It is starting to look much better! I have an WW2 M1916 holster made by Warren Leather Goods that looks a little rough, could really use dome TLC and confitioning

I wore both German and US helmets in my soap box but they weren’t painted.   If you put it on eBay and call it a Raider helmet I’m sure there are people who would agree with you.

The United Marines States Marine Corps did not allow helmet covers to be marked up in Vietnam for years. It's not until the late 60's that you see this happening and its only happening out of country. It was only tolerated for a minute out of country  but its not tolerated now. Why would the Marine's allow United States Government property to be defaced within the boarders of the United States of America?     I can see that being an argument for what's wrong with this. Do we not have any DI's that can speak to this?

I had to look it up.....   Grammarly https://www.grammarly.com › official-site Free Grammar Checker | Instant Grammar Checker SponsoredLearn and improve every time you write with Grammarly’s real-time suggestions. Eliminate grammar errors instantly and enhance your writing. Try it now for free!   Copilot Answer Images Videos When using an apostrophe for dates, consider the following rules: For abbreviated dates, put the apostrophe in the front. For example, “Big hair was popular in the ’80s”.  1 Use an apostrophe before the last 2 digits of a year or decade, such as ’11 for 2011.  1 Apostrophes are also used in abbreviations and dates. For example, “o’clock” (of the clock) and “’20” for 2020.  1 When writing years, do not use an apostrophe unless you’re abbreviating a certain decade.

For those new to my postings, you will find the history of the first Flying Fortress Bombardment Group (97th) sent to the European Theater of Operations with the Eight Air Force (May 1942) and the first sent to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations with the Twelfth Air Force (October 1942) intriguing and you won’t be disappointed.  Within the US Army Air Force Flying Fortress Bomb Groups, the 97th flew the most combat missions (483) and had the greatest successes with the lowest loss of aircraft and personnel in WWII.  The 97th flew the first 8 combat missions (August 17, 1942 thru August 29, 1942) for the Eight Air Force before next Bombardment Group (301st) participated in an Eight Air Force combat mission with the 97th on September 5, 1942.  You will find a level of detail about the 97th never before made available; and in particular, its 414th Bombardment Squadron commanded by my father.   Of note, at the rank of Captain at age 25, Rudolph Emil "Rudy" Flack was the 414th Heavy Bomb Squadron commander, the Grafton-Underwood base commander in England (which included the 342nd BS), the Eight Air Force Mission #1 commanding officer, and the Pilot of the B-17E Yankee Doodle (41-9023) in which Brig. Gen. Ira C. Eaker (Commander of the VIII Bomber Command in England) flew as an Observer on the historic "first" All American Flying Fortress bombing mission over German occupied Europe (the Sotteville Railroad Marshalling Yards at Rouen, France) on August 17,1942.   The purpose of my detailed research book is to tell my father's life story primarily focused on his military and flying career.  It is recommended all viewers minimally read the first 22 pages to better understand its contents (Cover page, Copyright, Dedication, Acknowledgements and Preface).  Primarily due to my postings on one particular military forum website and Facebook, I am up to 67,500 plus followers as of this date.   For those primarily interested in World War II historical events within my book, these details are found in Chapter 7 through Chapter 11 (1942 thru 1946).  Chapter 5 and 6 documents my father's early years in the military (1937 thru 1941).  Because Microsoft Word has a limit for the size of a document (text and images), I had to create a separate "All-In-One" Appendices (29 Appendixes) from my 12 Chapter "Main" book.   This is my latest “Main” book version release since my May 30, 2025 posting.  Within this version update, I reveal details where US Army Air Force Major General Walter Hale Frank (who was under the command of Henry Harley “Hap” Arnold, General U.S. Army, Commanding General, Army Air Forces) was instrumental in assigning 1st Lt. Rudy Flack to his special assignment as a result of Pearl Harbor and our official entry into WWII.  The history of Maj. Gen. Walter H. Frank and Lt. Flack is highlighted in “yellow” or “blue” throughout my “Main” book.  Their professional relationship began on 16-Dec-38 when 2nd Lt. Rudy Flack reported to duty at Wheeler Field on Oahu, Hawaii to begin his three-year tour of duty under the command of Brig. Gen. Walter H. Frank.  The following in a list of book page numbers revealing their military interaction (note that after the Preface page numbers; simply add 100 to the book page number to jump to that PDF page number): Preface – IV and V, 584, 662, 695, 709, 767, 775, 776, 778, 804, 805, 809, 848, 851, 999 and 1712.   This version update includes 13 new and/or updated pages, which include JPG images, all found on the following Book/PDF pages:   Book:  590 … PDF:   690 . . . The Peashooter’s Legacy publication article with photo – Page 8. Book:  591 … PDF:   691 . . . The Peashooter’s Legacy publication article with photo – Page 9. Book:  764 … PDF:   864 . . . At age 14 (1931), Rudy’s 1st flying lessons discussed with photo. Book:  775-80 … PDF: 875-80 . . . Revealed – Rudy’s special assignment and why after Pearl Harbor. Book:  966-67 … PDF: 1066-67 . . New write-up introducing The Hour Has Come book (97th BG). Book: 1074-5 … PDF: 1174-5 . . . Added Mission #1 detail about the two diversionary missions.   ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼   BONUS – UPDATED ALL IN ONE APPENDICES   ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼   BONUS – UPDATED APPENDIX “T”   ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼   To obtain a copy of the updated “Main” book, click on the following Microsoft OneDrive link to download; this may take a little time as file size is 289 MB.  Then save a copy to a location of your choice on your PC for viewing this PDF document (2,254 pages):   https://1drv.ms/b/c/be6413ae508e379f/EUioRWnCCyRNhMfxTKY4dUABg7bMIGtZgtiwqNF-Qz7DAw?e=QnuWBd    To obtain a copy of the “All-in-One” Appendices A thru δ (aka Delta) with 29 Appendixes, click on the following Microsoft OneDrive link to download; this will take time due to file size of 1.61 GB.  Then save a copy to a location of your choice on your PC for viewing this PDF document (3,888 pages):   https://1drv.ms/b/c/be6413ae508e379f/Ee3jJk70T5xAohkr1PnVcWcBf9-IGbgCE7hlfM6SG8K5mw?e=a6mZHT    For those who are interested in having a standalone copy of the uncompressed (high resolution) version of “Appendix T -- The Hour Has Come – The 97th Bomb Group in World War II book” for improved searching and viewing results, click on the following Microsoft OneDrive link to download; this will take time due to file size of 924 MB.  Then save a copy to a location of your choice on your PC for viewing this PDF document (320 pages).  You will find the first 60 pages, a Preamble to their 260-page book, very interesting as I provide clarifications and/or corrections to their book, explaining why supported by official, sourced documents:   https://1drv.ms/b/c/be6413ae508e379f/ERRVpm7Of9RBr6aCQS8hpZUBoFyt4AotVXhddY-P8BWQug?e=M6qRIy    For those who have a Facebook account, click on the following Facebook link (or search for “Untold Stories of Colonel Rudy Flack”) to obtain these and other details:   https://www.facebook.com/Untold-Stories-of-Colonel-Rudy-Flack-302118180261150/   

For those new to my postings, you will find the history of the first Flying Fortress Bombardment Group (97th) sent to the European Theater of Operations with the Eight Air Force (May 1942) and the first sent to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations with the Twelfth Air Force (October 1942) intriguing and you won’t be disappointed.  Within the US Army Air Force Flying Fortress Bomb Groups, the 97th flew the most combat missions (483) and had the greatest successes with the lowest loss of aircraft and personnel in WWII.  The 97th flew the first 8 combat missions (August 17, 1942 thru August 29, 1942) for the Eight Air Force before next Bombardment Group (301st) participated in an Eight Air Force combat mission with the 97th on September 5, 1942.  You will find a level of detail about the 97th never before made available; and in particular, its 414th Bombardment Squadron commanded by my father.   Of note, at the rank of Captain at age 25, Rudolph Emil "Rudy" Flack was the 414th Heavy Bomb Squadron commander, the Grafton-Underwood base commander in England (which included the 342nd BS), the Eight Air Force Mission #1 commanding officer, and the Pilot of the B-17E Yankee Doodle (41-9023) in which Brig. Gen. Ira C. Eaker (Commander of the VIII Bomber Command in England) flew as an Observer on the historic "first" All American Flying Fortress bombing mission over German occupied Europe (the Sotteville Railroad Marshalling Yards at Rouen, France) on August 17,1942.   The purpose of my detailed research book is to tell my father's life story primarily focused on his military and flying career.  It is recommended all viewers minimally read the first 22 pages to better understand its contents (Cover page, Copyright, Dedication, Acknowledgements and Preface).  Primarily due to my postings on one particular military forum website and Facebook, I am up to 67,500 plus followers as of this date.   For those primarily interested in World War II historical events within my book, these details are found in Chapter 7 through Chapter 11 (1942 thru 1946).  Chapter 5 and 6 documents my father's early years in the military (1937 thru 1941).  Because Microsoft Word has a limit for the size of a document (text and images), I had to create a separate "All-In-One" Appendices (29 Appendixes) from my 12 Chapter "Main" book.   This is my latest “Main” book version release since my May 30, 2025 posting.  Within this version update, I reveal details where US Army Air Force Major General Walter Hale Frank (who was under the command of Henry Harley “Hap” Arnold, General U.S. Army, Commanding General, Army Air Forces) was instrumental in assigning 1st Lt. Rudy Flack to his special assignment as a result of Pearl Harbor and our official entry into WWII.  The history of Maj. Gen. Walter H. Frank and Lt. Flack is highlighted in “yellow” or “blue” throughout my “Main” book.  Their professional relationship began on 16-Dec-38 when 2nd Lt. Rudy Flack reported to duty at Wheeler Field on Oahu, Hawaii to begin his three-year tour of duty under the command of Brig. Gen. Walter H. Frank.  The following in a list of book page numbers revealing their military interaction (note that after the Preface page numbers; simply add 100 to the book page number to jump to that PDF page number): Preface – IV and V, 584, 662, 695, 709, 767, 775, 776, 778, 804, 805, 809, 848, 851, 999 and 1712.   This version update includes 13 new and/or updated pages, which include JPG images, all found on the following Book/PDF pages:   Book:  590 … PDF:   690 . . . The Peashooter’s Legacy publication article with photo – Page 8. Book:  591 … PDF:   691 . . . The Peashooter’s Legacy publication article with photo – Page 9. Book:  764 … PDF:   864 . . . At age 14 (1931), Rudy’s 1st flying lessons discussed with photo. Book:  775-80 … PDF: 875-80 . . . Revealed – Rudy’s special assignment and why after Pearl Harbor. Book:  966-67 … PDF: 1066-67 . . New write-up introducing The Hour Has Come book (97th BG). Book: 1074-5 … PDF: 1174-5 . . . Added Mission #1 detail about the two diversionary missions.   ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼   BONUS – UPDATED ALL IN ONE APPENDICES   ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼   BONUS – UPDATED APPENDIX “T”   ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼   To obtain a copy of the updated “Main” book, click on the following Microsoft OneDrive link to download; this may take a little time as file size is 289 MB.  Then save a copy to a location of your choice on your PC for viewing this PDF document (2,254 pages):   https://1drv.ms/b/c/be6413ae508e379f/EUioRWnCCyRNhMfxTKY4dUABg7bMIGtZgtiwqNF-Qz7DAw?e=QnuWBd    To obtain a copy of the “All-in-One” Appendices A thru δ (aka Delta) with 29 Appendixes, click on the following Microsoft OneDrive link to download; this will take time due to file size of 1.61 GB.  Then save a copy to a location of your choice on your PC for viewing this PDF document (3,888 pages):   https://1drv.ms/b/c/be6413ae508e379f/Ee3jJk70T5xAohkr1PnVcWcBf9-IGbgCE7hlfM6SG8K5mw?e=a6mZHT    For those who are interested in having a standalone copy of the uncompressed (high resolution) version of “Appendix T -- The Hour Has Come – The 97th Bomb Group in World War II book” for improved searching and viewing results, click on the following Microsoft OneDrive link to download; this will take time due to file size of 924 MB.  Then save a copy to a location of your choice on your PC for viewing this PDF document (320 pages).  You will find the first 60 pages, a Preamble to their 260-page book, very interesting as I provide clarifications and/or corrections to their book, explaining why supported by official, sourced documents:   https://1drv.ms/b/c/be6413ae508e379f/ERRVpm7Of9RBr6aCQS8hpZUBoFyt4AotVXhddY-P8BWQug?e=M6qRIy    For those who have a Facebook account, click on the following Facebook link (or search for “Untold Stories of Colonel Rudy Flack”) to obtain these and other details:   https://www.facebook.com/Untold-Stories-of-Colonel-Rudy-Flack-302118180261150/  

Action looks to be cycling OK. If I understand your question, without an operating rod spring and follower attached to the follower arm and all the other receiver guts, the bolt will stay to the rear when the operating rod handle had been pulled to the rear.   You probably want to tighten the lockbar on your rear sight. It should be cranked all the way down until it is up against the windage knob.

Had to have this; at least one other bidder had the current knowledge on the ultimate delivery location of pistols with the “W” marking with no ordnance bomb, “P” proof, and no marks on the top strap in this SN range so it ran up. Based on the great research work and posts by Charlie Flick and others, I’m 99% confident it will letter to Rosslyn and the OSS. Like many OSS Victories, this one ended up being issued by the Office of Military Government US (OMGUS) to postwar German police forces. This one, marked HE-M (improvising a sideways “J” for the dash), went to a municipal police force in Hessen (Hessen Stadtpolizei). There was a personal connection from Day 1 that called to me on this one: my Great-great-grandfather emigrated from Kassel (in Hessen) in the 1850s after serving in the Hessian Army. My first troop assignment on active duty in the late ‘80s as a young Army Lieutenant was to Ray Barracks in Friedberg, Hessen just outside Frankfurt: the largest city in the three postwar Hessen districts and the former HQ of US Occupation Forces.  After retiring, I also worked in Rosslyn, VA for a brief time as a contractor for the intelligence community. So, I was in two trackable locations where this pistol was located at some point in my own military /career journey.  Too many things to ignore. Comments and observations welcome. I’m exceptionally happy to be the pending owner of this great piece of history (tempered only by not finding it in the wild for a screaming deal). I like the condition also. 

It isn't that far fetched when you have a Marine related helmet associated with Quantico, and having a skull painted on back to come to a Marine Raider conclusion.  So I would be the only person on here to draw that conclusion??  Seriously?? I don't think my theory is more far fetched then your motorcycle helmet theory.  I've seen motorcyle guys wearing German helmets, but a Maddox named helmet with a captain rank, and the word Quantico on the front seems a tad bit weird to me. Lol!!  What was he doing, hanging on base with the Hells Angels??  It doesn't fit and nor does a soap box derby racer helmet. Could you seriously see a kid wearing this for racing?  What, did Quantico hold racing events for kids on base?  Was there a Marine soap box derby team that raced snipers against Raiders.  No!!!  

On Ebay at the moment.