Thank you so much Scott!

This`trip`was`to`get`a`lay`of`the`land.`Just`walking`around`I`found`bomb`shrapnel`all`over`and`next`to`the`road`in`front`of`the`barbed`wire`were`two`1943`dated`30-06`shells.`Behind`those`stacked`rocks`was`the`broken`end`of`a`pick`maddox.`It's`a`massive`area.`

Yes, I have found that the book of Iwo maps that I had in 5th Division JASCO officer’s trunk group were exceptionally rare.    I have seen your map before.   Kurt

That is so cool! I have the same box, though not in perfect shape like that one. It had 10 of those knives in the box, un-issued. The Foster Grant grips have shrunk a bit...

Thanks for letting me join! My dad was on the Mansfield DD-728, at Inchon. I got interested in all things militaria, especially Navy items. 

If I may ask, what historical map company offered you thousands?  I have several original invasion maps that I would sell for a fraction of that.  

Can you say this differently?  I'm not sure I understand your comment in the least.   A field helmet post-war I sorta get, but what does "...putting the 1st ID marking after having already used it..." mean?   The issue isn't that the 1st ID insignia looks too nice compared to the wear of the helmet, it's the opposite.  The 1st ID insignia looks worn disproportionally to the surrounding paint.  

The one thing everyone should already know but sometimes no longer sees when overwhelmed with a possible helmet like this is the chips of paint found on the shell near the insignia are also found under the painted insignia. This proves nothing other than it was applied after it was used. When that was in its life others will have to decide but it does appear intentionally abraded down to me. As Rooster asked, I'd bet there is little real paint age visible under magnification.  Another thing to consider is if a WWII shell was repainted and reissued, would they so with those that had WWII dents and insignia? Insignia, yes, but not sure about badly dented shells. This is why your best hope would be it was rubbed down when newer paint was removed. Only magnification will imply this IMO. That would be a better route to me - look to see if it was under the repaint then dented once reissued with new paint. I don't think this is true based on the repaint wear and other damage. Also, it appears as if a few dents have been heated in an attempt to then beat them out.     JMO, Dave

Oh, it will remain in my collection, for now.  I just don't have family to leave it to.  I don't need $$$, either.  I just was not sure if a museum would even have interest.     Neat, YES.  Museum quality?  I'll defer to experts.     If the map company said 'fake' or "ROTC training aid" i would have probably given it to a neighbor kid.  But, if valuable - I wanted to frame it.  If the map people had said: (Don't do it? UV light resistant glass only? Make sure sides are not sealed? Only hang on Tuesdays????)  Are there any 'don't do that's' that i am unaware of? (I lost quite a few autographs before I found out about the effect of direct light!)     I will dig up the Marine's stuff.  All I need do is .... locate it.  :)