Brig Posted May 4, 2007 Share #1 Posted May 4, 2007 while we're on the marksman subject...I just picked up this Expert USMC Pistol Badge two days ago...unmarked...what do you think? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GLM Posted May 4, 2007 Share #2 Posted May 4, 2007 while we're on the marksman subject...I just picked up this Expert USMC Pistol Badge two days ago...unmarked...what do you think? Brig, If I were to guess, I'd say straight up WWII USMC, but with the loop catch, it might go allot earlier. Many of the marsmanship and qual badges awarded during WWII were unhallmarked. It's a nice one and the Pistol badges don't come along all that often. Nice find! Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brig Posted May 5, 2007 Author Share #3 Posted May 5, 2007 thanks. I paid 20 for it, not exactly a cheaper than dirt find, but a good one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GLM Posted May 5, 2007 Share #4 Posted May 5, 2007 thanks. I paid 20 for it, not exactly a cheaper than dirt find, but a good one As far as I'm concerned, $20 for a Pistol Expert Badge of this type is a very good price and pretty close to being cheaper than dirt. They just don't come along all that often like the rifle and qual badges. Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kklinejr Posted July 23, 2007 Share #5 Posted July 23, 2007 This badge was found in the pocket of a p1917 USMC enlisted coat...I believe it is a p1922 which would make sense since the Marine would have still be in the Corps by around 1924. Two questions: 1.) do I have the pattern/model correct 2.) when was the pistol badge first awarded...I haven't been fortunate enough to see any in photos previous to 1920s (plenty of expert riflemen, but no pistol). Thank you. Photos below. Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teufelhunde.ret Posted July 23, 2007 Share #6 Posted July 23, 2007 Ken, that is the correct badge for the 20's. However I cannot recall when the Corps began awarding the Pistol Expert badge, I believe it was vary late in the 1890's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kklinejr Posted July 23, 2007 Share #7 Posted July 23, 2007 Thank you for the information on this piece. Good to know it has probably travelled with the coat for quite sometime. Thank you as well for the badge's possible inception era. Are there any good texts that cover pre-WWII badges and uniforms? I have Moran's US. Marine Uniforms 1912-1940 text, which I enjoy quite a bit, but I am always looking to read more. Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bank Vault Posted July 24, 2007 Share #8 Posted July 24, 2007 I don't know jack about the era of the pin but it looks funky, The sdearm looks weird. I think it is a 1900 Colt Pistol instead of a 1911, but hey, I could be wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbuehler Posted July 26, 2007 Share #9 Posted July 26, 2007 This is a nice variant of the pistol expert badge and a fairly early one. These were not just Marine Corp, but like the other rifle expert and sharpshooter badges, were worn by the Army as well. This one has the 1911 pistols which means it is post 1912. The earlier one has crossed revolvers. CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbuehler Posted July 26, 2007 Share #10 Posted July 26, 2007 Just a little more to add here, these pistol expert badge were for some reason seldom seen on Army/Marine enlisted men. All the photos that I can think of off hand show them on officers, although they were of course available to enlisted men. There is also a pistol sharpshooter badge that is a smaller version of the rifle sharpshooter (maltese cross) as well. The Army seems to have mostly stopped wearing these badges (including the expert rifleman and rifle sharpshooter badges) by the time of ww2, only the Marines continuing with them. This may be one reason why these types of shooting badges are thought of as being associated with Marines only by many people today. CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kklinejr Posted July 26, 2007 Share #11 Posted July 26, 2007 Thank you for the added information, CB. Definitely solid! Now, here comes another question on these badges. I have three late 1920s - early 1930s USMC "greens" coats that have army style qualification badges on them. I was told that this is absolutely correct for the period as the Marines switched to the army badges for about a decade. Later, I found this supported and that the Marines used army badges from '24 to '37. Are there any known reasons for this? Was this the armed forces uniformity issue being raised again or maybe government thriftyness kicking in due to the depression? Were any reasons given that you know of? Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbuehler Posted July 26, 2007 Share #12 Posted July 26, 2007 Thank you for the added information, CB. Definitely solid! Now, here comes another question on these badges. I have three late 1920s - early 1930s USMC "greens" coats that have army style qualification badges on them. I was told that this is absolutely correct for the period as the Marines switched to the army badges for about a decade. Later, I found this supported and that the Marines used army badges from '24 to '37. Are there any known reasons for this? Was this the armed forces uniformity issue being raised again or maybe government thriftyness kicking in due to the depression? Were any reasons given that you know of? Ken I dont know why this was done nor does anyone I know seem to have a definitive answer for this. It certainly did happen, but it was not universal among all Marines. The Marines only had the shooting qualification badges at this time and maybe they wanted more qual badges for different skills, so borrowed the Army's until they got their own basic qual badge in 1937. This is one theory anyway. CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kklinejr Posted July 27, 2007 Share #13 Posted July 27, 2007 CB, Thank you for your input! It is much appreciated. Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbuehler Posted July 27, 2007 Share #14 Posted July 27, 2007 Here are the three pistol (or revolver) shooting qualification badges as worn by the Army and Marines Before ww2. (The Marines continued wearing the expert badge after that point to a limited extent, while the Army seems to have mostly discontinued all of them at some point). The one on the left is the first type with revolvers as worn prior to the adoption of the 1911 acp. It was still worn by those who had it for some time after. Just when it was authorized is not clear. The middle one is of course the type worn to quite recent times, although the example shown is inter war period. The right example is the pistol sharpshooter badge which is seldom seen. I do not know when it was first authorized, nor when it ceased to by worn. None of these badges have makers marks. The revolver example is silver with the revolvers seperately attached. The expert badge is nickel, as is the sharpshooter badge, which has a "snowflake" back. CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teufelhunde.ret Posted July 27, 2007 Share #15 Posted July 27, 2007 Here is a pre WW1 with pistol badge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kklinejr Posted August 2, 2007 Share #16 Posted August 2, 2007 A few more badges I picked up. 1. Marksman - brass- new old stock on card from box- I am unsure on the authenticity of this one - bobbi pin style pinback 2. Sharpshooter - seems brass and NOS (I am unsure on this one too)- bobbi pin type pinback 3. Pistol Sharpshooter, unmarked, probably sterling 4. A beauty - J.R. Gaunt marked Pistol Expert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kklinejr Posted August 2, 2007 Share #17 Posted August 2, 2007 Additional photos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teufelhunde.ret Posted August 2, 2007 Share #18 Posted August 2, 2007 kklinejr,All of the badges you have shown are good. The brass ones are Army national guard if memory serves me correctly. The Gaunt made pistol expert badge is quite outstanding! First I have seen. CB DITTO, that Gaunt Badge is unique, great details on the pistol. A first sighting for me as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kklinejr Posted August 3, 2007 Share #19 Posted August 3, 2007 Thank you again for the information. I thought the Gaunt piece might be a keeper...I was lucky to acquire it. Thanks again! Take care, Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobgee Posted August 3, 2007 Share #20 Posted August 3, 2007 After seeing that beautiful Gaunt badge I'm almost embarrased to post this one. It came in a group belonging to a 1917 - 1919 WWI Marine along with his Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal and Victory Medal. It is VERY crudely cast with the pin soldered on the back, Cast Integral catch is broken. I'm inclined to believe it to be a 'period' piece of just very low quality. There was an unaccounted for Mexican Border souvenir medal with the grouping as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert60446 Posted April 27, 2008 Share #21 Posted April 27, 2008 Hi guys, Here is one more find from today’s Chicago Show : USMC Pistol Expert badge from Gemsco. Original cardboard was still included with this badge with serial number on it… Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert60446 Posted April 27, 2008 Share #22 Posted April 27, 2008 Reverse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert60446 Posted April 27, 2008 Share #23 Posted April 27, 2008 Hinge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert60446 Posted April 27, 2008 Share #24 Posted April 27, 2008 Catch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brig Posted April 28, 2008 Author Share #25 Posted April 28, 2008 got a pic of it on the Gemsco card? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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