Garth Thompson Posted January 7, 2011 Share #1 Posted January 7, 2011 In the past I've seen quite scarce WW2 CAP chevrons misidentified as USMC WW2. I would like to attempt to clear that up a little. The red background on CAP chevrons is a deeper red but the big difference is the chevrons themselves are an almost identical OD shade to the US Army chevrons of the period and are embroidered as opposed to the USMC applied or bevo chevrons. The CAP chevrons will also have a distictive gauze base material. Search those junk boxes, teh CAP was pretty small in WW2 and the chevrons are scarce. Garth Here are a couple of examples: Staff Sgt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garth Thompson Posted January 7, 2011 Author Share #2 Posted January 7, 2011 Technical Sgt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John L Posted January 7, 2011 Share #3 Posted January 7, 2011 In the past I've seen quite scarce WW2 CAP chevrons misidentified as USMC WW2. I would like to attempt to clear that up a little. The red background on CAP chevrons is a deeper red but the big difference is the chevrons themselves are an almost identical OD shade to the US Army chevrons of the period and are embroidered as opposed to the USMC applied or bevo chevrons. The CAP chevrons will also have a distictive gauze base material. Search those junk boxes, teh CAP was pretty small in WW2 and the chevrons are scarce.Garth Here are a couple of examples: Staff Sgt Garth, Do they all have the gause backing? I have some that look like them but with out the backing. I thought that they were USMC from the 50s. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Ragan Posted January 8, 2011 Share #4 Posted January 8, 2011 The stripes themselves on these CAP chevrons should be exactly like Army stripes in shape and color. The only difference is the red background. They were made on wool and twill backgrounds. The red background CAP chevrons were officially replaced starting in Feb. 1945 with standard US Army chevrons, but continued to be worn for months afterward. Many collectors do confuse these with Marine Corps chevrons, and the old regulations specifically state that USMC chevrons are NOT to be used. Also, there seems to have been some CAP chevrons made by members during this time period that have a home-made red background with stripes cut from standard Army chevrons and applied. This was due to the low priority given the manufactuer of CAP insignia and wartime shortages. The red chevrons were worn by both senior members and Cadets, but with different shoulder patches, cap insignia and collar cut-outs senior members and cadets had distinctive uniforms. Red background CAP chevrons from WWII are fairly scarce. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garth Thompson Posted January 8, 2011 Author Share #5 Posted January 8, 2011 John, The ones I've seen have the gauze backing but the could have been done without the backing. Garth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John L Posted January 12, 2011 Share #6 Posted January 12, 2011 John,The ones I've seen have the gauze backing but the could have been done without the backing. Garth Here is one I have. I have been looking and have not found a reference to the flat rockers. It doe shave the gause backing. In alos haver a tech and a master tech. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garth Thompson Posted January 12, 2011 Author Share #7 Posted January 12, 2011 Here is one I have. I have been looking and have not found a reference to the flat rockers. It doe shave the gause backing.In alos haver a tech and a master tech. John, I'm pretty sure you have an odd embroidered USMC chevron there. The CAP didn't use flat rockers at all according to the CAP insignia pub that our forum member Lee Regan did. Garth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Ragan Posted January 12, 2011 Share #8 Posted January 12, 2011 John,I'm pretty sure you have an odd embroidered USMC chevron there. The CAP didn't use flat rockers at all according to the CAP insignia pub that our forum member Lee Regan did. Garth That's right. CAP never used any chevrons with "ties". What you have there is a USMC Staff Sergeant used from the 30's till about 1947. With a rocker on the bottom, it would be a Platoon Sergeant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig_pickrall Posted January 12, 2011 Share #9 Posted January 12, 2011 If the CAP chevrons match the Army pattern then they should be 3" wide while the USMC chevron should be 3 1/2" wide. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John L Posted January 13, 2011 Share #10 Posted January 13, 2011 If the CAP chevrons match the Army pattern then they should be 3" wide while the USMC chevron should be 3 1/2" wide. How cut and dried is the 3" and the 3 1/2"? I ask because I have ones with the curved rockers that are 3 1/2" wide. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig_pickrall Posted January 13, 2011 Share #11 Posted January 13, 2011 I have measured some that vary by as much as +/- 1/8". I have measured way more Army versions bacause they are so plentiful. The USMC versions are usually very close to the 3 1/2". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garth Thompson Posted January 13, 2011 Author Share #12 Posted January 13, 2011 How cut and dried is the 3" and the 3 1/2"? I ask because I have ones with the curved rockers that are 3 1/2" wide. John John, The 3 1/2" curved rocker ones you have are also USMC. The flat rocker are the technical grades and the round rockers are the line grades. Garth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John L Posted January 13, 2011 Share #13 Posted January 13, 2011 Here are a few more all have the gause backing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John L Posted January 13, 2011 Share #14 Posted January 13, 2011 more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John L Posted January 13, 2011 Share #15 Posted January 13, 2011 and 2 more I pt the yellow one in as it also has the gause backing. So am I correct in saying the major difference in the USMC and the CAP chevrons are the size? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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