Hampshire Regt FS Cap Badge

A nice, 'brass', field-service cap badge for The Hampshire Regiment with two lug fastenings (east and west). Worn circa 1881-1902. Woods 1.43.

Note: Terence Woods, in his book on The Military Insignia of Hampshire and The Isle of Wight, describes this badge in brass or bronze (page 26).

To quote Woods' glossary, brass is described as "an alloy of copper and zinc, adding "proportions can be varied to produce a range of colours and hardness".

Obviously, when badge collectors talk informally of 'brass' badges, they typically refer to 'gilding metal' badges. "In turn, Woods describes gilding metal as "a brass containing a higher level of copper".

I do not believe this to be a gilded brass badge where the gift has faded but, less excitingly, just one of the range of colours described above.

Code: 62078