Spectacular Bullion Navy Rates

[busternfo]

David, That is an exceptional beauty!  Looks to be in wonderful condition.

 

Dennie

[0bx]

That is a beautiful rate David. First gold on blue bullion CPO Photographer I have ever seen. Very hard to find. Congrats.

[sigsaye]

This has been posted before, a few years back, but thought I’d post it again. It is on a Dress Khaki uniform that my sister (active duty Master Chief), got from one of her Chiefs. He found it in a thrift shop in Indiana. He knew I collected SM items.  It is post 1954, as it is on the Left sleeve the ribbons on the uniform indicate the original owner served in WW2,( no name), then, the rest of his ribbons were Reserve, along with 16 years of hash marks.   Note the applied chevrons and Finials on the flag staffs. 

[Justin B.]

On 6/6/2021 at 4:26 PM, David Minton said:

My latest pickup, from the Raleigh, NC show. A pre-WWII gold Chief Photographer, from before the rating was renamed to Photographer’s Mate.
 

 

Wow, that's a stunner. The black thread details on the specialty mark look so good, some great craftsmanship (craftswomanship, probably) there.

 

2 hours ago, sigsaye said:

This has been posted before, a few years back, but thought I’d post it again. It is on a Dress Khaki uniform that my sister (active duty Master Chief), got from one of her Chiefs. He found it in a thrift shop in Indiana. He knew I collected SM items.  It is post 1954, as it is on the Left sleeve the ribbons on the uniform indicate the original owner served in WW2,( no name), then, the rest of his ribbons were Reserve, along with 16 years of hash marks.   Note the applied chevrons and Finials on the flag staffs. 

 

More great detailing. SDK with silver badges was one sharp-looking uniform.

[PatLaabs]

I'm not very good with dating the bullion rates or what they're made with even with John Stacey's book but here are mine. 

 

Top to bottom:

PNCM/PSCM (not sure)

GMC

EMC

DCC (My favorite)

BTC 

[sigsaye]

This is a set of crow and hash marks I had made in Sasebo Japan, around 1983. I b went over 12 years active with good conduct, and so could wear gold. While it was not a big deal for me, I got a set of blues for inspections and decided I should have the gold. They did not have a gold SM1 crow. So, I asked the guy at the tailor shop if he could make me a set. Of course!  A week later, I picked up my new blues with a tailor made crow and hashmarks to match. Those were the good days. 

[PatLaabs]

Recently acquired this really nice Grey Bullion emergency rate. Seller had it marked as a G but to me it looks like a C. What do you guys think? No matter what it is I'm happy to have my first Bullion emergency rate, especially for the Grey Chief uniform.

[Salvage Sailor]

  I'd say Specialist C: Classification Interviewer

 

And just what duties did a Classification Interviewer have in 1943?

 

US Navy Interviewer's Classification Guide

NAVPERS 16701 December 1943

[Navy ratings (jobs) and training school descriptions]

 

[PatLaabs]

18 minutes ago, Salvage Sailor said:

  I'd say Specialist C: Classification Interviewer

 

And just what duties did a Classification Interviewer have in 1943?

 

US Navy Interviewer's Classification Guide

NAVPERS 16701 December 1943

[Navy ratings (jobs) and training school descriptions]

 

That's what I was thinking. I dunno, either way I'm glad I was able to snag it and put it in my collection. 

[PatLaabs]

Recently picked this up as well. Was marked as a Machinist and when I saw the propeller was upside without the "MO" I figured it was a rare Watertender rate. I'm not so sure now though. I need to find a magnifying glass to double check but I feel like I can see where the M and O used to be. I like to think this is a genuine and I've never had a problem with this seller before nor do I think he may have tricked me. I just think it's too good to be true to have such a rare rate that's also in Bullion with gold good conduct stripes. What do you guys think?

[David Minton]

Is there conclusive evidence that a Water Tender specialty mark was ever authorized? I was under the impression that all examples are either modified MoMM or custom made.

[PatLaabs]

8 hours ago, David Minton said:

Is there conclusive evidence that a Water Tender specialty mark was ever authorized? I was under the impression that all examples are either modified MoMM or custom made.

You're probably right, I never really thought of it like that. I know from what John Stacey said there is no evidence that it was ever actually authorized to be produced that way so I guess that's definitely the best possibility. I just assumed that it was in the same vein as rates such as the Aviation General Utility rate that manufacturers just made because they thought thats what the navy needed. I never thought of modifying it because that's what the wearer needed instead of the person owning it afterwards modified it.

[PatLaabs]

Recently acquired this Aviation Working green uniform with a beautiful, Bullion Specialist X rate with red stripes. 

[busternfo]

Nice find!  Are there any other insignia, ribbons, etc. on the coat? 

[PatLaabs]

On 11/16/2021 at 2:13 PM, busternfo said:

Nice find!  Are there any other insignia, ribbons, etc. on the coat? 

Unfortunately no but that's all fine by me. The rate was what I was mainly after and it's probably one of my favorites out of all specialist rates I have now.

[Kadet]

Very nice. I was able to purchase the dress blues that went with it. The SP(X) rate is of interest to me because, among other things, the Navy used it for their enlisted personnel assigned to the OSS. 

[PatLaabs]

10 hours ago, Kadet said:

Very nice. I was able to purchase the dress blues that went with it. The SP(X) rate is of interest to me because, among other things, the Navy used it for their enlisted personnel assigned to the OSS. 

Oh wow, that's beautiful. Good find, glad you could get the other uniform. 

 

That's pretty cool, I never knew that before!

[Flightpath]

Hi, I'm thinking of buying this CPO aviation rating and I'd like to know what era this would have been made/used. Thanks in advance for your help, cheers, John

 

[sigsaye]

6 hours ago, Flightpath said:

Hi, I'm thinking of buying this CPO aviation rating and I'd like to know what era this would have been made/used. Thanks in advance for your help, cheers, John

 

I’m feeling like 1960s. Maybe late 50s. 

[David Minton]

On 5/12/2022 at 8:51 AM, sigsaye said:

I’m feeling like 1960s. Maybe late 50s. 

Sounds right. This is a common rating, and from an era that is note widely collected, so I wouldn’t pay much.

[Flightpath]

Thanks guys, not my era then so I'll pass.👍

[carnut63]

On 11/18/2021 at 7:28 AM, Kadet said:

Very nice. I was able to purchase the dress blues that went with it. The SP(X) rate is of interest to me because, among other things, the Navy used it for their enlisted personnel assigned to the OSS. 

 

 That’s cool. I once had a blue jacket similar to a Chief that was part of post war Nuclear testing in the Atolls. 

[navyman]

Got this a month or so ago. Sailmaker 1st class with gold good conduct chevrons.

 

 

 

[0bx]

 

 

Very nice Sailmaker navyman. That is only the second one with gold good conduct chevrons that I have ever seen. The other one is in my collection. Maybe we have the only two 😃.

 

 

[busternfo]

Yes, that is a beautiful Sailmaker.  Obx, I read your post and have a suggestion.  Since you collect bullion CPOs of the WWII era, and the Sailmaker is neither, you may want to pass on your example to me!  😉   

 

Dennie