Flightpath Posted January 5, 2019 Share #301 Posted January 5, 2019 Hi, I have been looking for the earliest example of a USMC RIFLE EXPERT award (with crossed M1 Garand rifles). Can someone please explain the codes on the five awards that I am looking at, I think the 'SER 395' is early 1960s but not sure of the 719 and 424 on the Meyers awards….. HH SER 395 STERLING STERLING 12C N.S.MEYER NEW YORK USMC 719 (in a shield) CEC2-9 N.S.MEYER USMC 424 (in a shield) Any help would be great, thanks, John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aactionjim Posted September 25, 2021 Share #302 Posted September 25, 2021 On 10/11/2007 at 7:02 PM, hhbooker2 said: Lieutenant Colonel William K. Emerson I believe did a book on marksmanship badges - he is the leading authority on such militaria. Major James M. McDuff and John A. Stacey are leaders in the field also! I have the Army of the United States issue which is like the USMC, but mine is all gold. I have Army Regulations for the late 1920s and early 1930s showing the Maltese Cross type like worn now, but knew soldiers who went off post and bought and wore the older style. Also have the USMC with and without the Eagle/Anchor/Globe centered on them too! May donate mine to the USMC Museum at Quantico, Virginia as I am long in tooth! One of those badges is wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SgtMaddoxUSMC Posted September 25, 2021 Share #303 Posted September 25, 2021 Great reference Jim! Which one of the badges is wrong? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donaldnol Posted September 25, 2021 Share #304 Posted September 25, 2021 On 4/12/2008 at 11:55 AM, robert60446 said: Rifle Expert reverse I have the same badge except the ser. is #395 and it's sterling and has sterling clutches, i believe it's late W.W.2 to korean war era the one you have it's 1/20th silver it seems to be vietnam era which they would have used little amounts in silver Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aactionjim Posted February 9 Share #305 Posted February 9 On 4/19/2009 at 2:42 PM, Brig said: here's an interesting piece off eBay. I didn't win it, but it's interesting none-the-less. Someone combined an early WWI era Marksman and Sharpshooter badge. Interesting piece Are you still looking for this? Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brig Posted February 10 Author Share #306 Posted February 10 19 hours ago, aactionjim said: Are you still looking for this? Jim No, I've since acquired one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aactionjim Posted February 10 Share #307 Posted February 10 22 minutes ago, Brig said: No, I've since acquired one OK here is his name on ebay wmcgaughey He has quite a few good badges and medals from time to time. Good guy to deal with. Here is the item number he had the badge listed under.#325022461377 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digi-shots Posted March 27 Share #308 Posted March 27 Can someone help date these and also let me know if they are all USMC and not police dept etc. The tip one looks like the older pre WWII style. I’m not familiar with the 2 hallmarks. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basic Rifleman Posted March 27 Share #309 Posted March 27 The makers mark belongs to "Officer's Equipment Co, Madison, NJ. They made insignia during WWII, but these appear to have been made a little later by their CB pin design. Perhaps late 40's before the IOH marks were instituted. I think the badges are all good to go, although there does seem to be a bit of crossover in who wore these. I also recall there being some discussion about a distinction in how many rings were on the target. Four for the Marine Corps, three for the Army? Maybe someone who knows better can chime in on this.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digi-shots Posted March 27 Share #310 Posted March 27 Rifleman… thanks. I was looking for a WWII type for a Rifle marksman. What about this medal here.. there is no hanging bar to denote what weapon its for. Does the wreath mean “expert” ? Also, can you decipher the qualification listing here? I can make out hand grenade, bayonet and the last line carbine.. but mot the second or third one. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basic Rifleman Posted March 29 Share #311 Posted March 29 This badge is the USMC "Basic" badge. It was used to show additional qualifications, whereas the standard Marksman, Sharpshooter, and Expert badges were used solely for rifle and pistol qualifications. The wreath is just part of the design, although it does look similar to the Army expert badge, which does use the same style, minus the EGA of course. I'm not 100% certain, but the 2nd qualification line appears to be for the "T.S.M.G" qualification for Thompson Sub Machine Gun. I can't make out the 3rd line at all. The 2nd and 3rd line appear to have a "fail" stamp next to them though? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BEAT_NAVY Posted March 29 Share #312 Posted March 29 Sharpshooter not marksman. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basic Rifleman Posted March 29 Share #313 Posted March 29 30 minutes ago, BEAT_NAVY said: Sharpshooter not marksman. ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digi-shots Posted March 29 Share #314 Posted March 29 5 hours ago, Basic Rifleman said: This badge is the USMC "Basic" badge. It was used to show additional qualifications, whereas the standard Marksman, Sharpshooter, and Expert badges were used solely for rifle and pistol qualifications. The wreath is just part of the design, although it does look similar to the Army expert badge, which does use the same style, minus the EGA of course. I'm not 100% certain, but the 2nd qualification line appears to be for the "T.S.M.G" qualification for Thompson Sub Machine Gun. I can't make out the 3rd line at all. The 2nd and 3rd line appear to have a "fail" stamp next to them though? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digi-shots Posted March 29 Share #315 Posted March 29 At first I thought it was FAIL also… but looking at the last one “Familiar”… maybe the other two that look like FAIL is actually FAM meaning familiar??? I don’t thin this section was for qualification but more for training.. making sure the Marine was familiar with various weapons? How would you possibly pass or fail with “hand grenade”? Ot does look like he was “unqualified” for bayonet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BEAT_NAVY Posted March 29 Share #316 Posted March 29 Same difference it just says sharpshooter instead of marksman 3 hours ago, Basic Rifleman said: ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basic Rifleman Posted March 29 Share #317 Posted March 29 1 minute ago, BEAT_NAVY said: Same difference it just says sharpshooter instead of marksman I'm still legitimately having a hard time figuring out what point you're trying to convey as it relates to the topic by adding a picture of a sharpshooter badge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cobra 6 Actual Posted March 29 Share #318 Posted March 29 44 minutes ago, digi-shots said: At first I thought it was FAIL also… but looking at the last one “Familiar”… maybe the other two that look like FAIL is actually FAM meaning familiar??? I don’t thin this section was for qualification but more for training.. making sure the Marine was familiar with various weapons? How would you possibly pass or fail with “hand grenade”? Ot does look like he was “unqualified” for bayonet Perhaps “Familiarization”? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USMCR79 Posted March 29 Share #319 Posted March 29 Here are some early ones from my collection: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SgtMaddoxUSMC Posted March 29 Share #320 Posted March 29 Digi- third line might be "USMC Carbine"? Bill- great badges! Love the ER and MM-A combo! If you ever decide to part with them someday.... you know who to call! :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basic Rifleman Posted March 30 Share #321 Posted March 30 27 minutes ago, Cobra 6 Actual said: Perhaps “Familiarization”? That makes much more sense! 100% it's the abbreviation for Familiarization Fire. "Fam Fire" is something I heard approximately 45874896573 times at SOI / Camp Lejeune. Can't believe I didn't make the instant connection. My brain washing must be wearing off:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basic Rifleman Posted March 30 Share #322 Posted March 30 On 3/27/2022 at 7:50 PM, digi-shots said: Also, can you decipher the qualification listing here? I can make out hand grenade, bayonet and the last line carbine.. but mot the second or third one. Thanks Hoping this one gets put to bed before I have to go to bed.... The remaining available options for qualifications during that period are as follows: "Rifle, Small Bore, Pistol, Auto Rifle, Machine Gun, and Howitzer". I think being this training was conducted at Parris Island we can maybe rule out howitzer (unless they used dummy rounds for fam fire). Line 1. Hand Grenade, 2. T.S.M.G. (Thompson Sub Machine gun), 3. ( ??? ), 4. Bayonet, 5. Carbine One thing we can be sure of, by 1944 those rubber stamps had seen better days:)))) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digi-shots Posted March 30 Share #323 Posted March 30 Thanks everyone for their help! Semper Fi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flightpath Posted April 4 Share #324 Posted April 4 I have a couple of these unofficial small pistol sharpshooter awards and finally found a photo of a WW2 marine with one, you can see how small these are when you compare it to the rifle marksman award bar above it....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SgtMaddoxUSMC Posted April 5 Share #325 Posted April 5 What do you mean unofficial? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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