Surrey Fire Badge Wallets: Flat vs Convex Badges and the Right Fit
A Surrey Fire badge wallet starts with a choice that is easy to miss: which badge version do you have? Hammer & Axe offers patterns for the older convex badge and the newer flat badge. They look similar, but their outlines are slightly different.
Choosing the correct version settles the leather cutout. The next decisions are the attachment behind the badge and the wallet layout you want beside it. Work through those separately and the order becomes much easier to put together.
Flat or convex: identify the badge in your hand
Our Surrey Fire Service collection has separate downloads for the flat and convex versions. Begin with your own physical badge rather than the year you joined or the wallet a colleague carries.
A convex badge has a curved face; a flat badge has a flatter profile. Look across it from the side as well as straight on. If the version is unclear, send a front and side photograph and ask us to help identify the appropriate pattern.
Two details need attention here. A similar-looking crest does not establish an identical perimeter, and choosing a flat-badge cutout does not flatten a curved badge. Start with the correct pattern for the metal badge you intend to keep using.
Compare both printouts if you are unsure
Download the Surrey Fire flat badge template or the Surrey Fire convex badge template. If you are uncertain, print both and keep their labels visible during the comparison.
Print at Actual Size or 100%. Check the reference rectangle with a ruler: it should measure 100 mm, about 3.94 inches. Turn off Fit to Page. A correctly labelled file printed at the wrong scale can still give a misleading result.
Place the badge over the tracing and compare the full outside edge. Look around the upper section, side points and lower edge. Do not judge the match only from the centre of the badge.
If neither outline matches, photograph the badge against the verified printout and show where the difference occurs. Include its overall width and height. That gives us a useful fit question to answer before a wallet is made.
A flat badge and a flat back are different things
The flat-versus-convex choice describes the badge version. The attachment choice describes the hardware on its rear. A flat-faced badge can still have a projecting post, so do not select a flat-back attachment simply because the front looks flat.
Most Surrey Fire badges use a screw and post. With that option, we supply the appropriate leather backer card. Check your own badge before selecting it, particularly if its hardware has been altered or replaced.
Use this short distinction when ordering:
Decision | What you are identifying |
Badge version | Flat or convex outline for the cutout |
Attachment | The actual post, clip, pin or other hardware on the back |
Wallet model | The card, ID and cash layout you want to carry |
Our Badge Attachments guide explains the mounting arrangements. Excess post length can affect how the badge sits. Before trimming or removing anything, discuss the actual setup if you are unsure. Changing the mounting does not make a different badge outline correct.
Choose the everyday layout after confirming the version
The Surrey collection lists the Moonlighter, Moonlighter Cash Strap, Moonlighter ID, Core, Outlook and Billfold. Use those choices to solve your carry needs once the badge is checked.
For a simple card-and-badge layout, compare the Moonlighter and Core. If visible identification matters, compare the Moonlighter ID and Outlook, checking what information their window openings will reveal. For cash, decide whether you prefer folded bills under a strap or the Billfold's dedicated cash compartment.
A useful way to narrow the choice is to empty your current wallet. Separate regular cards from old receipts, then decide whether you genuinely need a window and regular cash storage. The smallest empty wallet is not automatically the best choice for your normal load.
Make the order specific to you
Choose exterior and interior leather colours, thread and any initials or badge-number personalisation together. A matching thread creates a quieter look; a contrasting colour makes the hand stitching more visible. Confirm the digits and requested placement before checkout.
Hammer & Axe is first responder-owned, and our wallets are handmade in Canada from full-grain vegetable-tanned leather and hand sewn with Ritza Tiger thread. The leather starts firm, then breaks in and develops a darker, smoother patina with a natural shine through use.
Before ordering, you should have three answers: the badge version, its rear attachment and your preferred layout. Then build your Surrey Fire badge wallet around those details. If one answer is uncertain, include the relevant photographs so we can help you settle it first.
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