My collection

[zljones]

CPO NAP curved wing, 1943 dated WW2 era.

[zljones]

CPO NAP WW2 era straight wing style.

[zljones]

CPO khaki 1943 dated, WW2 era straight wing NAP

[zljones]

1924-1933 era CPO straight, gold wing NAP rate. To be specific this is 1924-1927 era rating badge.

[zljones]

CPO NAP gold, straight wing on serge blue, WW2 era, 1943 dated.

[zljones]

CPO grey, Curved wing, gold, WW2 era NAP.

[zljones]

Unauthorized colors. Red chevrons on forestry green with bullion NAP. During 1942-1948 this style or red on green was worn but never authorized by the USN.

[zljones]

Another unauthorized example. Gold lace chevrons with bullion on forestry green. This is the curved wing style NAP, this is unused condition. WW2 era

[zljones]

CPO Buglemaster 1943 dated, grey. This rating lasted 1927-1948.

[zljones]

Turret Captain CPO, WW2 era on serge blue. This rating existed 1903-1948

[zljones]

1913-1927 era Turret Captain CPO on white

[zljones]

Aviation General utility CPO on grey. This rating was never authorized for use on a rating badge. It was supposed to be used on strickers only when it first appeared in 1926 for Aviation graduates. In 1941 it appeared on rating badges until 1948 when it was banished back down to strickers until 1958 when the mark completely disappeared. This is NYEC corp made 1943 dated with original package.

[zljones]

1886-1893 era Machinsts mate 2nd class. This was the first rating badge style ever.

[zljones]

CPO Carpenter's mate 1905-1913 era.

[zljones]

Very rare Master-at-arms CPO pre-1921 era. Master at Arms was formed during the revolutionary war in 1775, then in 1886 the inverted star became the symbol until 1921 when the rating was mysteriously abolished. The rating returned in 1974 but they could not use the original symbol because that was already taken by the MCPON, CMCPO, FMCPO since 1967, so a new symbol was created as a badge with a upright five point star. This is a 1905-1921 era serge blue CPO. The small star in the middle of the big star was likely tailored specifically by the wishes of the MAA that wore it.

[zljones]

Underwater Mechanic CPO. This rating began it's set up process in February 1948, then by April 1948 it was to be set up, a batch of rating badges were ordered but never used, only a certain amount were made, especially rare in CPO form. In June 1948 the rating symbol was dropped before it could even be used. The underwater mechanic became specialist "M" in 1948 instead.

[zljones]

I got my information from John Stacey's book "United States Navy Rating Badges And Marks 1833 To 2008, A history of our sailor's rate and rating insignia." I would be lost without this book, if you have not got it yet, get it. I will add more ratings as I get them.

[67Rally]

Fantastic collection! Very nice...I especially enjoy the Radarman rates...considering that I was an Operations Specialist. I really spend too much time searching for this particular rate.

[zljones]

Fantastic collection! Very nice...I especially enjoy the Radarman rates...considering that I was an Operations Specialist. I really spend too much time searching for this particular rate.

 

Yes I myself am trying to get all the CPO radarmans, I lost an auction for a khaki one recently, but hopefully it will come back, hopefully some nice bullions will come my way too!

[67Rally]

Yes I myself am trying to get all the CPO radarmans, I lost an auction for a khaki one recently, but hopefully it will come back, hopefully some nice bullions will come my way too!

 

 

He he..on eBay a couple weeks ago? If so...I got that one. :thumbsup:

[67Rally]

Good evening, I figure it's about time I share the best of my collection. Collecting enlisted rank insignia has become quite an obsession of mine, but it is a fine obsession, especially U.S. Navy rating patches. I have collected Rates from each time period except the extremely rare 1894-1905 era, in which I can never seem find anything from that era or I lose the auctions. Most of my collection is CPO, I consider myself mostly a CPO collector; therefore, most of my collection is CPO rank.

 

1948-1980s recruit patches

 

 

By 1984, these were gone. At that time, the lowest rank available was an E-2 Seaman/Fireman/Airman Apprentice.

[zljones]

By 1984, these were gone. At that time, the lowest rank available was an E-2 Seaman/Fireman/Airman Apprentice.

 

Excellent I was wondering what exact year those disappeared I kept hearing 1980s but no exact year. Thanks for telling me this.

[hhbooker2]

CPO Carpenter's mate 1905-1913 era.

 

Looks more like 1897-1905, note the eagle's tailfeathers are not straight down, but the bird leans to the viewer's left! I could be wrong? Sarge Booker of Tujunga

[zljones]

Looks more like 1897-1905, note the eagle's tailfeathers are not straight down, but the bird leans to the viewer's left! I could be wrong? Sarge Booker of Tujunga

 

One main thing I always look for when trying to distinguish between 1894 rates and 1905 is the chevron style. The 1894 style chevrons have stitching parralell to the edges such as the CPO Yeoman that Navyman posted recently in his collection section. The 1905-1913 pattern had stitching around the edges of the chevrons. The eagle also looks upward as was the style from 1905-1985, that is another thing I look for. I wish that was a 1894 CPO Carpenter's mate I have, I would be quite happy if it was since anything from that era is very hard to get.

[sigsaye]

Good evening, I figure it's about time I share the best of my collection. Collecting enlisted rank insignia has become quite an obsession of mine, but it is a fine obsession, especially U.S. Navy rating patches. I have collected Rates from each time period except the extremely rare 1894-1905 era, in which I can never seem find anything from that era or I lose the auctions. Most of my collection is CPO, I consider myself mostly a CPO collector; therefore, most of my collection is CPO rank.

 

1948-1980s recruit patches

These were dropped in 1975 (according to John Stacey). Also at that time, Females were directed to wear the Male size marks.

 

Steve Hesson