I found this at a local pawn shop, haven’t bought it yet. Can anybody tell me if they think it is real?  Scabbard is nicely marked and looks good thanks in advance!  Brad

From:  Quartermaster Supply in the Fifth Army in WWII,              The Quartermaster School, Fort Lee, Virginia     "Pack mules were utilized by the United States forces initially in World War II in Tunisia during the winter of 1942 - 43. The number used there, however, was comparatively small. When the fighting moved over to Sicily, many more were used, but it was in the rugged mountain terrain of Italy that mules were used for the first time on a really extensive scale."  (1)   "In October 1943 the 5th Army began to recruit men and animals for use in the mountainous campaign of Italy. The first animals, both horses and mules, were procured locally from civilians in that part of the Boot and Sicily already liberated by the Allies. Later the program included procurement from the islands of Sardinia and Corsica; from French North Africa as reimbursement in kind for animals received by the French under lend - lease during the winter of 1943 - 44; and from the British Near East under reverse lend - lease. Horses to equip the 10th Mountain division were later procured from the mainland of France and T-E mules for the same unit from the United States." (2)   "As a result...there was gradually assembled a weird assortment of Italian, French, English, German, and American tack and gear." (2)   The Army had for a long time adhered closely to the rule of not buying white, gray, or other light-colored animals. Here it was necessary to buy all available animals, irrespective of color. It was up to the Remount Service to camouflage the light-colored mules sent up. Consequently, the animals were sprayed with a solution of 5 percent potassium permanganate. An animal so sprayed remained effectively discolored for thirty to sixty days, depending on whether the weather was damp or arid. (2)  (3)       (1)  Horses & Mules and National Defense        1958, Office of the Quartermaster General         by Mrs. Anna L. Waller, Contracting Officer, Office of the Quartermaster General, for the Purchase of Horses, Mules and Dogs.         (Mrs. Waller began her career in the Government Service in 1917 and, except for an interim between World Wars I and II, served exclusively with the Animal Activity at Remount Field            Installations and in the Departmental Service.)   (2) The Quartermaster Review March - April 1946       Remount in Italy   (3) Quartermaster Supply in the Fifth Army in WW2       The Quartermaster School, Fort Lee, Virginia        Eudora Ramsay Richardson and Sherman Allan    

I really like the Naval Hospital San Diego bar. Very nice!

Ah!! He was a Chief that went Warrant Officer.  Those are warrant officer shoulder boards. That makes more sense.  So not an actual Mustang Officer, that is what confused me. A Mustang officer joins as an e-1 and makes it up to an actual commissioned Officer,  not that Warrant officers aren’t commissioned but it’s more of a career path for senior enlisted people and not an actual mustang.  Makes sense now 

Can anyone give me their opinions on this knuckle duster. Sorry, these are the only pictures I have. It’s sitting in a pawn shop. Thanks in advance! Brad

Thanks for the link.  Looks like the BBB medals have a BBB inscription on the back. This medal just has the 14k gold and also has the slightly concave shape described in the link.  I think that supports the Rock Island connection.  In regard to the competition, pg 335 of the July 1931 Army Air Corps Newsletter publication actually lists the details on the bombing competition and shows Lt Cronau as the winner.  Didn’t copy perfectly but you can get the intent.     “Drop:"ing 'bombsfrom altitudes of 5,000 amd 8,000 feet, this team secured 1894 points out of a possible score of 2,000 in the Aerial Gunne~J ~id Bombing Matches. . These Matches have been held .at Langley Field since 1925, and the score credited to Lieuts. Cronau and :aLrnsideis the hig.hest ever made in the Bombardment Match.”    https://media.defense.gov/2011/Apr/21/2001330186/-1/-1/0/AFD-110421-005.pdf Good job Grandad!

Some great items congrats!

You know you could probably get away wearing this upside down if your're a Specialist, one would have to look real real close to see the difference, first and even third and fourth  glances just make it look like a voided variant LOL

Some one broke off most of the subdued CSM pin and placed on a Scorpion Rank Camo tab LOL

This might be a post-WW2 knife for the Medical Department of the Navy (USN).  The WW2 knives referenced by aznation in Post #2 have four blades.  The printing on the main blade is often found on post-war knives.  I couldn't find the exact knife in Silvey's book "Pocket Knives of the United States Military" but a couple of knives for the USN Medical Department were shown on page 119, and there were several examples shown with the "PROPERTY OF U.S. GOV'T" on the main blade in the post-war section of the book.  I have some post-war knives with the same printing on the main blades.