. Hey earlymb, at a flea market last week I thought of you it was almost hammered into my brain, I wonder why . . . . . . . .      Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, 19 April  2O26.   ..

> This one is from BBC actually, a remarkable PBS series titled "Foyle's War" (9 seasons). American troops made frequent appearances in a wide variety of roles throughout - most of them, from what little I could discern by scarce views of their SSI, were Big Red One. DCS Foyle (on the left) is engaged with one of our officers, behind both of whom follows a particularly rancorous NCO in 1945 England. I cannot read the officer's ribbons and insignia nor ascertain very much otherwise (Pinks and Greens?) as to their US military attire.

. From my Shoebox Collection.   A part carton of 1940 solid slug shotgun rounds, nicely broad-arrow marked.     Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, 19 April  2O26.   ..

The extreme prices are not surprising.  There is a fake being sold on eBay for $999.99. Many fakes are being sold between $300 -$600. Those exorbitant costs seem to be transfered to genuine lighters.

. A Jeep grille logo upgrade from a dear friend, Hassen, a London based designer    Hassen took my hand drawn logo and created this fabulous image for me, UK friends are already sending me messages of how great they thought it was, in fact several have suggested I fabricate one for my wall.    If you want a personalised image of your own cherished vehicle you can contact Hassen at the details below          Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, 19 April  2O26.   ..

Got a few new pieces in the collection lately, and this is a proper “holy grail” item: the 1872 valise pack. Issued with the 1872 brace and haversack, this valise was designed to carry extra ammunition in the small front pocket and extra clothes in the main compartment. This example is in overall great shape, though most of the leather closure straps are long gone. This example is a rubberized/painted version, and oddly the binding around the flap appears to be painted/rubberized webbing, and not leather like you see on the first iteration of the 1874 items. This is an item I never expected to have in my collection, but could not be happier that it made its way to me. 

USS PAWCATUCK (AO-108}   Commanding Officers 01CAPT. McKinney, Cecil Gilmore10 May 1946 - 10 August 1946 02CAPT. Stokes, Phillip Gaines :RADM10 August 1946 - 16 June 1947 03CAPT. Chase, Harry Taylor16 June 1947 - 11 September 1948 04CAPT. Fitzgibbon, John Edmondson11 September 1948 - 27 September 1949 05CAPT. Carter, Francis Miller27 September 1949 - 7 December 1950 06CAPT. Wood, James Marshall7 December 1950 - 7 April 1951 07LCDR. Hulings Jr., Joseph S., USNR (acting)7 April 1951 - 9 April 1951 08CAPT. Fitzgerald, John Allison :RADM9 April 1951 - 15 August 1952 09CAPT. Wilson, William Ritchie15 August 1952 - 1 May 1953   USS PAWCATUCK (AO-108}   10CAPT. Dutton, William Tenney1 May 1953 - 1 May 1954 11CAPT. Reiter Jr., Harry Lee :RADM1 May 1954 - 9 August 1955 12CAPT. Hills, Blish Charles9 August 1955 - 16 August 1956 13CAPT. Chew, John Louis :VADM16 August 1956 - 8 December 1956 14CAPT. Morton, Robert Cameron8 December 1956 - 16 December 1957 15CAPT. Barnes, William Roy16 December 1957 - 17 January 1959 16CAPT. Wells, Heydon Forbes17 January 1959 - 27 January 1960 17CAPT. Ray, Alan2 January 1960 - 26 January 1961 18CAPT. Bardshar, Frederic Abshire :VADM26 January 1961 - 22 August 1961 19CAPT. Rumsey II, Dexter Cleveland22 August 1961 - 30 July 1962 20CAPT. Bunn Jr., Giles Featherston30 July 1962 - 17 April 1963 21CAPT. Charbonnet Jr., Pierre Numa, USN (USNA 1937) :VADM17 April 1963 - 10 May 1963 22CAPT. Heyworth Jr., Lawrence :RADM10 May 1963 - 21 May 1964 23CAPT. Wall, Maurice Edwin21 May 1964 - 15 September 1965 24LCDR. Garland, Daniel Harper, USN (USNA 1952) (acting)15 September 1965 - 1 August 1966 25CAPT. Honour, Walter Whitaker, USN (USNA 1944)1 August 1966 - 1 February 1968 26CAPT. Horne, Floyd Lewis1 February 1968 - 5 April 1969 27CAPT. Youngblade, Charles John :RADM5 April 1969 - 27 August 1970 28CAPT. Phillips, Billy27 August 1970 - 12 October 1971 29CDR. Belechak, Stephen Clair, USN12 October 1971 - 17 August 1973 30CDR. Johnson, James Edward17 August 1973 - 17 July 1975

then the rare brass buckle...  ☺️

Maybe its just where I live or places I go but seems an average L77 Western here is very hard to pull $200 out of even named or identified.     Being a collector for over 55 years I have seen a few and owned a few. Still have a couple. Never found a mint one. I know the L76 are a bit harder to find and bring more due to being double edge variation. I also find the online auctions bring more than what I can get for something here on the forum or even at a show in a person to person sale. 

Went to this estate sale, but unfortunately, being the second day, the above items were not there. On a positive note, I met the young man who acquired them as he had returned to see what else might be associated with them. Yes, it was a Japanese ribbon bar along with a naval patch and uniform button contained within the lot. He did snag the man's jumper which was still left over from the first day. We had a good conversation and connected some dots.   OK folks, the stuff is out there, let's see the nuggets you spy in the garage/estate sale photos in the listings.