Is it the case that the traditional thicker / deeper RAF medal ribbon bar size is now (by custom & practise) universally-ignored, and everyone now just wears slimmer Army-sized medal ribbons? I do mean just the thin ribbon bar itself, above left breast pocket (nothing to do with suspended/mounted medals)
Admittedly there are few occasions nowadays that we wear No1 dress without medals (notably, AFIs and when worn as No4 interim mess dress) so therefore raw ribbon bars are usually hidden: but I think Iâve slipped into the habit of wearing âskinny ribbonsâ too.
(nb for the purposes of forum efficiency & effectiveness, nobody is allowed to say âWhat?!â)
Thinking of mine, I think mine were definitely thinner, but in more recent years have been done thicker (although that started with the company that currently do all the No1 initial issue contract).
My gut says that if you have ribbons added by someone who does tri-service uniforms, youâll likely come away with thinner, but if you go somewhere doing an RAF contract (or very familiar with doing RAF uniform), youâll get thicker.
I wasnât previously aware there was a difference.
IIRC the RAF have 11mm ribbons, army have 8mm. So itâs quite noticeable.
Iâm struggling to visualise the difference. Does anyone have photographic examples?
I think I have my uniform that no longer fits and Iâll bet those ribbons are thinner.
Iâll dig them out when home and try a side-by-side.
Ooh nearly. The official sizes are (or were):
RAF = 7/16" (11mm) and 1/8" (3mm) between rows (unless 4+ rows, in which case no vertical gaps)
Army = 3/8" (9.525mm) and no vertical gaps
My suspicion is that the tri-service standard (funnily enough = Army) is now extremely common - to the extent that itâs now very unusual to spot officially-compliant RAF âbig ribbonsâ. And as a result, they actually look rather odd.
But what is the official regulation regarding this? I mean in a broad RAF context. It absolutely must be written-down somewhere (but not in either of the AP1358s I suspect)
Can confirm mine are different, but I canât really take a photo that shows the difference clearly. Itâs minor.
Couldnât log back inâŚ
Itâs in Chp 8, para 826.
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RAF regulations as posted above are for 11mm ribbons and 3mm vertical gaps between rows, unless 4 or more rows. The army (who still clearly cling exactly to the imperial measurements) are 9.525mm with 3.175mm vertical gaps between rows, although I would challenge anyone to sew anything to that level of accuracy.
There are points in the Army regulations that do use a sensible conversion to 10mm but most is still stated at 3/8ths of an Inch.
So in reality 11mm verses 10mm there really isnât a lot in it. In most cases it depends on what the tailors use to make up the ribbon bars, some cut buckram to size, although I have seen all sorts used including plastic parcel strapping.
If you want fat ribbons go join the Navy (or SCC) 13mm is the standard although it changes by rank and by number of ribbons, itâs all very confusing but thatâs the Navy way!
I disagree. I think itâs actually quite a noticeable difference (especially side-by side, relative to skinny ribbons, or, whenever in multiple rows).
So can anyone confirm- is everyone these days (RAF/RAFR/RAFAC) just buying/making/wearing âArmyâ sized skinny ribbon barsâŚor are some still going traditional thicker style, as per official SSvce regulations for the RAF?
(I will look for some indicative / illustrative example pics online)
