Napoleons buttons Q

[Jonthan mcmeekin]

This may sound an odd one, but were the buttons on Naps kit gold or brass?
Pic attached.
Cheers from sunny Cumbria...NOT!
Jonathan

 

[peedee]

I would suggest they would most likely be gilt or gilded, so would appear gold.

Paul

 

[OldTaff]

PeeDee's quite right. His famous riding coat had cloth covered buttons; the last one he had made just prior to Waterloo cost 35Francs.(About £10,at the time,I think) He tried to buy them 'off-the-peg', but had to have them made specially-- broader in the shoulder and slightly shorter .


Alan

 

[peedee]

My Head seems to be a repository for junk.

I read somewhere as a kid, I think it was
'Ripley's beleive it or not'.
that his epee style sword had a fabulous sapphire in the hilt but the blade was tin.!

Discuss

Paul

 

[OldTaff]

Blimey! That wouldn't have been much use to him at Brienne,1814, where he had to be restrained from charging into a bunch of ambushing Cossacks His epee in the Musee de l'Armee looks quite substantial, a bit like the swords in the first duelling scene in "The Duellists".
When I was a youngster, I had a toy sword that was folded tin, in a tin scabbard(wouldn't be allowed now!). It was great for decapitating nettles, and for marching up and down with the Household Cavalry under the Whitehall arches.
Sorry, ramblings of an oldie..........

Alan

 

[peedee]

Bramblings of a gay old blade surely.


We've all done that Napoleon trick though Alan ...
In the pub .......
when your mates hold you back and you say,
"Good job for him that you did that lads thanks".

oh .....just me then?

Paul.

 

[Jonthan mcmeekin]

Cheers fellas and keep painting.
Another dull day here in Cumbria...shame that
Jonathan