Considering a USAF maintenance unit can have between 100-500 assigned, most of these show up. But other things factor in of course. Sometimes they may only do one run, change the design, or whatever. I did 26 years in USAF fighter maintenance, and it was typical to get 4-5 sets of patches when you in-processed a new unit. Rare may be the most over-used word in collecting. I prefer hard to find. I save rare for unique items like named patches and such where few real ones exist. But that's just my take. It's been my experience when I don't get something that eventually another shows up down the road. You can never have them all anyway!😀   Randy

And of course, I only collect bayonets, Fal furniture, and a few other approved parts since I'm still in The People's Union of Illinois. 😑

Hey guys, when were these trousers issued? Would they have been worn on D-Day? 

I'm sure this has been posted before but, Lee Marvin's wiki could be the script of a Netflix movie all by itself. Great topic!!!

Plus, there's a very, very good retired woodworker named Dean on the Falfiles that I've dealt with a number of times. From MI, iirc. He does beautiful work and uses correct wood. I believe it's usually European Walnut on the Fal furniture. I could loan him a set of original grips when i get a set & an SA or RIA bayonet for awhile and see if he'd be interested. He makes different jigs and puts out really great stuff. My grandad was a retired carpenter who taught me a lot, and we did a lot of projects together, but mine would be done by hand, where his would be done quicker and very nice. 

Thanks for the info.  Christian T. Christensen.  Any idea of the age.. Is it pre WWII. Maybe WWI?   RR

He truly looks like a soldier's soldier...a literal superman.

Awesome! Thank you Gear Fanatic!

Green, white, blue for 29th even, occasionally you’ll see black, usually machine stitched, but sometimes you see uniforms with nice hand stitched patterns.

Long before the quilted patches above are the quilted patches from the CBI (China Burma India) theater during World War II. Below are a few.   491st Bomb Squadron 391st Bomb Group 14th AAF     51st Fighter Group 10th & 14th AAF     375th Bomb Squadron 308th Bomb Group 14th AAF