Hello,   Competitive sports were very popular in the Asiatic Fleet (I speak only of the Asiatic Fleet as that is the topic I am interested in), and instilled a lot of pride and competitive spirit within the various units.  Various Asiatic Fleet-related magazines (i.e., The Orient, The Asiatic Fleet Magazine, The Asiatic Fleet Review, The Walla Walla, Bamboo Breezes) and ship's newspapers (i.e., Augusta Cracker, The Blue Bonnet, The Asiatic Four Stacker, The Far Easter, The Oriental Patrol, The Open Door), as examples, routinely had content about the various sporting events - sometimes the sporting events were the main content.  Boxing and wrestling were big, but there were also competitions in baseball, basketball, tennis, golf, rowing - I am leaving out many others, but you get the idea.  The oldest paper of which I have an example, The Open Door - published in Chefoo, China, August 28, 1903 - references baseball and boat competitions.    I can't say how rare or scare the boxing belts shown are, or what the values would be, but I would guess a lot were made and awarded over the years.  The two belts shown were apparently for the 1931 Asiatic Fleet boxing events, which would include the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marines Corps, and the 1931 Asiatic Station Inter-Service boxing events,  which would include the aforementioned Asiatic Fleet units as well as the U.S. Army units on the Asiatic Station.       I have seen examples of such belts for boxing and wrestling.  The Asiatic Fleet belt appears to be one that could have been used for other events, as the "Boxing" and "Featherweight" (as well as the recipient's name and the year) were engraved, while the other information was part of the casting.  The Inter-Service Championship belt looks to also be a multi-use award type.  I am not sure what types of awards were given for other competitions, and I am not sure of the procurement process.  There are other members on this forum who are much more knowledgeable about Asiatic Fleet awards, medals, etc.   Thank you for posting these interesting belts.   Take care,   Steve Bryson 

Ken, when it comes to king and weather jokes, you rule! I’m squalling with laughter 🤣.   Please keep up the yarn about the knitting. I love it. Pass on my admiration to everyone involved.  mikie

Enlisted whites were phased out before WW1. But officer dress whites and white mess uniforms, unlike blues, were authorized throughout the interwar period. Here is how the 1921 uniform regulations described the dress coat: White dress. (For officers, warrant officers, and contract surgeons only.)      (1) Body .— A single-breasted sack coat of linen or cotton duck, of adopted standard, cut to fit the figure easily and closed in front with suitable concealed fastenings.      (2) Collar .— To be standing, of suitable height, fastened with hooks and eyes; to be trimmed with flat white braid of same width as height of collar.      (3) Loops .— On each shoulder a loop of same material as the coat, let in at sleeve head-seam, reaching to the edge of the collar, and buttoning at the upper end with a small gold or gilt (regulation) button.      (4) Openings.— A vertical opening on each side of the hip, and on the left side a slit not exceeding 3 inches, above the opening, to admit of hooking up the saber.      (5) Skirt .— To extend one-third the distance from the point of hip to bend of knee, according to height of wearer.      (6) Trimming .— The coat to be trimmed with white fat braid, 1½ inches in width, of adopted standard, down the front edges, along the bottom of the skirt, and for 6 inches upward on both sides of the vertical opening on each side. Here is General MacArthur wearing the white dress uniform for his wedding in 1922. The white dress uniform was changed to the open collar and tie style in 1936 (WD Circular No. 48, 25 July 1936). With no waist seam or belt and a semi-relaxed form, the 1936 white dress coat set the pattern that would be followed by later summer service, blue dress and Army Green coats.

I bought this knowing it didn't seem right.  However, it is a nice looking revolver, and if someone faked it, they did a great job.  My main concern is the MP stamping on all the major parts.  I have been unable to find any period military weapons that have that stamp.  Which in its self is odd, considering many think it is a fake.  The main objections, it's a Army Special, it's a 41 Colt caliber, it's parkerized and it has many Military markings, like the US, numourous R's and then the MP's.   Any help will be appreciated and let me know if you need a picture of something,   Carl        

Try typing in his serial number in the national archives catalog (link below). This is a good source for finding morning reports and other assorted period documents. This is my primary source for finding info on the few named uniforms i have   https://catalog.archives.gov    

Spathologist, thank you for the information. However, I don't quite understand what you mean by "business model." I haven't bought the book yet, and it doesn't seem to be available electronically, so I don't know its contents. But the picture of the accessory at the end of the handle looks like this. I'm not sure if there's anything wrong with it.

From a guy mostly in the wing world…Agreed. It was always thought that “HH bought Imperial in 1942”. In more recent years, the train of thought has shifted more to Imperial being some of part of HH the entire time. My HH wings are either marked just HH or additionally have Imperial, Oroid or Bronze. However, one way to assist in dating insignia with Imperial mark, it is that once the alpha numeric system was adopted, you never see Imperial only HH. Additionally, I have a pre 1942 pattern Aviator wing marked HH Imperial. Personally, I do think that Imperial is more of a WWII era mark, but as for trying to nail down an actual date…good luck. It was around before the 1942 Aviator wing design change in 1942 and not after the adoption of the alpha numeric system in the late 1950’s. John  

Hello,   Retired Army, retired LEO, avid firearm collector.  Among other titles.  I have a few Military weapons too.  Hope to contribute, and will be learning a lot.   Carl    

Hello,  This was recently acquired . WWII vintage? Thoughts welcome.  Thank you,  Dominique 

I’ve seen a similar patch posted previously with the owner speculating it was German made but didn’t seem to get much response. Any ideas out there on its origin? It’s on a 6/44 dated Ike jacket