peter monahan

Proof marks and identifying marks - batch, year, etc, -were stamped at the 'top' of the blade, just below the guard, by the manufacturer. I think I recall that regimental marks, as here, were stamped somewhere on the hilt. I believe I've seen an example where a Cdn. regiment had stamped the hilt where it joined the hilt/grip, but can't remember details, so these markings seem 'right' to me.

This regiment became the 'KGO Sappers and Miners' in 1910, formerly the 'Prince of Wales S&M'. Their shoulder title was a curved brass one, with a large '61' - their precedence number in the line - over 'K.G.O. PIONEERS'. [Ashok Nath, Sowars and Sepoys in the Great War, p213, no. 674].

Excellent! Your work, Horsa?

Very interesting indeed! Presumably the Jordanians concluded that the heavy bowl was of little use and, to save weight, made some 'mods'. Possibly for dismounted use or perhaps simply because, while they needed/wanted to carry them, there was no expectation of mounted combat and so no need for the full length and full bowl of what was, in essence, designed as a short lance. A fascinating story I read decades ago refers to hundreds of US cavalry sabres sent out to the Philippines & Australia just before or early in WWII. Brand new, never issued. After the last horsed unit in the Philippines - the 26th Cavalry - charged on and then ate their mounts, the sabres were repurposed as machetes by: grinding down the hilts and shortening both blades and scabbards. I never bothered to really research the story, in a novel by a US writer with intimate ties to the US Army, but it has a ring of truth. My suspicion is that these, especially if there are examples in the TFF Museum, were an official modification and issued as such. My tuppence worth! Peter

It's interesting how different colors react so differently to time and light. Canada just celebrated it's 150th birthday and a number of friends have bumper stickers noting the anniversary. In all cases, the colours - 12-18 months later - are crisp and bright, except for the red on the flag and lettering, which has faded to a banana yellow. And, while red is notorious for that problem, kit's not the only dye to cause problems. Odd, but in a way, fascinating.

Ribbons for African and Asian decorations, especially older or obsolete ones, are notoriously difficult to find/replace and many examples are sold with what appear to be 'close enough' type substitutes or replacements. But, yes, disappointing and annoying.

Not my field at all, but a high school chum had a Luftwaffe dagger which his dad had taken from a captured Fallschirmjager officer in Holland in late'44-early '45, so it was the first real militaria item I ever came across. As several others have noted, this is not the standard pattern. Even the originals, BTW, did not actually have ivory handles in most cases, but a form of plastic or Bakelite, which the Germans were early pioneers in the use of.

I know the feeling! I have three rooms devoted to military clobber of various types and periods and can put my hands on all of it. Just not necessarily when I want or need to!

Welcome to the GMIC, Alan. Yes, Mervyn is sadly missed, both for his expertise and his big heart and welcoming ways. I have no information on the colour, but then I'm on the wrong side of the Atlantic, I suspect. However, the tentacles of the GMIC do seem to get into some very obscure places and I am hopeful that one of our members may have information for you. Well done for taking on the task of preserving the history of a proud regiment. Peter

A nice bonus then! And a buckle 'worn with pride', or at least brick dust. These used to be fairly common even this side of the Great Salty and I think some of the Canadian militia units still issue them to bands and colour parties who wear the uniforms of that period on occasion.

A friend recently visited the Zippo factory and I gather from several of his remarks that one can purchase many of these 'historic' designs there.

I once owned a couple bronze QSAs to Indian followers - a 'Sais' [groom] and one other which escapes me now. Love the variety of ranks and trades they represent.

What a wonderful photograph! Seriously intimidating looking veterans!

It was the fashion for young men to carry small [completely impractical] canes during the 1880s-1890s and soldiers were quick to follow this fashion, not least because they echoed the 'stick' carried by RSMs and such like. A cane would be perfectly appropriate for a CDV taken of a trooper in walking out dress. Peter

Good call! 'Art' by a loose definition of that word.

This is an example of the British 'Home Service Helmet', modelled on the white sun helmets worn by British troops serving in hot climates. These were used in the second half of the nineteenth century and, I think, in the ceremonial dress of some regimental bands and so on even today. The badge is that of the 'Queen's Own Regiment'. Here is a link to its history: http://queensregimentalassociation.org/queens-badge.html No idea whether this is an original or a reproduction. If you google 'home pattern helmet' you will find many examples of both for sale. A very pretty piece! Peter

I would assume that the lack of cap badges - the 4th C.M.R. wore an odd/ugly one of a moose - was due to the early date on the photo and the fact that the unit was raised in November,1914. Some units of the CEF had badges - some or all - made in the UK after arrival there. And then promptly added them to their caps, of course, so how a cap could last the War without being badged is still a mystery to me, unless it belonged to someone who was invalided out [for example] from a newly raised unit like the 4th and he just kept the cap. A real puzzle.

I thought of a pin back but as far as I know that is not the standard fixing method. I suspect the 'brooch mounting' on that badge is a later conversion/pattern. Could explain it though.

Hello Lmaas and welcome to the forum. Sorry I didn't notice your post when it first went up. A couple of general comments from a definite non-expert: Almost positive the bow is not Native, as the laminate construction on the handgrip is a modern bowyers technique. A traditional bow would have been carved from a single piece and I'm not sure North American indigenous bows even used this 'thicker in the middle' shape, but that should be easy to check. Bamboo or cane arrows would be unusual for North America as, I think, would be the fact that they are bound with grass/fibre rather than leather or rawhide. My money is on Asian or African. I have seen the barbed style arrowheads in Nigeria, when I lived there, used by armed night watchmen and originally rude forged from large nails. Iron arrow heads were a common trade item on several continents too but the style looks, to me, as if they might have been hand forged, again in Africa or Asia. The feathering could be hawk or turkey or ??? Here is a link to a short monograph on N American arrows: https://anthrosource.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1525/aa.1940.42.2.02a00060 That's all I've got, but one of our members is an anthropologist who has donme field work in South America, so maybe if he sees this he'll be able to make more in formed comments than I can. Welcome to the GMIC! Peter

Not normally. At the very least it should have been fitted with a General Service badge - the large maple leaf with 'CANADA' across the bottom - of which there were several variants. More usually, it had a regimental/battalion or corps badge. The only thing I can think of is that it was never issued to troops and the wear was acquired by later owners. A bit of a mystery. Otherwise, it looks like a nice old original, complete, I think, with the remains of a broad arrow inside a 'C' in the crown in white paint/ink.

I may get my wrist slapped for saying this, but try the British Badge Forum. I think many of these type of badge are being reproduced for collectors, or 'faked' if you like. The wear on the blackening looks, superficially, as if they may be originals but I'm not an expert. I also know that there are literally dozens of variations on some regiments' badges so the 'gap' may not be diagnostic.

'E.P.' often means 'Electro-plated' - silver over copper - but probably not in this instance. Likely a token from one of the hundreds of patriotic fundraising drives of the Great War, possibly to commemorate a naval battle. Jutland?

I'm going to suggest that the eagle with 'S.P.Q.R.' might be Italian.

Correct. 'F' for followers, not for females. 'Sais' = Groom 'Bhisti' = Water Carrier Grass Cutter Tailor and so on.