Jump to content

Expert Pistol Badges


Brig
 Share

Recommended Posts

while we're on the marksman subject...I just picked up this Expert USMC Pistol Badge two days ago...unmarked...what do you think?

Expert_Pistol_Rear.jpg

Expert_Pistol_Front.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

while we're on the marksman subject...I just picked up this Expert USMC Pistol Badge two days ago...unmarked...what do you think?

 

Brig,

If I were to guess, I'd say straight up WWII USMC, but with the loop catch, it might go allot earlier. Many of the marsmanship and qual badges awarded during WWII were unhallmarked. It's a nice one and the Pistol badges don't come along all that often. Nice find!

Gary

Link to comment
Share on other sites

thanks. I paid 20 for it, not exactly a cheaper than dirt find, but a good one thumbsup.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

thanks. I paid 20 for it, not exactly a cheaper than dirt find, but a good one thumbsup.gif

 

As far as I'm concerned, $20 for a Pistol Expert Badge of this type is a very good price and pretty close to being cheaper than dirt. They just don't come along all that often like the rifle and qual badges.

Gary

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...

This badge was found in the pocket of a p1917 USMC enlisted coat...I believe it is a p1922 which would make sense since the Marine would have still be in the Corps by around 1924. Two questions: 1.) do I have the pattern/model correct 2.) when was the pistol badge first awarded...I haven't been fortunate enough to see any in photos previous to 1920s (plenty of expert riflemen, but no pistol).

 

Thank you. Photos below.

 

Ken

post-99-1185211172.jpg

post-99-1185211182.jpg

post-99-1185211191.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

teufelhunde.ret

Ken, that is the correct badge for the 20's. However I cannot recall when the Corps began awarding the Pistol Expert badge, I believe it was vary late in the 1890's think.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you for the information on this piece. Good to know it has probably travelled with the coat for quite sometime. Thank you as well for the badge's possible inception era. Are there any good texts that cover pre-WWII badges and uniforms? I have Moran's US. Marine Uniforms 1912-1940 text, which I enjoy quite a bit, but I am always looking to read more.

 

Ken

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't know jack about the era of the pin but it looks funky, The sdearm looks weird. I think it is a 1900 Colt Pistol instead of a 1911, but hey, I could be wrong.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is a nice variant of the pistol expert badge and a fairly early one. These were not just Marine Corp, but like the other rifle expert and sharpshooter badges, were worn by the Army as well.

This one has the 1911 pistols which means it is post 1912. The earlier one has crossed revolvers.

 

CB

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just a little more to add here, these pistol expert badge were for some reason seldom seen on Army/Marine enlisted men. All the photos that I can think of off hand show them on officers, although they were of course available to enlisted men.

There is also a pistol sharpshooter badge that is a smaller version of the rifle sharpshooter (maltese cross) as well.

The Army seems to have mostly stopped wearing these badges (including the expert rifleman and rifle sharpshooter badges) by the time of ww2, only the Marines continuing with them. This may be one reason why these types of shooting badges are thought of as being associated with Marines only by many people today.

 

CB

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you for the added information, CB. Definitely solid!

 

Now, here comes another question on these badges. I have three late 1920s - early 1930s USMC "greens" coats that have army style qualification badges on them. I was told that this is absolutely correct for the period as the Marines switched to the army badges for about a decade. Later, I found this supported and that the Marines used army badges from '24 to '37. Are there any known reasons for this? Was this the armed forces uniformity issue being raised again or maybe government thriftyness kicking in due to the depression? Were any reasons given that you know of?

 

Ken

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you for the added information, CB. Definitely solid!

 

Now, here comes another question on these badges. I have three late 1920s - early 1930s USMC "greens" coats that have army style qualification badges on them. I was told that this is absolutely correct for the period as the Marines switched to the army badges for about a decade. Later, I found this supported and that the Marines used army badges from '24 to '37. Are there any known reasons for this? Was this the armed forces uniformity issue being raised again or maybe government thriftyness kicking in due to the depression? Were any reasons given that you know of?

 

Ken

I dont know why this was done nor does anyone I know seem to have a definitive answer for this. It certainly did happen, but it was not universal among all Marines. The Marines only had the shooting qualification badges at this time and maybe they wanted more qual badges for different skills, so borrowed the Army's until they got their own basic qual badge in 1937. This is one theory anyway.

 

CB

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here are the three pistol (or revolver) shooting qualification badges as worn by the Army and Marines Before ww2. (The Marines continued wearing the expert badge after that point to a limited extent, while the Army seems to have mostly discontinued all of them at some point).

The one on the left is the first type with revolvers as worn prior to the adoption of the 1911 acp. It was still worn by those who had it for some time after. Just when it was authorized is not clear.

The middle one is of course the type worn to quite recent times, although the example shown is inter war period.

The right example is the pistol sharpshooter badge which is seldom seen.

I do not know when it was first authorized, nor when it ceased to by worn.

None of these badges have makers marks. The revolver example is silver with the revolvers seperately attached. The expert badge is nickel, as is the sharpshooter badge, which has a "snowflake" back.

 

CB

post-643-1185506836.jpg

post-643-1185506858.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A few more badges I picked up.

 

1. Marksman - brass- new old stock on card from box- I am unsure on the authenticity of this one - bobbi pin style pinback

 

2. Sharpshooter - seems brass and NOS (I am unsure on this one too)- bobbi pin type pinback

 

3. Pistol Sharpshooter, unmarked, probably sterling

 

4. A beauty - J.R. Gaunt marked Pistol Expert

post-99-1186072094.jpg

post-99-1186072106.jpg

post-99-1186072116.jpg

post-99-1186072124.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

teufelhunde.ret
kklinejr,

All of the badges you have shown are good. The brass ones are Army national guard if memory serves me correctly.

The Gaunt made pistol expert badge is quite outstanding! First I have seen.

 

CB

 

DITTO, that Gaunt Badge is unique, great details on the pistol. A first sighting for me as well.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you again for the information. I thought the Gaunt piece might be a keeper...I was lucky to acquire it. Thanks again!

 

Take care,

 

Ken

Link to comment
Share on other sites

After seeing that beautiful Gaunt badge I'm almost embarrased to post this one. It came in a group belonging to a 1917 - 1919 WWI Marine along with his Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal and Victory Medal. It is VERY crudely cast with the pin soldered on the back, Cast Integral catch is broken. I'm inclined to believe it to be a 'period' piece of just very low quality. There was an unaccounted for Mexican Border souvenir medal with the grouping as well.

Crude_Pistol_Badge.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 8 months later...
robert60446

Hi guys,

Here is one more find from today’s Chicago Show : USMC Pistol Expert badge from Gemsco. Original cardboard was still included with this badge with serial number on it…

post-2829-1209337708.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...