Rifle Brigade sabretache badge, British (c 1860)

Title	Rifle Brigade sabretache badge
Nationality	British
Period	c 1860

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This distinguished regiment, one of the ancestors of the Royal Greenjackets, was raised in 1800 for service as a rifle unit carrying the famous Baker rifle. This was a fair bit handier than the smooth bore Brown Bess musket carried by the regular infantry, and infinitely more accurate.

This is an unmarked silver example (6.5cm across) of the sabretache ornament for the mounted officers of the regiment. It is basically a considerably enlarged version of the pouch badge from the crossbelt. There are two original brass nuts on the reverse.

The shape of the bugle horn represents the original European hunting horn. Continental armies tended to have the French horn as a badge, but the derivation is similar.

There is a separation at one corner of the metal loop holding the ribbon elements of the badge. Apart from this damage and a few old silver test scratches to the ribbon, the badge is in excellent shape.

This is a comparatively hard badge to find and is priced taking the damage into account. It would cost approximately ?10 or so to have this silver soldered.

This was bought together with the Rifle Brigade crossbelt plate and lion head boss.

If you want to comment on this item—re quality, age, etc—please email me.

[Militaria : Badges : British : 19th Century]

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