California. Independent Rifles 2nd Class Marksman Badge, 1919

California. Independent Rifles Second Class Marksman Badge, 1919, silver, rolled gold and enamel, with “2nd Class” on the top bar and intertwined “IR” above crossed flags and an enameled target. Marked “W. Scheppel & Sons” on the reverse of the top bar. Scheppel was a San Francisco jeweler. Some enamel damage.

The Independent Rifles were a fraternal organization based in San Francisco, recruiting heavily in the German population of the area. In 1871, they had broken away from the San Francisco Fusiliers and established themselves without any military affiliation (i.e., not part of the California National Guard). The organization maintained an active marksmanship program at least as late as 1939.