The Selous Scouts insignia is not just a collectible; it’s a treasure steeped in history, yet it’s also the most commonly faked item in Rhodesian military memorabilia. Among these, the officer’s insignia is especially vulnerable to forgery. Collectors, take heed—recognizing the genuine articles is crucial to ensure your collection reflects authenticity.
“Reuteler lugs” is a term used by myself and a few other collectors over a decade ago. It is just a reference to the type of lugs that Reuteler used on officer’s and other ranks (OR’s) insignia.
This is the reverse of a genuine Selous Scouts officer’s beret badge as made by Reuteler Manufacturing. There were a number of different stampings that were used.
I have put this example here so that viewers who don’t know a lot about this badge can get an idea of what they are meant to look like. “One look is worth a thousand words” as they say.
It won’t tell you everything but it will give you an idea.
This ‘Selous Scouts stable belt was sold by Stuart Gardiner to someone I knew who then posted it on a Facebook group.
I saw it and that’s when the questions started from myself and Markham Batstone, another experienced collector and researcher. The third photo shows our opinions.
There is no doubt that someone has made this belt up and sold it for a very high price to someone less experienced than us.
The above items were posted by Stuart Gardiner.
The Selous Scouts stable belt which is made up is discussed in the photos above.
The collar badges are fake officers badges.
The beret is Portuguese and not worn by the Selous Scouts. Someone has added a Selous Scouts other ranks (OR’s) beret badge to it.
The bronze wing is genuine and the recipient was WO2 P. Kruger 724791. Unfortunately, at least one lug is missing.
The last photo is myself giving an opinion on the items.
Twenty warrant officers were issued bronze paratrooper wings.
On the 24th October 2023 Stuart Gardiner (aka londoncollectables2015) displayed a Selous Scouts beret badge for other ranks on the group Para Wings and Collectors on Facebook. Abdul Qadir a moderator on the group asked me if it was genuine.
Stuart Gardiner replied it was genuine.
I asked him if I could see the lugs on the badge and uploaded a photo showing him how I’d like the lugs shown. He ignored me and then when I asked him again he started insulting me.
In short he never showed the lugs as I asked. The photo of holding the badge in his hand and showing the top part of the lugs, is not of the same badge. The badge he is holding is genuine but it is not the badge that is displayed here or that he had listed on eBay.
Why is the badge that he displayed on eBay a fake?
Apart from the photos and the screenshots of my discussion with Stuart Gardiner I would add that the stamping is wrong. The words are not wrong but there are significant differences between this stamping and the genuine one.
This was listed as a fake. Werner Reuteler never used SIL on any Rhodesian officer’s insignia.
The lugs are also too large and slightly different to the genuine lug shown in the last photo.
There’s a reason this item is shown here and was listed on eBay by Steve Wende (aka stevemilitaria). I don’t have a problem with the genuineness of the badge or the beret.
The reason I have listed it here is that the name is not on the Selous Scouts roll. Could the person have been support? They could have been but Laurie Critten was support and his name is on the roll.
This is also to show the conversation between the two us and to show people that nothing should be taken for granted.
Sold by Michael Kaplan (aka Kaplan Auctions in South Africa) for $805. The beret and badge was listed as belonging to Captain Chris Schulenburg GCV SCR.
The beret was in terrible condition, featuring a tear at the front that had been stitched up and significant moth damage. The officer’s beret badge was a fake. The cover for the badge’s lugs had the name Schulenburg written on it, along with his initials.
It is absurd to suggest that someone like Chris Schulenburg would wear a fake officer’s beret badge.
Listed by C & T Auctioneers and Valuers in December 2024. The Selous Scouts collar badges on the right hand side are fake. The third photo is of genuine collar badges.
Listed by grayman077 on eBay around June 2019 as a beret badge belonging to Sgt Clive Mason’s beret. Clive was a former Rhodesian SAS trooper and was a Selous Scout sniper when he was shot dead on 15 Mar 1977.
The badge is a very poor fake and was not worn by Clive.
It is not uncommon for some sellers to add the name of someone deceased to an item, especially someone well-known or famous.
A gallery of fake Selous Scouts OR’s beret badges sold over the years by multiple sellers.
These two badges are genuine.
Fakes can be decided by observing both the obverse and reverse of these badges. Often it is easier to decide by looking at the reverse.
The first issue of these badges was exactly the same as this issue except there was not any stamping.
Cast fake.
Listed for sale by Military Antiques in Toronto as a genuine Selous Scouts issued paratrooper wing.
While I believe the wing to be genuine, the font of the number and its placement is wrong.
It is not uncommon for someone to buy the unissued and unnumbered Selous Scouts wings and then stamp a number on them as if it were the one that was awarded.
In short, it is made up and is not the wing that was issued to 648418 Tpr Z Chimunda.
Listed price CAD$450 (US$328, £241, € 283, AUD$505). 24 June 2025