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Plastic cut-out pin-on Specialist 4 rank


MattS
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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?

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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.

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Thanks for the reply! I figured it was pretty rare. Would this experiment have been in the late 60s when collar insignia were introduced?

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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. :lol:

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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

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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 :D

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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.

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craig_pickrall

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.

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  • 2 years later...

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.

 

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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.

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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

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Salvage Sailor

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

 

04 a.jpg

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firefighter

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.

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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

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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.

 

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  • 2 weeks later...
CHASEUSA11B

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.

 

post-6201-0-07499300-1433363840.jpgpost-6201-0-77557400-1433363849.jpg

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  • 1 month later...

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.

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  • 3 months later...

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