Looking for some verification of these flags

[tlsher]

Hi all!

I recently purchased these flags from someone who claimed to bring them back from a recent trip to Vietnam. He claims to be a vet.

His claim is that these flags were constructed during the war era, but I wanted to get any opinions I could on these. Please see the pictures. The stitching seems too new and perfect to me to have been constructed during the war era in Vietnam. Thoughts?

The North Vietnam flag measures ~ 29.5" x 21". The VC (or NLF) flag measures ~ 28.5" x 21"

For $20 a piece, I'm not too terribly disappointed if not period correct. Just want to know the truth.

Thanks to all who reply!

Information

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[Harlan (Deceased)]

I don't have the expertise to tell with these, but YES they have a HUGE repro-Vietnam tourist trade for most anything to do with the war. Helmets of all kinds, uniforms, etc. A lot of items are even 'aged' and are difficult to tell unless you're an expert on that certain item.

[burb1989]

Vietnam era flags are tricky since they vary in types of construction material and how they were constructed. Some are made very nicely others look like they were haphazardly put together. I have a Vietcong flag similar to yours that is made of a very rough, almost burlap kind of material. The paint was applied very sloppy in areas where it overlaps the star in the center and even is lacking in areas where the builder thought the star would extend to. The stitching is shoty at best. It was captured in the field by my dad so I don't question if it's real or not. Still at $20 a pop not bad even if they are repros. Now of they're real.......

[Tom in N.J.]

Seeing those flags reminds me of the days when the 'pinkos' used to paint the star on red and blue U.S. mail boxes yellow... Instant V.C. flag!

[Sarge]

They look "to good" to me.
I would consider them to be post war repros.
Here is my bring back (by me) flag - hanging on my living room wall, for comparison.
Sarge
Attachment 61334

[burb1989]

Wow sarge that's an impressive grouping of items. Did you bring home both of those sks's? My dad brought one home too but he got rid of it since he didn't like the memories attached to it (it had killed a friend of his on a weapons cache raid). My dad's vc flag was more of the stereotypical "war trophy". He did keep it as a good luck charm when he used to play softball back in the 80s. That's where I found my dad's flag later on when I was looking for his Vietnam items: at the bottom of his softball bag under his glove and wadded up next to some ancient crusty sweat towels.

[Sarge]

No, the chicom on the right is mine, the NVA on the left is from another vet - both with papers. I brought 2 SKSs home and sent a 3rd home with a buddy = 1 keeper and 2 to sell. I also brought home a ruskie Makerov and a Browning HP. I have since added a chicom Tokerov, an AK and a couple of K98k Mausers to the pile, all but the AK & 1 K98k with papers. The AK was registered in the 68 amnesty.
Sarge

[burb1989]

Quite the haul back sarge. You must've had a lot of stamps to send that much stuff home. My dad managed to get home mostly US gear since his CO didn't really care what he brought home. Sadly he could've brought his 1911 home if he had wanted to but he never did. I have some purchases from other vets as well. I have an old French rifle that was taken off of a dead VC sniper in 1968 and a Chinese rifle taken off a captured VC soldier in 1970. Neither had paperwork as both rifles were smuggled home during the war. I also have a set of fatigues another marine corps vet at my dad's VFW gave me that were his. One of my dad's friends who lost his legs in Vietnam has two canteens he captured off of dead soldiers that he is thinking about getting rid of so I'll probably be buying those. Still as far as personal family bring backs my dad's "kabar" is my absolute favorite.

[Sarge]

Postage was free for all GIs in country - whether a letter or a package.
The guns were all hand carried. I had a box made that held 2 SKSs. The pistols went into my parachute bag.
SF and MAC-V could bring home 3 war trophy firearms while everyone else was limited to only one (1). I've never heard of a reason for that, but I took full advantage of it!
Sarge

[burb1989]

Wow sarge I didn't know that there was an exception to the one weapon rule. My dad smuggled all of his items in his sea bag. He had to take the sks apart in order to make it fit. All of his other items were small enough to hide on the bottom of his bag. I guess either the mps were lazy or my dad was lucky seeing as how he got his sks home through three different military airports and at one point the sks barrel poked a hole through the bag to where it was visible to a degree. I know my dad had also sent home a sword and some pieces of artwork he picked up while he was on leave in Thailand so I guess he got to send them home for free too. Glad to know the military was looking out for you with the free stamps.