For those in the know,
Were the MoD "Culloden" cantles lacquered as-issued?

I just received mine (a four-stud model), and it's quite obvious that someone has lacquered it- mostly because all of the lacquer has chipped off the face and edge where the two metal surfaces meet.

I have never seen one in this shape before and was wondering if they were issued or stored this way, or if some clever Jock got it into his head to have his dipped as a way to skive off on polishing.

Of course, everywhere the lacquer has chipped away the thing is all tarnished, so I've got it in the stripper right now to start fresh with clean metal.

ith: