Hi Jim,
Thanks!
I agree with your insights.
Gorgets always intrigued me, particularly the earlier examples dating from the French & Indian War & Revolution. Unfortunately they are coming very hard to find and as a result increasingly valuable. As a result there are more "replicas" out there being passed on as authentic, as well as unscrupulous or ignorant dealers who try to pass on later Napoleonic examples as Rev War gorgets(a decent Rev War example can go for 5-8 times more $). Big differences I have noticed is that the earlier gorgets are larger than the Napoleonic pieces, and often have the English coat of arms as opposed to the royal cypher. Fortunately I have a good friend who has been collecting Rev War period militaria for longer than I have been alive and he has educated me on what to look for in authentic pieces. Alot of luck is involved, but when you know what to look for there can still be good deals out there as long as you are patient (it took me a good 2-3 years to find the early gorget).Thanks to my friend and fellow collectors like you in this forum I continually am learning about arms & armour and that's the best tool you can have when collecting.
Cheers,
Paul
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