Military buttons??

[Anonymous]

Hi there, I am a new member, Judie is my name. I found these buttons (see my photos when they are approved) that I can't identify! The large buttons are about an inch in diameter and the small about 1/2 inch. They are heavy, appear to be brass coated, in some places I can see a gray material...now my question is what kind of buttons are these? There is a lion on top of a crown and a latin inscription of : Fida et Fiduci . I translated on line: Confidence, trust, assurance. Are these old? The backs are "metal" . I can't remember which pictures I posted hopefully someone out there can help me! I have researched on the websites posted here and can't find a match for pattern. I want to list these and don't know where to start! Thank you so much. I have found the info on this site very helpful! Judie

[purple-peg]

sounds like British uniform buttons..backmarked?? Peg

[svengali]

Images are available. These phase me as military-look blazer buttons of the modern era. But, I am not an expert on non-US uniform buttons although this construction is non-standard except for the oldest uniform buttons, which this possibly could be. With a crown it could be any number of countries but the rampant lion is often on British buttons.

[Anonymous]

Thank you so much, I did look at a lot of British Buttons and couldn't ID these.....hmmmmmm they have no back stamp at all, I think they are repos's......oh well back to the drawing board! Thanks again from Canada!

[Anonymous]

I have shined with a jewelers cloth, the gray area is a silver colored metal also....I believe these are brass coated. The brass coating on some of the buttons has worn, I thought it may be a plastic or resin material. So now where? lol They have weight to them, the large one's weigh 1oz. I will list them not as antique or anything but I do think they are vintage at least, your thoughts? Thanks so much!

[purple-peg]

Judie..why don't you say just what you have said above(in your description) show the button front & back and let the buyer decide what they are and rather they are vintage or not..I have not had good luck selling foreign uniform buttons..I would title them..foreign uniform buttons age unknown..or "British? uniform buttons..age unknown"..well something like that..lol!! Peg

[Anonymous]

Yes I think I shall! lol Thanks for all input.....just don't know enough about buttons! Thanks for all your help. Kind regards Judie

[antlercarv]

I have another question about the buttons on my military shirt. This is a korean or viet nam era surplus score. It is a very soft and sturdy fabric, not the thin green, fabric, but a thicker material, which leads me to think it is from the 50s. It has green dense plastic buttons, very plain. My question is, could these possibly be bakelite? The shirt is falling apart, and I am considering carving the buttons. Thanks, Todd

[purple-peg]

Todd if you do a SEARCH DISCUSSIONS you will see a thread on Bakelite posted Feb. 05..P.

[svengali]

Todd: There's an easy way to test for bakelite material, some people don't like this idea but if the button is bakelite you will hardly notice a mark from testing. Bakelite is "thermoset" plastic and one of the first uses was as insulator material, it has a high resistance to heat. Heat a needle to red hot, touch it to the back of the button and see what happens. There should be very little, if any, reaction to the hot needle on bakelite and you "might" be able to smell the formaldahyde (hope I spelled that right) which is part of the phenolic resin plastic known as "Bakelite" which is actually a brand name and not descriptive of that this type of plastic actually is. I have found no bakelite buttons associated with US military usage. There are plastics but they are often described as a plastic blend or "composition" material.