones below

1871 saw massive changes to British army buttons and uniform. The dropping of the numbered regiment of foot system, amalgamations & naming of regiments and the use by other ranks of the general service button.

From 1872 - Present, The Royal Artillery has used the same single cannon design.

The crown changed in 1902 and again in 1952 with the change of the Monarch.

I’m not to sure which are silvered and which just white metal but… Amongst the above there is one even I can spot. It’s solid, feels heavy and looks great.

The Firmin makers mark on the back dates it to 1884…

That’s the Royal Artillery examples done, there are some other types of Artillery in the group, including a few commonwealth and some others. I’ll add those shortly.

I hope this kept your interest, I’m glad you got this far 😊

So to those that did… 🍻

tony

On 08/12/2023 at 10:19, Harry the Mole said:

I find this to be one of the problems with possibly ALL militaria forums. You get people coming on and asking for help, they get their wish - and then they cannot even be bothered to reply. Most of my time has been spent on War Relics Forum - where I was a paying member for the best part of 13 years with over 5,000 posts, but in recent years the forum has lost its lustre. Too many people asking for help and not contributing, and too many members reading posts without commenting and joining in the discussion. I am tempted to become a paying member on here, but would I just be supporting yet another forum that suffers from the same problems?

 

Cheers,

            Steve

On 08/12/2023 at 19:07, TracA said:

Hi Steve,

 

I've been on this forum since September of last year and this March I decided to become a patron (completely voluntary). This is the only military themed forum in which I participate, but I do participate in a numismatic forum.

 

I guess we're always going to have the "fly-by-nights" who are just looking for authentication/price check. They will, as you say, come and go. I participate in the Japan section of this forum, and I both ask questions and try to contribute something positive. I must say that for me personally, the active members in the Japan thread have taken my collecting to new heights with their wealth of information and willingness to share it. I see the same great contributions on other threads here on which I don't post (because quite frankly I don't have anything to contribute) but which I do read. 

 

I definitely find this forum of great value to me and my collection. I say, stick around for a while longer.

 

Just my two cents.

 

All the best,

 

Tracy

Hi both,

I think you’re both spot on, some issues I’ve noticed myself. It can be uncomfortable highlighting issues but there’s no progress otherwise, so they need addressing.

As you’re both here, so to speak, I’d like to share my thoughts with you.

First

Steve, your reply was posted 30November, Drew visited 2December, it’s now the 9th… so he saw your considerable replies and off he went, so that’s annoying! & unless he gets back into this chat to correct me…to me that’s someone who joined only to see what ‘we’ made of something dodgey. Something that he hopes to pass off as ‘good’ on ebay or similar. That’s the worst and a somewhat familiar scenario.

The other scenario I see is the person who posts gets no reply. When I notice these posts with no reply, some years old, I often wonder why. They are/were sometimes simple to reply to, even if they are questions that can’t be simply answered or ask nothing… there is no reply. When you look at their profile you see they stopped visiting shortly after, which is a shame.

My own experience has evolved.

When I eventually got a smart phone and truly found the internet, I found the GMIC and browsed without joining.

When I joined I had so much ‘stuff’… stuff I wanted to show off, stuff I was proud of, stuff I wanted help with and stuff I thought other people would enjoy.

It was a no brainer that it was appropriate to contribute before asking to make withdrawals so to speak but it was hard to do so. 
One problem was I didn’t know the ‘rules’, I just butted in when I didn’t have anything like the same level of knowledge and what I found interesting to say/show to add was not always welcome.

I stopped posting eventually, I felt I wasn’t really adding in any real way, I found twitter and got the interaction I realised I wanted on there.

Fast forward a few years and maybe 2 years ago I found myself back. I was banned on twitter for stating facts and sharing my opinion… it turns out that makes me a nazi, who knew eh? 🤷‍♂️
Anyway I came back on here and stayed.

*** I’ll finish this later, I just managed to lose a shitload I’d spent ages writing 😡 so gonna leave it there for now… ****

tony 🍻

One last thing Steve, I see you were Royal Artillery so if you give me a day I’ll post some pictures of this fine selection I got recently, all old arty, loads of different Victorian and good less common types in there…

and some nice pics of these two fellas

1881 pattern volunteers - Captain

1891 pattern regulars - lieutenant 

tony

🍻

10 minutes ago, Christian1962 said:

I would say it´s a good one. Look here mine and compare.

 

Regards

Christian

That’s a fine looking example too Christian and the appearance is certainly a dead ringer for mine.
Same pleats and folds and the little ribbon hanger sewn to the reverse too 👍

many thanks 🍻

tony

Hello Gents,

it’s not often I get something that different but I found this and it’s a first addition for me. It is full size. The stitching is great as i would expect (sexist?😊) , even some little loops to hold the pin in place.

I’m pretty chuffed with it  😁

cheers

tony

editz

Gents, can someone tell me if the ribbon looks original or not please?

I see looped ends, which is good, but that’s as far as I get.. 👍

Hi Gents,

I had another look, it is the same actual medal…

the flaws on the ribbon are identical.

tony 🍻

I don’t know which unit this Colonel belonged to but I’d be surprised if carrying a bottle opener is regulation  😁

🍻🍻

Coincidentally Gents, I’ve just seen this same one up for sale by someone else now.
Buy it now for €770.

They’ve tidied it up a bit…

Before

After

The right hand side particularly looks better but seems a shame to mess with it.

tony 🍻

On 03/12/2023 at 15:08, Elmar Lang said:

Good luck to the happy buyer.

 

From what I can see in the pictures, it is an unofficially struck piece, made for private purchase at an undefined date between 1914 and well after WW1, to which an "old style" suspension was added.

 

Best wishes,

 

E.L.

 

 

 

I don’t doubt you E, I know better 😊 but how do you know?? It’s wizardry to me 🤷‍♂️. What do you see to differentiate between an acceptable unofficial/private purchase piece and an undesirable one?

tony 🍻

On 02/12/2023 at 21:31, SillyOldGrandad said:

You have a couple of really nice badges there, especially the Militia one.

Thanks Pete, when I saw there was a reply from you I held my breath… I’m glad they have the thumbs up.

On 02/12/2023 at 21:31, SillyOldGrandad said:

Both would probably have continued to be worn by "Old Sweats" well after those dates though.

That’s something I was pondering over.

Below👇  A uniform I have for a Colonel of the RAMC , mess dress (but minus badges and all but the 2 epaulette buttons.)

At first he was an officer of the Indian Medical Service, the Colonel would then have become RAMC once promoted to a staff officer (something like that) It seems to date 1910-20’s so he would have been IMS during Victorian era…

I tempted to fit it (maybe just the waist coat) with earlier QVC I.M.S. buttons I have..

I’ve managed to assemble quite a nice selection of Indian Medical Service uniforms & pieces.

Related set of 2 complete Victorian uniforms with cape, sword belt and crossbelt &pouch

A group from 1930’s -

a named greatcoat & 3 white mess pieces

Also from the 30’s named mess dress tunic.

I’ve got buttons.

It’s not been so simple trying to source the missing badges but happily it has led me to some nice finds…

Cheers Gents

tony 🍻