MBS Posted May 29, 2016 Share #1 Posted May 29, 2016 When I visit my favorite weekend antique market usually I don't find anything too exciting to feed my DI collecting habit. Mostly, I find the more common pieces; not that I'm complaining. Part of the fun of collecting is the hunt. However, today I was totally surprised as I found the DI for the pre WWII 349th Engineer Regiment; in addition, with a hallmark that I have not encountered before. The 349th was a component of the Organized Reserve and was from California. The DI is number 349A2 in the ASMIC Engineer catalog. The ASMIC catalog states that this DI was made with the intent for wear but was either not accepted by the unit or the unit was inactivated prior to the insignia being received. So basically, was never worn by the unit. My guess is that the unit was inactivated prior to WWII. I have not found much unit information on the web so if someone can fill in the history of this prewar unit it would be much appreciated. The motto "ID FIET" translates to, according to the IOH, "IT SHALL BE DONE". As you can see in the photo the DI is hallmarked ALLEN/ STERLING. This appears to be an early Allen Uniform Co. mark as they are known to have manufactured DI's from pre 40's to around 1953. And the fact that this DI is in sterling makes it all that much better. I hope you enjoy viewing this DI as much as I did finding it. As you can see exciting pieces are still out there just waiting to be discovered. Not everything is in online auctions. Never forget all soldiers sacrifices this holiday weekend. Brent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allan H. Posted May 30, 2016 Share #2 Posted May 30, 2016 That is a GORGEOUS piece. I can imagine how excited you were to uncover it. Great score! Allan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted May 30, 2016 Share #3 Posted May 30, 2016 Yes, no info online on the 349th Engineer Regiment so far, not even hits for the Great War, maybe something will turn up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBS Posted May 30, 2016 Author Share #4 Posted May 30, 2016 Thank you, Allan! It is kind of odd that there is not any information for this unit online; I will keep digging. With little information to go on now my curiosity is really peaked. It certainly appears that they were only active for a very short time. The first DI associated with the unit was Authorized October 1927 and approved a year later in October 1928. I couldn't even find an online image of the first DI to post. However, it was just a heraldic shield, with the setting sun, with partition line, and the motto on a scroll at the base. Absent from the first DI was the crest, the minute man on the wreath. Research continues! Brent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tredhed2 Posted May 30, 2016 Share #5 Posted May 30, 2016 According to a 1955 Trading Post, this was "Class V" meaning the rarest of the rare. It should be silver finished, but that's no reason to not like it. Not listed anywhere else I can find. Stanton has info on the regt showing a 1942 activation date but used a Class IV DI (this DI minus the shield and crest). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tredhed2 Posted May 30, 2016 Share #6 Posted May 30, 2016 If you search 349th Engineer" or "349th Engineer General Service Regiment" there are a couple hits, including a cheesy CB restrike of this DI. The Regt was activated in Mar 42 at Camp Claiborne, LA and subsequently served in Alaska, being inactivated in Mar 1945. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBS Posted May 30, 2016 Author Share #7 Posted May 30, 2016 Dave, Thanks for the input. This DI. being sterling, actually appears black in hand from years of tarnish. The same tarnish that real silverware turns. I imagine when this DI was first manufactured it was bright silver. Unfortunately when I put it under the lights to photograph it it got washed out in order to see the details. I did find the info you mention in Stanton. They were know as the 349th Engineer General Service Regiment and served in the Aleutian Islands. Brent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patchcollector Posted May 31, 2016 Share #8 Posted May 31, 2016 Cool piece!I like it.Thanks for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
summer65 Posted May 31, 2016 Share #9 Posted May 31, 2016 I agree, beautiful DI. Con-grats on the find Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBS Posted May 31, 2016 Author Share #10 Posted May 31, 2016 Cool piece!I like it.Thanks for sharing. I agree, beautiful DI. Con-grats on the find Thank you Patchcollector and summer65! I am turning up some more info but at this point it is raising more questions than answers; I will continue to sort it out. The research can be just as much fun as collecting and the hunt. Brent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tankpatches Posted June 2, 2016 Share #11 Posted June 2, 2016 Allen was a jeweler in San Fransisco Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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