MattS Posted June 15, 2012 Share #1 Posted June 15, 2012 Picked this up today for a dollar. I expected it to be metal, but it is black plastic and has almost no weight to it. Anyone else have this variation? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hardstripe Posted June 15, 2012 Share #2 Posted June 15, 2012 I have one in my collection just like yours. They were an experiment that did not last. The plastic broke easily and melted at the touch of an iron. The metal rank were much more durable. I have only the Spec 4. I would like to find other ranks but in over 40 years of collecting this is the only one I have seen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattS Posted June 15, 2012 Author Share #3 Posted June 15, 2012 Thanks for the reply! I figured it was pretty rare. Would this experiment have been in the late 60s when collar insignia were introduced? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shrapneldude Posted June 16, 2012 Share #4 Posted June 16, 2012 I've got one that looks a lot like yours, but mine is metal and really crude. :think: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arclight Posted June 16, 2012 Share #5 Posted June 16, 2012 Shrap, I believe yours is Vietnamese made from the war period. G Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack's Son Posted June 16, 2012 Share #6 Posted June 16, 2012 Why did the Army come up with such a funky looking rank designation?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattS Posted June 16, 2012 Author Share #7 Posted June 16, 2012 Shrap, that does look like an in-country made variation. As far as why this design, I always figured you promoted a PFC (E-3) to specialist by flipping his rank upside-down and adding an eagle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted June 16, 2012 Share #8 Posted June 16, 2012 Here's a old topic on Marine Corps plastic collar ranks, Two members related the Marine types came out in the 70s, while one said he seen them as late as the 90s, so with these plastic Army types, I quess we can assume they too came out in the 1970s ? would we be correct in assuming this ? http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/ind...hl=plastic+rank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattS Posted June 16, 2012 Author Share #9 Posted June 16, 2012 Interesting, I would guess 70s also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atb Posted June 16, 2012 Share #10 Posted June 16, 2012 I've got one that looks a lot like yours, but mine is metal and really crude. :think: And, it is for a SP5. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted June 16, 2012 Share #11 Posted June 16, 2012 Interesting, I would guess 70s also. You know I actual like the way these Specialist ranks looks, I wouldn,t of minded wearing in my day when I was a Spec 4, I guess I would just remove them when I would Iron my OGs or the later BDUs :w00t: and reserve them for garrison wear only Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattS Posted June 16, 2012 Author Share #12 Posted June 16, 2012 I wore SPC insignia for awhile, but mine were the plain black shields with no detail (like most of them). I do have a BDU uniform with the less common cut-out SPC insignia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig_pickrall Posted June 16, 2012 Share #13 Posted June 16, 2012 A friend of mine had a set of the cut out SPC insignia on a uniform. All of the insignia was VN theater made. Instead of the eagle his had a red heart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NMD Posted May 22, 2015 Share #14 Posted May 22, 2015 I'm trying to piece together a uniform for my father. He is very proud of his service. I have everything but these cut out Spec 4 pins. Everything I have so far is authentic vietnam issue, no reproductions. I wouldn't give him anything but the real deal. Is it possible any of you would be willing to part with yours? Might any of you know where I could locate a pair of these pins? The traveling Vietnam Wall is coming to our town in June. I would love for him to be able to wear this when we go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattS Posted May 22, 2015 Author Share #15 Posted May 22, 2015 Sure he wasn't a Spec-5? The sides of the rank are vertical indicating a rocker over the shield. Either way, thank your dad for his service and tell him "Welcome Home" from me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NMD Posted May 22, 2015 Share #16 Posted May 22, 2015 I didn't notice the vertical sides until you pointed that out. I'm almost positive he was Spec 4 but I'll double check. I'm trying to make this a surprise for him so I'm trying not to ask him too many questions so he doesn't wonder what I'm up to. I will definitely pass along your "Welcome Home" message to him. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvage Sailor Posted May 23, 2015 Share #17 Posted May 23, 2015 Aloha, They may be made of metal, not plastic like these period examples. Pardon the old photo, I don't have them at hand right now. There are US and theater made Vietnam insignia on the scrap of tablecloth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefighter Posted May 23, 2015 Share #18 Posted May 23, 2015 The specialist ranks date back to around the 30's, those weird PVT stripes with about 5 rockers and one upper chevron.I was a SPC(E-4), not an NCO.But a CPL(E-4) is considered a Jr NCO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattS Posted May 23, 2015 Author Share #19 Posted May 23, 2015 I appreciate wanting to have the cut-out ranks, but he may have only had those on this one uniform. As they seem to be nearly impossible to find, you may have to go with the standard pin-on rank. Luckily, the ones produced in 1970 look exactly like the ones produced in 2000 and are easy to find. http://www.ebay.com/itm/US-MILITARY-ARMY-SUBDUED-E-4-PFC-SPECIALIST-RANK-INSIGNIA-PIN-NEW-B10-/221725826219?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item339fe39cab http://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-Original-SET-Vietnam-Era-US-Army-Specialist-4-SP4-SUBDUED-Rank-Insignia-Pin-/381220338538?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item58c280bb6a http://www.ebay.com/itm/US-ARMY-Enlisted-SPECIALIST-4-SPEC-4-E-4-Duty-uniform-rank-pin-on-badge-set-/191521005246?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c978a9ebe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NMD Posted May 24, 2015 Share #20 Posted May 24, 2015 Thanks Matt- I checked with him he was definitely Spec-4. The pin he had must be a different variation of the one you have. I did order a pair of new old stock from one your links. I like the look of the cut out pins though. I'll keep searching. Thanks Again! Funny enough there was also 2 designs of his II Field Force patch on his unifrom and of course the one he wore was the first design with the OD Green arrow and much more rare than the second design. I was able to track one of those down though. It just cost alot more to get it hahah. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHASEUSA11B Posted June 3, 2015 Share #21 Posted June 3, 2015 The ones in the picture of your dad look like a spc e4 to me. I had some a whole back but I don't know where I put them. They were rather large and had the vertical sides but no rocker. Here are some pics I took when I got them. They also had an odd Vietnamese made service ribbon that I have also misplaced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattS Posted July 16, 2015 Author Share #22 Posted July 16, 2015 I was at a flea market today and found 5 metal, straight-sided specialist pins today. Some have bent pins, but it looks like 2 pairs and a Vietnamese made one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smwinter207 Posted November 5, 2015 Share #23 Posted November 5, 2015 Here are some metal ones I picked up. Can anyone tell where they were made? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hardstripe Posted November 5, 2015 Share #24 Posted November 5, 2015 Vietnam "beercan" style. Made in Vietnam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smwinter207 Posted November 5, 2015 Share #25 Posted November 5, 2015 Thank You. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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