JapanX

Strange story we’ve got on our hands with this “no gilt type 3.1” nonsense. Ok. It’s time to go back to the document problem.

And here comes another example of type 3.1 badge without gilt.

What a nice, elegant execution of the shield! And what unbelievable kanji tracings! This badge definitely spent some time on the chest of recipient!

Here it is.

Let’s examine some more photos of these early extra rare badges. I’d like to thank my friends for a kind permission to use these (and not only these) photos of very interesting sub-variation of type 3.1.

Thanks Rich!

Hi Paul These are the pictures from the seller. I am still waiting ... I'll try to do something by friday... Nick

Ok. Enough is enough. What is wrong with me?! A lot! Should be read as typical SMALL shield badge usually weights about 10,25 (!) grams and had width about 24,3 mm and height about 28,5 mm. typical LARGE shield badge usually weights about 17,5 (!) grams and had width about 30,5 mm and height about 37,26 mm. Sorry... My bad... P.S. As was announced earlier - more info is coming... Hope I will be ready to post it in the next 48 hrs. (really love this flick )

Yes, Rich is correct about decals (used to call then so back in scale modelling ). The fixing quality of late ones are higher than early (but early ones are much more picturesque and delicate). I think this is because later ones are thicker. Especially clear you could see that in case of golden kites documents in higher classes. Nick

Regards, Nick

Hi Brian Thanks. Will try to do something with the documents later. Regards, Nick P.S. I see you forget our little chat in a chat room :)

Problem № 5 WHERE IS TYPE 3.3 BADGE??? Completely gold gilted badge for officers. I don't see it (or even hear about it). Do you?

ADDENDUM 1) Sometime you can meet boxes for type 1 and type 2 with dark red-brown interior (not turquoise as was shown). 2) The main difference in inscriptions on the cover of type 3.1 and type 3.2 boxes is upper kanji in the middle column. In case of type 3.1 box cover we observe kanji kou (甲) for "higher', " superior" (i.e. battle wound). In case of type 3.2 box cover we observe kanji otsu (乙) for 'lower" (i.e. public service wound). Right columns on the covers of type 3.1 and 3.2 boxes are identical: 下士以下 stands for "NCO and below" Please note that inscriptions on the type 1.1 and type 2.3 boxes are identical!!!

ERRATUM should be read as typical SMALL shield badge usually weights about 17,5 grams and had width about 24,3 mm and height about 28,5 mm. typical LARGE shield badge usually weights about 10,25 grams and had width about 30,5 mm and height about 37,26 mm. Sorry about that.

Sounds familiar? Is it? Thanks mate. But with a lot (even judging by my low standars ) of grammar and spelling mistakes. But I had a really hard day yesterday... First snow in Moscow .... Stuff like that ...

Who hasn't ... Then it is really interesting document!

Problem № 4 DOCUMENTS Where are they? I am talking about documents for early types of badges (type 1-3). Does anybody saw them?

Problem № 3 RARITY Why types 1-3 are so rare? Ok. Type 1.1 and type 1.2 - they got some reasons. The only serious combat operation back in 1914 was capturing Zingtao - german base in China. After the siege japanese losses were Army: 246 killed, 1115 wounded Navy artillery: 11 killed, 32 wounded Navy: 284 killed, 32 wounded So it's quite natural that type 1 quite rare. But why type 2? It covers Siberia expedition and it wasn't all about fun. And an least type 3. It covers everything until 1938. Of course early types of badges were replaced by new ones. No doubt about it. But what happend with the early ones after they were replaced? No answer ...

Sounds like a legit version to me. It is of course if you are right about the name (what your wife is saying? or is it according to her reading ) But the calligraphy is really nice! Anyway, congrats! Nice one!

Problem number two is much more difficult to deal with. This badge was called "eccentric" because he has very unusual anthropometric characteristics. To discuss them allow me to remind you that large shield badge (type 1.1, type 1.2, type 2.1 and type 2.2) should be (according to regulation) width 30,3 mm and height 33,3 mm small shield badge (type 2.3- type 3.4) should be (according to regulation) width 24 mm and height about 27 mm. In practice typical large shield badge usually weights about 17,5 grams and had width about 24,3 mm and height about 28,5 mm. typical small shield badge usually weights about 10,25 grams and had width about 30,5 mm and height about 37,26 mm. So far so good. Nobody is perfect. But this is the characteristics of eccentric badge weight about 2,72 grams, width about 13,5 mm and height about 16,5 mm. What is that??? Miniature? Are you kidding me? Miniature for a badge 24 by 28 mm??? For what? To go blind while trying to figure out what is it?

Same absence of regulated gold we observe on type 2.3 (there is no gold on the rim). Only variation 2.1 has something that resembles gold rim (in fact by regulation it shouldn't), but I think it's just patina (take a good look at the reverse - same color pattern).

Again alive and kicking... That is if anybody worried... Concerning last one I have serious doubts Ok. Let's try to sort out this two problems for starters. Problem number one will be simple. Could be formulated like this. "What the heck is that???" I mean what type of the badge is this? Obviously it is badge type 3. This is type 3.1 or type 3.3. But where is all the gold? The badge is brand new!!! Same goes for the box! And there a lot of them out there! Of course a lot is "a lot". Regulation violation?

Will be with you folks and will continue after a short break.

Problem № 2

Another angle of obverse.