Bump: anyone have this kit for sale? Does anyone know if this program exists within the 3D printing community? Thank you!  

Looking for some expert insight into this incredible matching pair of vintage Vietnam War-era ceramic elephants I recently acquired. From my research, these appear to be mid-century Biên Hòa ceramic elephant ashtrays/desk ornaments, likely dating between 1964 and 1973. What makes them fascinating is the joint military insignia attached to the sides: One side features the shield for the Naval Advisory Group Vietnam (MACV). The other features the medallion for the South Vietnamese Navy Command (Hải Quân Việt-Nam / Bộ Tư Lệnh / Hạm Đội). The Marks The pieces are entirely authentic—rough, hand-built underbellies with natural crazing on the glaze. One still has a fragile, oxidized paper label on the inside cavity and the other features hand-incised markings carved directly into the raw clay on the bottom base showing the letters "NH" and a cross mark. My Questions for the Group: Does anyone recognize the "NH" potter's mark or know which specific Biên Hòa kiln/workshop was contracted by MACV or the South Vietnamese Navy for these presentation pieces? Has anyone seen a matching U.S./VNN naval command desk set like this before, or know how frequently these dual-insignia elephants were awarded to high-ranking officers in Saigon? Would love to hear any history, context, or similar examples you guys might have encountered over the years. Thanks in advance!

I have seen several French-made DSMs before, but - as with most French-made DSCs - there is some uncertainty about when and for whom they were produced, given the relatively large number that seem to have survived… There is an example on eBay listed at $249 with no watchers that has been relisted several times. I would be comfortable stating that this is at the upper boundary of the range.   Fred

Looking for some expert insight into this incredible matching pair of vintage Vietnam War-era ceramic elephants I recently acquired. From my research, these appear to be mid-century Biên Hòa ceramic elephant ashtrays/desk ornaments, likely dating between 1964 and 1973. What makes them fascinating is the joint military insignia attached to the sides: One side features the shield for the Naval Advisory Group Vietnam (MACV). The other features the medallion for the South Vietnamese Navy Command (Hải Quân Việt-Nam / Bộ Tư Lệnh / Hạm Đội). The Marks The pieces are entirely authentic—rough, hand-built underbellies with natural crazing on the glaze. One still has a fragile, oxidized paper label on the inside cavity and the other features hand-incised markings carved directly into the raw clay on the bottom base showing the letters "NH" and a cross mark. My Questions for the Group: Does anyone recognize the "NH" potter's mark or know which specific Biên Hòa kiln/workshop was contracted by MACV or the South Vietnamese Navy for these presentation pieces? Has anyone seen a matching U.S./VNN naval command desk set like this before, or know how frequently these dual-insignia elephants were awarded to high-ranking officers in Saigon? Would love to hear any history, context, or similar examples you guys might have encountered over the years. Thanks in advance!

I have a Kentucky Tiger Maple Rifle that I’m looking to sell.  I'd be interested in anyone's opinion on value and best places to potentially sell the rifle.     Thank you very much in advance.  

Don’t put it on eBay, it’s against their rules.

You were lucky, no one smart enough showed up until you.

Picked this up yesterday at my local Bass Pro / Cabelas who doesn’t always have the best read on their items (better for me!). USMC contract Reising Model 65 .22 semi-auto trainer adopted as a lower-cost alternative to prepare recruits for marksmanship with the M1 Garand. It’s a heavy sucker at 8.5 lbs and fires from a closed bolt with the charging rod integrated inside the forearm. 10-round magazine. Finish was a light parkerizing with most now turning brown. No military or US property markings. This SN falls well within the production range up to SN 6000 or so attributed to the initial Marine contract. In the late fall of 1943 after the initial contract, H&R began marketing these commercially as “The General” and produced them up through ~18k serial range. After the war they continued commercial production as the model 165 with “sporting” adjustments, and in the late 1950s, produced another USMC contract variation called the MC-58 as a trainer for the M-14. Unlike the Model 65, the MC-58s are USMC property marked. Many of those were later sold through the CMP. Just a general overview; here is mine. SN 2426.    

It's the kind of item where you may be able to tell if it's fake, but not if it's real.   The only reliable COA for a Confederate buckle is digging it out of the ground yourself.

I was recently able to locate an original 8mm film from the USS Wasp world cruise and had it digitized.   Enjoy!