A man of many talents? Never seen that, but could be experimental. I don’t see a use since the BAR was largely obsolete and why not just use surplus ones? I’m sure the US has plenty post Korea and ww2. Unless they were being supplied to ARVN or something? But then again why would the US make them specifically for them especially in Nylon which was still semi new.

Jerry it’s me Dean and yes I collect M1 helmets and WW2 also.     

Colonel,   To me, this coat appears to be exactly what it is; a 1912 pattern cotton coat with USMC buttons added to it. The USMC had its own cotton, or tropical coat issued (the P 1912).   However, later in the war the Marines were given US Army winter coats instead of the USMC P17 winter coats in an effort to east supply issues, so I guess it is possible that cotton coats were given to Marines in lieu of the P12, tho I doubt it.   The only problem with this theory is that the cotton coat was not issued in France as far as I know...  

🤦

I understand, thank you, Spathologist.

Hi to all :))   This might sound like a stupid question, but I was wondering if anyone of you guys and gals would happen to know, where exactly rank sleeve insignia was to be placed. Was there a manual stating a certain place on the arm? And did the placing change depending on the rank (the Staff Sergeant chevrons are significantly bigger than Corporal chevrons)? I tried to find some sources on that, but failed. One thing I noticed, though, is, that this did not seem to be standardised in the Army. Many uniforms on this forum and on the internet, which date to the 1960s have different placings on the arm (e.g., 3 inches below the shoulder seam and this seems to depend, among other things, on the SSI worn as bigger SSIs would necessitate the rank chevron to be placed lower to avoid the sleeve looking crammed). This is, why I turn to you all in hopes of getting an answer to this question :)) Thank you all in advance :D

Case in point   perfect example of a description posted on the bay without any research at all:   "Randall WW2 Japanese Fighting Knife"   It's not a Randall, it's not from WW2, and it's a hunting knife. But it is marked "JAPAN"

Hello,   The U.S.S. Black Hawk (AD-9) that your sailor was attached to was a destroyer tender that spent most of her life with the U.S. Asiatic Fleet.  She was scrapped after the Second World War.   Your sailor also may have started out in U.S.S. Black Hawk and then transferred to another ship.   I can't make out the name on the belt, but if you want to send me the name I can see if I can find any references to him in any of the materials I have.   Take care,   Steve Bryson

Wait a sec, you droped a M1 helmets stuff and WW2 USMC camo stuff for VN gear, Im right or I missed a member name?   Cheers, Jerry

The picture is likely trying to depict the M1885 saber knot. The hole in the guard is to accommodate the attachment piece of this knot.   Or perhaps it's portraying the earlier M1860 saber knot, which could have still been in general issue in this period until stocks ran out.   Your "knot" is definitively NOT a US Army saber knot.