Royal Flying Corps wings - Original or copy?

[j-sk]

Good evening Gentlemen,

The increasing interest into WW1 stuff and RFC in particular makes prices soar dramatically in this domain.

Loads of "original-looking-or-declared-so" copies are therefore flooding the market.

Hence my question: "What about these RFC wings?" "Original or fake"?

Jean-Sam. 

[Alex K]

Hi I personally have my doubts, I don't like the modern looking iron on style reverse backing, others may want to chip in though

 

regards

Alex

[QSAMIKE]

I agree with Alex, just does not feel good to me...….   Mike

[steelbonnet]

Hi Mike,

                I have attached a pic of the reverse of 2 WW1 RFC/RAF wings that I known are genuine and period.

Both came directly from the families 

The backing cloth is a good help as it must almost impossible for the fakers to get 

 One is fine gauge linen the other fine gauge twill (diagonal weave)

[Alex K]

4 hours ago, steelbonnet said:

Hi Mike,

                I have attached a pic of the reverse of 2 WW1 RFC/RAF wings that I known are genuine and period.

Both came directly from the families 

The backing cloth is a good help as it must almost impossible for the fakers to get 

 One is fine gauge linen the other fine gauge twill (diagonal weave)

Hi, I'm assuming the lower (black) backing is Raf, not RFC, is so then that would fit in with what I would expect based on what I have, the one posted by jean-sam has a ww2 look about the shape which would suggest modernist manufacture for rfc/raf just change the initials in my opinion, added ww2 new Zealand wings, only ones I have access to at the moment

Edited June 27, 2020 by Alex K
Za

[j-sk]

Hello again,

I have found something interesting on Bosleys' BuyWyse pages (see below), plus an interesting explanation about these RFC wings made during WW2 in Osprey's Men-at-arms series n° 112 ''British Battledress 1937-61'', plate A3, page 30.