Lastest GEMCO scores..but how old?

[KRIS FORD]

Picked these up for dirt cheap..I got a couple sets of each, (well, 3 of the crows actually!) anyone know what year maybe? Has to be pre '75..right? As that's when I've read Gemsco stopped making them.

Well, HT rate was established in 1972..anyone see this funky HT symbol before? ALMOST looks like it has some elements of DCmen's rating badge...HAS to be '72-'75. (I grabbed 2 of 'em! I dig the funkiness of it!) And HTs were DCmen from '72-'88..does this badge sigify that?

Here's the DC rate:

 

Fire axe has a curved handle and the shape of the head is VERY dang close!

 

 

I also scored a Vanguard HT pin..the original one I had on my At Sea Fire Party cover and lost sometime in the later 90's..

Note the difference:

(has the Shipfitter's/Metalsmith's hammer, like this:

 

 

 

Is the Gemsco 70's version just a stylized rendition? Or is a nod to having picked up Damage Controlman's responsibilities during that time? Either way..perfect for me! I was the only HT on the At Sea Fire Party on CVN-73 '94-'96. (rest were DCmen)

[CTI1610]

 

Picked these up for dirt cheap..I got a couple sets of each, (well, 3 of the crows actually!) anyone know what year maybe? Has to be pre '75..right? As that's when I've read Gemsco stopped making them.

 

 

I was assigned to the Navy Detachment at the Armys 7th Radio Research Field Station in Thailand in 75-76. Wore subdued crows of that style on my jungle fatigues (or whatever the Army called them) during that time.

Edit: There should be an apostrophe between the y and s in the word Armys above. The system edited it out when I posted.

 

[sigsaye]

As far as the subdued Crows, they were still being used in 99 when I retired. Those would be dated by when Gemsco went out of business, or when the Navy went to sew on crows for their cammies ( finially)!

[KRIS FORD]

Bump to see if anyone has any clue on this funky HT rate..

It's about the between size of nickel and a quarter, whereas the Vanguard chrome rate pin is slightly larger.

 

I still want to say it has elements of the DC rating, that HT has absorbed from '72 to '88..