Mr. Scratch

This came up with a former NAVSOF personnel during a discussion about unusual AK magazines. The sailor said he obtained these scarce Russian aluminum mags in Kunar Valley, and then repurposed them for his own use in-country by applying camouflage, as the black finish had mostly worn off and "they were too shiny." I was very curious about whether SEAL use of Kalashnikovs was an official thing, or if it was just a matter of having an unofficial backup weapon around in a vehicle or at the FOB. But he wasn't super talkative about any of this, and I didn't want to pry. All he said was that t

I'm assuming these are 19th Century US, based on the Federal eagle on the lone surviving button and construction. Can anyone tell me what I have here?

😄 Yes. Yes I guess I did. Sorry. Mods, please delete. I guess it's time to get my eyes checked. 😑

Eh. Maybe if the price was right. Just trying to get an idea of exactly what it is time-wise at the moment. I'm feeling WWI based on it's construction, but want to be sure.

Close up

I've got this banner (I assume that's what it is, it has no suspension device). Double-sided. Made with some course, fairly light old-school cotton, with maybe lightly weather-proofed stars. 35" x 47". Has a pre-wwII , small-scale manufacturing feel to it. Anyone have any idea when this might have been made?

Nope. I just assumed they were some sort of obsolete British bayo grip, as they're stamped broad-arrow over WD.

I've got this giant cleaver of a weapon. I assume it is Australian manufacture, with the gear-tooth guard and the old Enfield bayonet grip. Does anyone know the maker? Anyone have any other examples?

Same here. He claimed to have some other stuff that I was ready to purchase once this deal went through. Even if he hadn't found the rest of the supply, I was prepared to buy everything he did have at full retail, and then purchase his supply of other fabrics that he had found. In all, I was ready to go a few hundred bucks down that road with him just to start. But he tried to jam me on a measly $125 for the time he spent looking for a thing he already sold me. And now he gets nothing, not even the $125 he tried to screw me for, and here I am blabbing about my bad experience to potential c

Rise from the grave, or ancient thread long dead! Okay, I'm having some issues with this same seller, along somewhat similar lines. On NJ Sekela's website he has listed some WWII fabric scraps. Thinking I could use these as the basis of a larger cloth comparison, I asked to order his entire supply, and he agreed to sell the whole shebang for $125. That was on Oct. 7th. Now 2 months have gone by, during which time I have asked about them many times. He has told me that he has some of the scraps, but the rest of them are somewhere in his collection of 40 years of collecting, and that he hasn'

Also, going over the Camp Carson 3rd Ranger informal photo just now - this section is really great. Partly because dogs always make for a better picture. But also, it goes to show how a poorly-timed yawn can forever become part of a unit's historic record.

Just want to add the link and pic the the helmet, in case anyone comes across this thread in the distant future while doing research on the 187th. The shell and liner both have Beddingfield's name and serial number written in them in yellow paint. http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/334807-187th-airborne-paratrooper-m1d-with-dui-decal/

The rest of the grouping can be found here. The helmet was held back by the previous owner, but it is now back with the rest of the grouping. The group is from Sgt.Truman Beddingfield, who was also a Ranger in the 3rd Ranger Co. in Korea. http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/324104-documentsphotos-3rd-ranger-co-187th-airborne-infantry-reg-rakkasans/ He gets mentioned in the book about the 3rd Rangers, "The Cold Steel Third", the story of the 3rd Ranger Co in Korea. In one anecdote his squad was hit by a Chinese ambush, and Beddingfield was knocked to the ground by bu

So, poking around a little online, I came across other helmets like this. In particular, this one posted by WARPATH: http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/252927-187th-airborne-rct-m1c-jump-helmet/ The above is obviously an earlier WWII-era helmet.There are other similar examples, but this is the best of them. It appears that the 187th, for a time, made it a point to semi-regularly embellish their helmets like this. Does anyone have any photos of these types of helmets in use with the 187th?

Thanks, Korea/thereabouts is where it should be, that was the date of the rest of the grouping. Close inspection reveals just a touch of staining to the sweatband, what I would expect from one or two short appearances on the parade field. Late WWII manufacture shell, Korea-era liner. I mistakenly labeled this as an M1D in the title, when it is actually an M1C. Just heading off the inevitable correction. (MODS - can you guys change my title to be more accurate?)