With the prices currently being fetched for British Army Metal Shoulder Titles it is perhaps little wonder that an increasing number of  'reproduction' titles are appearing.  I despair day by day that the fakers have moved in.  Not a new phenomenon, even before Ray Westlakes excellent work appeared in the early 1980's, I can remember being offered (and sad to say obtaining) such unworthy specimens as T/RFA/R.W.KENT and T/RFA/WELCH.  In some cases original dies are used, and most of the TYNESIDE/SCOTTISH offerings fall into this category from a rash of restrikes in the 1980's, and more recently the HMRR HUSSARS/DRAGOONS & DRAGOON GUARDS titles.  Some of the CITY /No./ MANCHESTER and CITY BATn/No./THE KINGS also; VTC Sussex is yet another.  

In other cases Regimental Museums have reproduced badges (but at repro sell prices) I Y / NORTH OF IRELAND and N.I.H fall into this category; even Re-enactment Societies have had copies made and titles such as T/5/NORFOLK find their way onto auctions. 

Castings should be treated with extreme caution 17L, T/RFA/LINCOLN, G.M.G.R, S A S, R N D  (curved) spring to mind, as does L S R V and 2/Birmingham Battn./Royal warwickshire 

But to my mind the worst instances of reproduction are where two or even three 'elements' are brazed (and in some case soft-tin soldered) to produce a supposed genuine title (even if the lug pattern may be different, and the patina of the elements may vary). It has also been reported that some titles are 'doctored' ... the T/RFA/HANTS having the A replaced with a C to make the far rarer T/RFC/HANTS.  I always worry when I see the dark marks of localised heat-application on a title; maybe someone has repaired a 'lost' lug or two, or seen fit to repair damage.  But, I have never known so many instances as are occurring over the last six months or so, and many seem to be on 'T''s and T / Corps.  Being charitable perhaps a collector disposed of his 'repaired' titles as a job lot; less charitably the answer is obvious.  I have grown increasingly worrying of late of fakers where the seller lacks the ability to even 'braze' the elements - have you ever seen a genuine T/RAMC/HEREFORDSHIRE where there is one 'spade/flat' lug and at least one 'ring' lug.  God help us collectors when the fakers do learn how to braze and heat sink/distribute.

Perhaps other collectors may care to add to my comments and we could together build up a list of metal shoulder titles to be wary of.