My Vietnam era gear display (so far)

I'm not quite sure if this is where this post is supposed to go but hopefully it is. Anyway as I've eluded to I've gathered all of my Vietnam era items together and have put them in this tiny unfinished display for now. Most of these finds were here at my home with only a select few of them being outside purchases. The flak jacket, boots, canteen, both sets of fatigues, the poncho on the top of my backpack, and the bottle of insect repellent were all items I ended up finding to go with the other items my dad had brought home. I forgot to take pictures of the artwork my dad brought home as well (I'll put those as a reply to this thread eventually). My newest finds were the garrison cap and the corporal's rank patch that my mom found among my grandparent's personal items. They ended up being my dad's and my dad didn't remember even bringing those home so it was a heck of a surprise to everyone. Hope you all enjoy this little grouping of items and I'll try to get pictures of the artwork as well.

Very nice. I have some catching up to do.

It's never too late to catch up hooked:D. I just had a head start since I already had most of the items already and only had to find a handful of the rest. Right now I'm trying to add to my marine corps side of my collection thanks to ebay. I'm currently trying to get a 1st Marine division dress jacket and a duffle bag with all kinds of artwork on it and even the many battles the one particular soldier went to (many are well known, others not so much). I just hope I win them since they would be perfect for my collection of personalized items.

very nice dispaly thanks for sharing

No problem mike. I always enjoy sharing my dad's items with everyone. Outside of the forums not many people know my dad brought home so much stuff, primarily his personal gear, and as a collector it just doesn't seem right to keep such a large grouping just to myself. I have shown a couple of other Vietnam vets a few pictures of the items my dad brought home and they think that it's very special that I am cherishing my dad's items so they can be passed down in my family. My most cherished possession of them all is my dad's "kabar" mk2 knife that he carved his initials into the scabbard. It is my out in the field knife and I'm using it just like my dad did before me in Vietnam: to cut down plants and open bags of food. I know that would bring any monetary value of it down but for me it has far too much sentimental value to put a price on it anyway. I think his Vietcong flag is the real cream of the crop of his bring backs. It's a double sided flag and you can see just how crudely it was constructed when you look real close at it. One day I'll find a way to display it where you can see both sides of the flag but until then this is probably the best I can do for now. To think my dad picked it off of a dead soldier during a major battle and then kept it in his softball bag post war as a good luck charm:lol:.

your welcome i feel that using your dads knife is best thing you can do who cares what money it would bring. an for flag i would use two pieces of plexiglass with a metal frame that would act lick a flag would be held in the breeze .

I never thought about that kind of frame mike. I'll have to try that someday. As of right now with the flag I plan on bringing it to our local militaria show in a couple of weeks to kind of show it off to anyone who wants to see a real Vietcong flag. Most collectors here haven't even had the chance to see a real one let alone handle one. At the show we can dress up in period correct uniforms and gear so I'll be portraying a U.S. marine in Vietnam with most of the items in my display. One day i'll find a ww2 or Korean war vintage 1911 to use as well since my dad carried one in the war. I just have to save up and find a good one at one of the local shows.

well that sounds like a great show to attend. enjoy your self an be proud

I will mike. I had to explain to my dad at first what reenacting was since he never knew about that kind of thing. He thought I was going to impersonate a marine but once I explained what reenacting was and showed him all of the different battles that get reenacted and the reenacting units themselves he warmed up to the idea and decided to let me do it (I really wanted to get his blessing first since these were his items to begin with). The show is fairly small and only Friday and Saturday but it's a chance to see some rare items for down here. These isn't a lot of German items down here for instance (we have mostly Navy vets from the war down here) so most of the dealers who come from out of state bring German stuff if they have any and they usually sell out. Japanese stuff is pretty hard to come by too but I usually buy everyone out of the good stuff early since I never get the chance otherwise. I usually go with a mission every time as to what I want to buy. This time I'll be on the hunt for an original p38 holster and some magazines for my great uncle's p38. Other than that I just stick to a primary search: Japanese stuff and if I get lucky original German items. There's a small German museum that comes to that show and the owner is really knowledgeable when it comes to ww2 German items so I was going to bring my great uncle's p38 and helmet to show him and get his input as well.

wow that sounds like alot of fun an a good time. I have a gun show this week end here just got back from setting my tabels ups have a great week end.

You too mike. Good luck at your show:).

Burb,

Good for you buddy!!! Spectators at small shows and large shows appreciate the re-enactment gear and it seems to make them happy. MANY vets from wars have approached me and appreciate our efforts. I've been in the CAF for fifteen years showing WWII Vintage aircraft to people and it's always been very enjoyable to share. We (CAF) have also have groups who not only work/restore present flying WWII aircraft, but are also re-enactors from all US history and dress for the shows we flew with the old planes to. Many CAF participants often truck their WWII vehicles, etc to even small shows.

I'm a long time life member of the CAF.
We have set up WW 2 displays and we have done "battles" in conjunction with the airshows on many occasions.
The crowd eats it up!
Sarge

hi sounds like alot of fun when i was younger family used to do the revolunationary war renactments. show is a small Sortsmans club/firemans org sponsered. real nice sold few barrel actions from some milslups.photo
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...7wmpaonk-1.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k2...ps7wmpaonk.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...sbxbt9e7-1.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k2...pssbxbt9e7.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...dhqayyas-1.jpg

Nice setup you got there mike. Hope you can sell just more than the barreled actions. Those rifles need good homes too:D.

hi was not to bad a show only sold one modren rifle a rossi 223. but did sell another action/barrel along with a drill rifle too. was strange show lot of looker an complainers :rofl:

Come south. I can go to five local shows and not see that much good milsurp stuff.

that was small set up this week end on 4 tables i can not afford to do much more at 25.00 a table. For the small shows an 50 to 60 for the big 500 plus shows.your more than welcome to visit my garage shop work area an going shopping any time.

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Originally Posted by mmppres

hi was not to bad a show only sold one modren rifle a rossi 223. but did sell another action/barrel along with a drill rifle too. was strange show lot of looker an complainers :rofl:

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that's been like most of the shows down here. Lots of people coming in looking and then if they are interested in a rifle they complain about the condition or about the price. With so few milsurps for sale that aren't nagants collectors here can't afford to be too picky. Sometimes I just get so annoyed at it but I guess that's just how the shows are going I guess.

Trust me i see it every week end. Since i became disabled an tring to make a buck it hard. Its not like burb does with lots of guys showing off the wonderful gear. Now some shows are flea markets. Other shows go so far as to ask my wife what will be on my tables to control what dealers can bring. No one monds the occinsal jewelry or coin its the guy selling knock off tools or such