Cap Badge Spot the copies - London Regiment -

London regiment being the some of most desireable of Territorial badges have been widely faked. These are a few tips to spot the fakes.
1-4th bns - Don't pay over the odds for any all brass version of this badge as they are identical to the Royal Fusiliers badge which are very common.
5th bn- Both types pre 1920 and post 1920 versions have been copied. There is one type of post 1922 copy where the laurel wreath surround is very flat faced compared to the originals - really easy to spot if you know what to look for so examine all examples even the well know restrike fakers lots until you can spot the differnce!
7th Bn - The copies have solid backs to the grenades whereas the originals have brazing holes or sometimes 2 wires to attach the numeral 7. The copies also have small bubble flaws in the flames of the grenade. You also see these flaws in the spurious pre 1908 3rd London badge which is faked identically where as the originals were of a completely different pattern in one metal!
8th bn - If it has a solid crown then it is probably a copy sold by a company called SRS.
9th Bn - There are solid centred copies with lugs which are convincing copies but lack the age of the originals and are a bit thinner metal.
10th Bn - The Paddington rifles is very copied - often with a slider (not usually seen on pre 1908 badges)and often with the dreaded JR Gaunt.London. Check the DD of Paddington as this is a common flaw on the fakes whereas the originals are clearly stamped the fakes are merged.
The Hackney rifles versions being all brass are easy to fake but often the copies have really pooor rear defintion and the detail of the strike is not as crisp as on the originals.
11th Bn - Finsbury Park rifles - the copies are good but often have a die flaw that produces 2-3 flecks on the upper arm of the cross on the left hand side directly above the title circlet. Search for this badge and you will see examples with these flecks under the AR of ARIS which were not on the original ones.
12 Bn - The Rangers - A common copy with lugs or a slider. The only way to spot the copy is by the appearance and dimensions of the badge as the copies are slightly out of proportion compared to an original. The title scroll is a bit too deep (broad) from top to bottom. I have held cleverly aged fakes but the paint on the back is a bit glossy for a 90 year old badge! This applies to many of the BB badges
15th Bn - The copies of the POW feathers often have the same fat dumpy feathers and sometimes the JR Gaunt.London mark. The bi-metal verison are nothing of the sort as the badge should be in w/m or BB.
16th Bn - Must be voided and not solid - the common 'SRS' copies are always solid centred and with lugs. 18th Bn - London Irish - unfortunately except for the quality of the metal itself and the appearance the copies are very hard to detect especially when blackened brass. Do not get confused with RUC badges which were BB with voided strings and a void below the crown. 20th Bn - There are a lot of West Kent badges that have had their scrolls removed and replaced with a new 20th Bn London ones! Make sure the badge is one piece. 21st Bn - unfortunately except for the quality of the metal itself and the appearance the copies are very hard to detect especially when blackened brass. The dies making the modern copies are superb. 23rd London - The copies are generally very poor often with solid crowns as this is a complex badge to amke. the all brass fakes have opoor rear stamping. The older genuine ones have the brazing holes on each arm as do the old East Surreys which it is based on. 22/24th Bns - Same as for 1-4th in that they are identical to the usual West Surrey badges.
20th London.

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