Greetings to all. Growing up, my Dad had in the house an old trap door with a detachable bayonet with scabbard. We always used to play with it. My older Brother got it. Today I have acquired this model 1884 Springfield.  I have never owned one but am looking forward to getting it in and  shooting it. Seller gave the following description...   For sale is a Springfield Model 1884 Trapdoor rifle assembled in January of 1891. The rifle has lost the bulk of its finish, but instead has a nice patina and grey color on the metal. The trapdoor has also lost its case coloring. The stock shows surface scuffs but no cracks or breaks. The bore is bright with strong rifling, but there are occasional spots of surface pitting within the last 6 inches of the muzzle. The rifle has the ramrod bayonet assembly at the muzzle.      Knowing nothing really about these, can anyone please give me some feedback on what they think of it by the photos? And some tips on suitable ammunition for it tips etc?   Thank you. Cheers!  

Here is another Robbins WW1 era wing on eBay, this one has the complete “Sterling” stamp in the blob location.        https://ebay.io/m/78E4oe

You are probably right as I check my photo reference library on ovals for the 221st Airborne Medical Company and found this bullion example which has a purple border, silver (white) inner border and what looks like a medium blue center.   Sometimes it is difficult to tell the true color of the embroidered oval from a bullion example but I think this is a match.  This of course means that besides the wrong era the original oval does not match the DUIs on this uniform. 

Check this find-a-grave entry: this is likely your officer. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18512823/john-holloway-skirving    

We'd previously received some of Private Ruttle's World War I artifacts; Matthew called to say they located his campaign hat so our Curator picked it up last night. The box was in pretty bad shape and the family pondered throwing it away...but, although not a perfect restoration, it didn't come out too bad. This hat has an unusually high peak at 7 inches....also the slits for the chin strap string.  There's low grommets under the hat band as well.  The sweatband has his initials "RDR" written on it.     Mark sends

These aren’t my specialty and I might be wrong but from what I see they appear to be a copied version of a post WWI EGA. There is a whole thread on EGA’s as well as their copies on this website that you might want to look at. Hopefully someone else with more experience weighs in on them. Cheers. 

I’m still looking for the attaching hardware that secures the life preserver to the survival vest.

New poster, please be patient...   I have read all the posts here and some on other sites regarding the possession of a CSA marker.  I have been in several discussions with the UDC also.  I can certainly see both sides of the debating for having a marker for your personal use, but please allow one more discussion...   As I understand them, the UDC position is basically that any CSA marker is to be used by them and them alone to place at a survivor's or their discretion.  And I get that.  But I also believe that an individual who wishes to honor his family history should not be excoriated for wanting to have and hold a piece of history.   My first encounter with a CSA marker was in NC over a decade ago.  I had never seen one, because all of my "funeralizing" up till then was for freinds and family, and not to reflect on history.  But, I was impressed with the simplicity and beauty of the marker.   Now, as a late middle-ager, I have started taking an interest in my "wish I had one of those" lists.  I have a Ford Gumball Machine, a wooden propeller, and a 53 M37.   I would like to add an original marker to my list.  I found the one pictured at a salvage/junk dealer in Northern Arkansas.  I passed, because it is poorly cast, and has obvious mis-spellings of "confederate veteran".   I know that some on this site have gathered them from barns, estates, antique stores, etc.   Would you guys/gals be willing to a) comment on this piece, and/or b) be willing to share one with a genuine respecter of history.   Thank you for your time and patronage,    Wannabe Thinker

. With tongue in cheek, Does a May 1942 Ford GPW Jeep constitute a piece of field gear, they were used in the field and everywhere else. , 84 years old.       regards lewis    ...

They only accept trench art.