I replied to this thread four years ago, and at that time I was still adding to the collection.  Today, I'm looking to reduce the collection to better manage it, and to return to the original purpose I started some 25 years ago.  The hundred plus helmets has been reduced to 85 and hopefully will be reduced by another 5 to 10 in the next month.  Knives and bayonets are going up for sale at a local military show, along with some uniforms, web gear, and unique items.  I am still buying to fill some holes, but carefully.  I believe that at a certain time (up to each individual) one realizes that the collection has taken over, and that time has marched on.  I've reached that point, and from now on, more will go out than comes in.  In the end I'll have six sets of gear for WW1, WW2 (three sets), Korea, and Vietnam. along with my milsurps and edged implements.  It should take me about two years to get there. On the other hand, I went to a local gun show and bought a Webley Pre-RIC pistol and then picked up a book on it, even though I have no British collectables.  Sometimes it's tough to stay on plan in this business.

Hey all, I have had this uniform for A LONG time and never really been able to identify it till mid last year and even then I wasn’t sure as the name was practically gone, from but with the help of a black light and being able to study the uniform and narrow it down I came upon the Conclusion that this uniform belonged to Raymond Clarence Franklin of Co. “E” 318th Sappers apart of the 6th infantry division in France. He enlisted on March 8th 1918 in Portland Oregon and was sent to Vancouver Barracks an at the to the 318th where they trained for a total of 3 months brute departing to the New Jersey to be shipped overseas with the 6th. They departed from Hoboken NJ on May 8 and arrived at breast in June and soon started working building Barracks and water supply systems behind the lines near Chatteu Thierry and in that general vicinity where they nearly participated as an infantry unit because of lack of troops. After working  for a Few months they later transferred to the Vosges sector around late August early September, they remained here manning the line even though it was a rarely quiet sector. Here Co. E and Co. F worked continuously on building better trails and road for artillery and supply purposes. Here  they worked under frequent shell fire and suffered a few minor wounds. Towards the end there they were transferred off the line for a bit but later joined the 6th infantry division the Meuse Argonne Offensive for the last week or two. Here they worked more as a frontline Engineer unit working right in the wake of the German retreat and even rebuilding a crucial bridge near the town of Stonne. This helped the allied pursuit of the retreating Germans. While doing this they were attacked multiple times by enemy machine guns and aircraft as well as booby traps that were left behind by retreating Germans. For example when laying low In a German trench a group from Co. E was cooking In a German stove unbeknownst to them there were a handful of grenades up the stove pipe which cooked off and instantly killed two of the sappers and wounded the surrounding group. Soon the armistice was announced and the unit stayed as an occupying force in the Alsace region. Soon in June-July the 318th was sent back to the states including Pvt. Franklin who arrived back and went back to Oregon where he spent the rest of his life living peacefully on the river. He never married or had any family. Pvt. Franklin may not have had the most interesting service or life in general, but I think his story is very simple in the best way possible. He served his country even at the age of 40 when he enlisted having been born in 1879. Hope someone here enjoyed my very basic write up and the uniform which came with a nice little bit of pocket litter including some business cards to a man in the 88th, some German coins he probably picked up in the Alsace region, his footlocker key, And a spoon dated 1916. The spoon and coins were both found inside the lining of uniform as they had fallen through a rip in the pocket. Hope ya’ll enjoyed and a big thanks to @stratasfan for doing the basic research that helped me put this together. 

Woah…… I am seething with jealousy. Where did you find that?!?

Here is an unusual M3 I picked up recently.  It is a late 60's or early 70's M3 knife made in Japan and imported by Parker Brothers Chattanooga, TN.  You see the 1960's Japanese made M4 bayonets but this is the first Japanese made M3 I have seen.  You see the 90's Camillus reproduction m3's, later Ontario M3's, and new Chinese cheapo M3's.   Couldn't resist buying it.

And of course, we have to add more Dallas wings to the list.  The Johnson Company of NY, which appears to have made yet another "Dallas" style wing--but from New York City! These spade shield wings are now probably firmy established as vintage (at least in part) to WWI.   It's not clear to me how well the Johnson wings sold, or if they ever reached the Army pilots or were just some dead stock.  I am waiting to see your article.... "wink wink nudge nudge say no more"... which I think sheds some light on the source of these wings and may clear up the old lore.   It's been my suspicion that these Dallas wings were striking and popular with pilots.  They show up nicely on the vintage photos, and they sure are handsome.  Too bad they moved away from them.        

outstanding and unique grouping!!  Thanks for sharing it with us.   Steve

Have been a watcher on the forum for a while.  Served regular Army for 6 years 7 months as an Infantryman 11C/11B.  Was a WW2 reenactor and Civil War reenactor.  Along with those hobbies comes collecting.  Was always mostly interested in combat infantry gear.   pretty much interested in US bayonets and Army knives. 

Thank God I have an interest in something that keeps me very busy, I love every second of it.    

Not sure what it is, but the Latin on the patch roughly translates to “You give us your TACAN (Tactical Air Navigation) and we’ll drop your peace pigeons for you.”

I think the Schiffer book is very nice, but I have found some errors here and there, including what I call "dealer lore" as opposed to actual scholarly research (such as copies of the pertinent regulations). Since the USN provided everything that an aviation cadet was going to wear, AND the Navy regulations very clearly proscribed what could be worn, I doubt that the cadet could wear V5 wings while in primary flight training (to steal a line from Animal House.... "Is that a PLEDGE PIN on your UNIFORM!') if it wasnt specifically allowed.  Again, graduation from V5 program did NOT make you a Naval aviator,   If the cadets WERE allowed to wear such a pin, there would be a statement in the cadet regulations that said:  "If you graduated from the V5 program, you can wear V5 wings 1 inch above the center seam of the right breast pocket of your uniform...".  That would be the type of scholarly proof I would want to see...   Or maybe even a picture of new aviation cadets walking about with V5 wings on their uniform.   The V5 program was basically the Navy contingent of the CPT-WTS civilian training program.  The USAAF aviation cadets weren't wearing their CPT wings whilst being trained and I suspect the V5 guys were in the same boat with the USN.   Still, never say never.... There is almost always an exception.