Thanks. I do remember seeing that one. I also remember Kevin Hoffman saying that it was very common for the sabers to be found with mismatched scabbards. Perhaps at the Lancers armory during cleaning or refurbishing, or maybe after the Lancers returned their sabers to the state armory in 1854 in exchange for Model 1840's. At that point it probably didn't matter much what saber went into what scabbard as long as a good saber had a good scabbard. For this last "MS" marked and Massachusetts owned saber you pictured, I think it is now paired with a scabbard that originally went with a blade etched "National Lancers". The placement of the number on the scabbard drag doesn't match the placement on the other "Dragoons" marked sabers we have seen. Instead it is just like the 77 stamped on the drag of "National Lancers" etched saber (with matching 77 on saber quillon so you know they belong together) that you showed earlier. Enlisted men would have gotten into trouble for putting their name on a state owned scabbard. But an individual would be able to put his name on a scabbard that he had purchased privately. 

Thanks for sharing.  I have a program/playbill for the troupe.  

Hey, rtd_sf_eng, here’s another of that style badge on eBay now:     There’s no pin on the back and this is an unfinished badge that someone has soldered on some doodads, including an Air Force Basic Security Police badge at the bottom. These “Frankenstein” slapped-together badges are often offered for sale with all kinds of outlandish and elaborate back stories, invariable totally made up.

Wow, very nice.

Very nice. I may have missed it, but where did you get the clone NVGs?

July 30, 2024 A Soldier from the New Jersey Army National Guard’s 3rd Battalion, 112th Field Artillery Regiment, 44th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, works with his counterparts from the Iraqi Division of Artillery’s 1st Brigade, during a classroom exercise in western Iraq. Advising, assisting, and enabling are key components of Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve’s mission to enhance partner capacity in Iraq to ensure the enduring defeat of Da’esh. (U.S. Army photo) (Photo Credit: Staff Sgt. Bruce Daddis Note: FWS-SSI, NJ ARNG 44th IBCT

Air Defense tab above Maryland National Guard patch.   

This is a photo the family sent of their grandfather who I'm assuming is the recipient of the purple heart.  

Very nice group !

The patch came out in 1955, so could it not be applied & worn in 1956/57? Absolutely