Original British WWI King’s Royal Rifle Corps Sealskin Busby by J. & B. Pearse & Co. of London – Size 6 7/8 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice King’s Royal Rifle Corps Other Ranks pre WW1 Busby. It features a Black sealskin exterior with attached plaited cords. There is a corded boss to front, which would usually hold the Regimental insignia, however this example does not have it equipped. The top of the cap is black wool felt, which folds down the middle. The hackle (plume) normally on the top front of the cap is unfortunately missing.

It has a black leather chin strap, though it is somewhat degraded, as is the black leather sweatband. The black patent leather finish used during this era “melts” over time, sticking together and flaking off. Compared to others we have handled, the finish is actually quite good. There is a small size label marked 6 7/8 on the interior.

The crown is marked with the original maker information under the Royal Supplier logo:

J. & B. Pearse & Co.
ARMY CLOTHIERS
28, HART STREET
Covent Garden
London.

Condition overall is very good, though there are definitely some areas of mothing on the sealskin exterior, so the fur is missing at those areas. The color is well retained on the cords, which often fade to a golden color over time.

Very attractive and ready to become a part of your British Military Headgear collection!

The King’s Royal Rifle Corps was an infantry rifle regiment of the British Army that was originally raised in British North America as the Royal American Regiment during the phase of the Seven Years’ War in North America known as ‘The French and Indian War.’ Subsequently numbered the 60th Regiment of Foot, the regiment served for more than 200 years throughout the British Empire. In 1958, the regiment joined the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and the Rifle Brigade in the Green Jackets Brigade and in 1966 the three regiments were formally amalgamated to become the Royal Green Jackets. The KRRC became the 2nd Battalion Royal Green Jackets. On the disbandment of 1/RGJ in 1992, the RGJ’s KRRC battalion was redesignated as 1/RGJ, eventually becoming 2/RIFLES in 2007.