Ian Kelly (Militaria) - Mail Order Dealers since 1990
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Uniform Button Catalogue

We buy and sell military, police and other uniform buttons.  Our sew-on uniform button catalogue is now so big (about 1300 different types) that we have split it into smaller sections so that the web pages load faster.

We are not tailors or military outfitters.  The buttons that we sell are mainly uniform buttons rather than the special blazer buttons favoured by some Regiments and Corps.  Many people do wear ordinary-issue uniform buttons on blazers, but please be aware that there is sometimes a difference.  Where we do stock special non-issue blazer buttons they will be clearly marked as blazer buttons, and are often more expensive than issue-pattern buttons.

Our buttons are sold for collectors and whilst we may have some in large quantities, many are held as single items.  Even the same size and type of button can vary due to age or manufacturing variations.  This could be important if you require a matching set for a uniform or blazer.  If you specifically want a matching set of buttons "all or nothing", please make this clear on your order form.

Click on the following hyperlinks to see the types of uniform button that you want -

British Army buttons are as varied as cap badges.  Each unit has its own unique regimental button and some have a second design for use on cap buttons. They are made from a variety of materials including horn, compressed leather and plastic.  Most fall into 3 size categories

Some units have a different range of sizes.  We used to annotate these as 'Very-Large', 'Large-Medium' or 'Medium-Small', but for greater accuracy, we now use  diameter sizes in millimetres.

In British military dress regulations, the diameter of buttons is often measured in 'Lines' or 'Lignes' (abbreviated to 'L').
40L = 1 inch = 25.4 millimetres

The quantity of buttons in circulation has an effect on their rarity.   Medium-sized buttons are the most common, and the following is a guide to the rarity of other sized buttons -

• Screw-fit buttons are the rarest, they are used to secure Officers bullion wire shoulder boards on Number 1 Dress (and perhaps other uniforms depending on regimental dress tradition).  This means only 2 on each Officer's Number 1 Dress uniform.  Relatively few Officers possess Number 1 Dress.  Screw-fit buttons tend not to be used on Other Ranks uniforms.
• Small buttons are fairly scarce.  There are only 2 small-sized buttons on a peaked cap - used to secure the chin-strap. (Scots Guards Number 1 Dress Caps do not have chin-straps).
• Large buttons are fairly scarce because they are only worn on the great-coat and the front fastening of Guards scarlet tunics and Officers Service Dress jackets.  The great-coat is no longer on general-issue (now only used for 'Public Duties' - ceremonial guarding of Royal palaces and households).  Most Officers Service Dress jackets have only 4 large buttons.  This size of button is much rarer than medium buttons.

Officers' buttons are often made to a higher specification, often gilt, and sometimes 'mounted'.  A mounted button is made from more pieces of metal.   The regimental badge is made separately and mounted onto a plain domed or flat button.  Mounted buttons are real works of art and very expensive to produce - not many Regiments have them.

From 1830 onwards, Regular Army infantry regiments that had been wearing silver buttons changed to gilt buttons and thereafter, silver buttons were mainly worn by Militia and Volunteer regiments, and sometimes by pipers of regular regiments.
Other Ranks buttons were made of lead or pewter until 1855 when brass was introduced.

In 1751, British regiments were numbered, after 1767 these numbers were shown on buttons. (Some of these may be confused with more modern French or Belgian buttons, so look for the makers name on the back: if it has a French maker, it is probably a French button).

In 1881, the numbering system for regiments was discontinued.
Although regimental pattern buttons continued for Officers, Other Ranks wore 'General Service' buttons from 1871 until after the First World War (the same pattern throughout the whole Army).  The British Army is full of exceptions, and some regiments permitted NCOs to wear regimental buttons during this period.

The British Button Society

The British Button Society was founded in 1976 and deals with all types of button.  The Society publishes 4 excellent journals per year (called 'Button Lines').
As at May 2009, UK membership is £18 per year, Overseas membership is £21 per year.  Only £ Sterling is accepted for membership fees, and cheques should be made payable to 'The British Button Society'.
The membership secretary is -

Mr Ian Scott
18 Winnow Lane
Boston Spa
West Yorkshire
LS23 6PA

Telephone 01937 842553

Ian G Kelly (Militaria)
P.O. Box 66
Ellesmere
Shropshire
SY12 0YS
United Kingdom

http://www.KellyBadge.co.uk/