Who Wants To See Something Cool...? [Archive]

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SteyrAUG

03-31-15, 00:10

http://i59.tinypic.com/21l6czm.jpg

one

03-31-15, 02:05

Cool. That qualifies.

sevenhelmet

03-31-15, 07:24

OK, I will be that guy- I see that it's a cover, but what is it that makes it really cool?

Haven't had my coffee yet, so my apologies if I'm missing the blindingly obvious.

Ryno12

03-31-15, 08:06

OK, I will be that guy- I see that it's a cover, but what is it that makes it really cool?

Haven't had my coffee yet, so my apologies if I'm missing the blindingly obvious.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_oppresso_liber

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Army_Special_Forces

Eurodriver

03-31-15, 08:26

How did you get your hands on that?

skijunkie55

03-31-15, 08:28

Belongs to the OP? Found it in a garage sale? Just posting because 'Merica?

Kudos to whoever earned that!

Ryno12

03-31-15, 09:03

How did you get your hands on that?

After seeing some of his collections & knowing the type of ninja that Steyr is, there's nothing that surprises me anymore. That dude probably has the British Crown Jewels in his possession & the Windsor's have no idea.

sevenhelmet

03-31-15, 09:09

OK, I'm on board. Very cool.

It looks like it's been around for a while, judging by the cracking on the leather edging. Was it a family member's, Steyr?

Eurodriver

03-31-15, 09:22

After seeing some of his collections & knowing the type of ninja that Steyr is, there's nothing that surprises me anymore. That dude probably has the British Crown Jewels in his possession & the Windsor's have no idea.

That's true. It's SteyrAUG - the same guy listed in the ARFCOM "FAQ" as having a "legendary collection of Class III weapons, ninja items, and general badassery".

SteyrAUG

03-31-15, 13:47

How did you get your hands on that?

Despite the fact that I had still not entered Junior High yet, the CIA came to the realization that only a covert team of American elementary school children could pass themselves off as indigenous personal for exceptionally deep cover operations in enemy territory. After all we were of the same height and weight of the average North Vietnamese and we knew some of that "ninja" shit.

So they gave us the typical GLG20 POI, sprayed us down with dark copper tan and folded us in with RT Steven Segal assigned to the 10th and dropped us in. We were technically the youngest green berets in US history but our classified status meant that all of our accomplishments and mission details would never be officially recognized.

SteyrAUG

03-31-15, 13:50

OK, I'm on board. Very cool.

It looks like it's been around for a while, judging by the cracking on the leather edging. Was it a family member's, Steyr?

Nothing like that. Just finally found a real one after wading through a sea of fakes on the collectors market.

Hank6046

03-31-15, 15:53

sevenhelmet

03-31-15, 16:00

Nothing like that. Just finally found a real one after wading through a sea of fakes on the collectors market.

Wow. Who would sell something like that? I'd want to keep it in the family.

trackmagic

03-31-15, 16:08

Moose-Knuckle

03-31-15, 17:14

Nothing like that. Just finally found a real one after wading through a sea of fakes on the collectors market.

What is the going rate for the real McCoy?

I have one that has "ARMY PROPERTY 1971" on the inside. No insignia, however it has an embroiled triangle where one was once sewn on. Anyone know of any SF groups from the 70's that had a triangular unit patch?

SteyrAUG

03-31-15, 17:25

Cool cover, I bet that will get you a beer at any VFW in the country

Pretty sure I could never actually wear it.

Wow. Who would sell something like that? I'd want to keep it in the family.

Hard to say. We've all seen jackasses on Pawn Stars sell their family relics to take the money to the Casino. Sometimes people just die with no heirs and there is an estate sale. I'm hoping it's the latter.

What is the going rate for the real McCoy?

I have one that has "ARMY PROPERTY 1971" on the inside. No insignia, however it has an embroiled triangle where one was once sewn on. Anyone know of any SF groups from the 70's that had a triangular unit patch?

Got pics? Values are all over the place and very much unit and theater dependent.

SteyrAUG

03-31-15, 17:32

I'm pretty sure you weren't supposed to talk about this.:D

Well some asshole already wrote a book "Operation Children's Crusade" so a few of us had to come out and set the record straight. For starters that assclown Jesse Ventura was NOT on operations with us despite his claims to the contrary. He was too damn old to be part of our unit having been born in 1951.

Even our S2 (Segal) was too old for actual ops, again despite his claims to the contrary, and it was only when Lt. Neidermeyer was killed that Segal assumed the position as S2.

Averageman

03-31-15, 18:30

Despite the fact that I had still not entered Junior High yet, the CIA came to the realization that only a covert team of American elementary school children could pass themselves off as indigenous personal for exceptionally deep cover operations in enemy territory. After all we were of the same height and weight of the average North Vietnamese and we knew some of that "ninja" shit.

So they gave us the typical GLG20 POI, sprayed us down with dark copper tan and folded us in with RT Steven Segal assigned to the 10th and dropped us in. We were technically the youngest green berets in US history but our classified status meant that all of our accomplishments and mission details would never be officially recognized.

When I was a Teacher (it was well known in our small town that I was a military retiree) one of my students asked me if I was a Viet Nam vet. Now at the time when the Viet Nam war ended I was fourteen. I was a bit surprised that the average student had no idea of U.S. History so I thought I was being "shined on". I answered (of course with a straight face) Yes, I was the only 9 year old tunnel rat in Viet Nam. I could only serve in the summer as I had to be back for school in August and that I kept my grenades in my lunch box as I traveled through the tunnels with my flashlight and .45. Due to my small size however I was very successful and had traveled through many bunkers and tunnels killing a lot of VC along the way.
Honestly, I expected the kid to laugh out loud at my outrageous story, but actually had to set him straight before it was over.
Months later I was introduced to this Students Mother as I had to tell him to :Shut his Pie Hole" during class.She didn't like the whole "pie hole" thing, but I'm sure he is doing well supporting her and his three kids with a GED and minimum wage.

26 Inf

03-31-15, 23:44

http://i59.tinypic.com/21l6czm.jpg

I'm sure you already know this, but just in case, that is a 10th Group Flash.

The berets, as issued, have a lining which is almost always immediately cut out. The beret is then wet formed to fit the wearer. Usually when you see a guy with a beret that looks 'puffy' it will be an officer, or senior enlisted, that hasn't cut the lining out or formed it because that isn't the way it was issued.

Personally other than distinctive unit headwear, IMO the beret doesn't have much utility value. When we were in the field we wore soft caps or helmets.

Although I did not wear a beret well, I looked like a cross between PePe Le Pew and Chef Boyardee, it nonetheless has a high CDIF. Sans beret I'm a good solid 6, my experience is if you get to wear it around a leg post, you jump at least 3 points.

I am also prepared to give instruction on the starching of Marine Corps utility covers. :D

SteyrAUG

04-01-15, 00:11

I'm sure you already know this, but just in case, that is a 10th Group Flash.

The berets, as issued, have a lining which is almost always immediately cut out. The beret is then wet formed to fit the wearer. Usually when you see a guy with a beret that looks 'puffy' it will be an officer, or senior enlisted, that hasn't cut the lining out or formed it because that isn't the way it was issued.

Personally other than distinctive unit headwear, IMO the beret doesn't have much utility value. When we were in the field we wore soft caps or helmets.

Although I did not wear a beret well, I looked like a cross between PePe Le Pew and Chef Boyardee, it nonetheless has a high CDIF. Sans beret I'm a good solid 6, my experience is if you get to wear it around a leg post, you jump at least 3 points.

I am also prepared to give instruction on the starching of Marine Corps utility covers. :D

I'm familiar with the wet and shave process to fit berets. Didn't know about removing liners, that would explain why the liner on this example is missing. I did know it was a 10th Flash, I also knew that the only guys who actually wear berets in combat are the SAS.

But as a little kid I saw that John Wayne movie and I've wanted one ever since. Sadly the only thing faked as often as Third Reich militaria is Vietnam era Special Forces / MAV-V SOG stuff. Even worse, the vast majority of it is manufactured by the same communist Vietnam we went to war with. The rest of the green berets are "put togethers" where somebody has simply gotten a military issue Green Beret (new) and either genuine or reproduction flash / badges and assembled. Sometimes efforts are made to artificially age the item, other times they are simply offered as "mint condition / incredibly well preserved."

Obviously very few people who earned a Green Beret decide to sell it on the internet so legit examples (especially period items from the Vietnam era) only come along so often. And it isn't even a case of "you get what you pay for." I've seen absolute 100% fakes sell for $250-450 and I've seen other collectors score legit examples for as low as $30. You have to really know what you are looking at. Determining fakes is getting easier, it's much harder to verify genuine examples. There really wasn't a lot of standardization or strict conformity when it came to this stuff (especially early 60s special forces items) and for every rule there were 10 exceptions.

Ironically the WWII stuff is much easier to verify when it comes to US gear. Of course there isn't a lot of money to be made faking that stuff.

Chameleox

04-01-15, 07:13

So they gave us the typical GLG20 POI, sprayed us down with dark copper tan and folded us in with RT Steven Segal assigned to the 10th and dropped us in. We were technically the youngest green berets in US history but our classified status meant that all of our accomplishments and mission details would never be officially recognized.

Then in 1972, his crack commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn't commit. These kids promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the Los Angeles underground. Today, still wanted by the government, they survive as soldiers of fortune. If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire the A-Team.

Moose-Knuckle

04-01-15, 17:56

Got pics? Values are all over the place and very much unit and theater dependent.

Here are several of the faded label on the inside of what I assume is the intact liner. Also the triangle where a unit/group patch was once sewn on.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a144/AKS-74/DSCN2429_zpsizqzrx8l.jpg (http://s10.photobucket.com/user/AKS-74/media/DSCN2429_zpsizqzrx8l.jpg.html)

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a144/AKS-74/DSCN2431_zpsepbe7c5e.jpg (http://s10.photobucket.com/user/AKS-74/media/DSCN2431_zpsepbe7c5e.jpg.html)

I received this beret from a childhood friend in elementary school back in the 80's. IIRC he came by it from a relative and traded me only God can remember for it. I too loved John Wayne's The Green Berets, The A-Team, and G.I. Joe at the time so I jumped at the chance to obtain one.

SteyrAUG

04-01-15, 18:41

Here are several of the faded label on the inside of what I assume is the intact liner. Also the triangle where a unit/group patch was once sewn on.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a144/AKS-74/DSCN2429_zpsizqzrx8l.jpg (http://s10.photobucket.com/user/AKS-74/media/DSCN2429_zpsizqzrx8l.jpg.html)

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a144/AKS-74/DSCN2431_zpsepbe7c5e.jpg (http://s10.photobucket.com/user/AKS-74/media/DSCN2431_zpsepbe7c5e.jpg.html)

I received this beret from a childhood friend in elementary school back in the 80's. IIRC he came by it from a relative and traded me only God can remember for it. I too loved John Wayne's The Green Berets, The A-Team, and G.I. Joe at the time so I jumped at the chance to obtain one.

That doesn't really look like an actual military beret. Color is wrong, liner markings are unlike anything I've ever seen before.

Here is how the liner should be marked.

http://i59.tinypic.com/1pz9f7.jpg

SeriousStudent

04-01-15, 22:27

A very heartfelt thank you to the original owner of that headgear. I'd love to buy him a round, and thank him for his service. Much respect.

Steyr, I'm glad you have that in your collection, I know you honor the service and sacrifice it represents.

Moose-Knuckle

04-02-15, 02:08

That doesn't really look like an actual military beret. Color is wrong, liner markings are unlike anything I've ever seen before.

Here is how the liner should be marked.

http://i59.tinypic.com/1pz9f7.jpg

Good to know, I honestly have never taken the time to see if it was in fact authentic. Were their counterfeit/fake berets of 70's issue in the 80's?

I might just have to start looking into beret liner labels/markings in the near future.

SteyrAUG

04-02-15, 03:34

Good to know, I honestly have never taken the time to see if it was in fact authentic. Were their counterfeit/fake berets of 70's issue in the 80's?

I might just have to start looking into beret liner labels/markings in the near future.

There were fake green berets being made before the war even ended. Given the "Army Property" marking on your beret, I'm assuming it's commercially made to sell to fans of the John Wayne movie. It might even have some actual value as a collectible from that era.

SteyrAUG

05-09-15, 02:52

Keeping with the original post, I just got these.

http://i62.tinypic.com/2qckpqt.jpg

I'm sure it won't take long before somebody realizes what they are, especially the one on the left.

Ryno12

05-09-15, 04:50

Keeping with the original post, I just got these.

http://i62.tinypic.com/2qckpqt.jpg

I'm sure it won't take long before somebody realizes what they are, especially the one on the left.

Cool.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_Assistance_Command,_Vietnam

MountainRaven

05-09-15, 16:31

I'm pretty sure you weren't supposed to talk about this.:D

Little known fact: Commando is actually a documentary about SteyrAUG.

I'm sure you already know this, but just in case, that is a 10th Group Flash.

The berets, as issued, have a lining which is almost always immediately cut out. The beret is then wet formed to fit the wearer. Usually when you see a guy with a beret that looks 'puffy' it will be an officer, or senior enlisted, that hasn't cut the lining out or formed it because that isn't the way it was issued.

Personally other than distinctive unit headwear, IMO the beret doesn't have much utility value. When we were in the field we wore soft caps or helmets.

Although I did not wear a beret well, I looked like a cross between PePe Le Pew and Chef Boyardee, it nonetheless has a high CDIF. Sans beret I'm a good solid 6, my experience is if you get to wear it around a leg post, you jump at least 3 points.

I am also prepared to give instruction on the starching of Marine Corps utility covers. :D

I think berets make (some) sense if you're spending all day in a tank or jumping out of an airplane.

But I think we should have gone with light-colored slouch hats (cav guys can keep their black ones) for most troops rather than berets (berets remaining an option for those who either have worn them due to traditions dating back to WWII and cross-training with Commandos and the SAS - Rangers and Special Forces - or because they're simply more practical - for mechanized and motorized infantry, vehicle crews, and airborne and air-mobile infantry). Could even have a puggaree match the current beret color. I mean, if we're going to steal someone's military traditions, I think we should be stealing those of the Australians, rather than Europeans (as the cloudy skies of Europe have little in common with the clear skies of Australia and the US), although I wouldn't flip the brim up (let the Aussies keep that).

SteyrAUG

05-09-15, 18:05

Cool.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_Assistance_Command,_Vietnam

Did you get the significance of the matched pair?

HKGuns

05-09-15, 18:29

We've all seen jackasses on Pawn Stars sell their family relics to take the money to the Casino.

....here I was thinking I was the only one that WTF's when watching some of the jack holes selling that stuff on that show.

26 Inf

05-09-15, 18:58

Did you get the significance of the matched pair?

If my SF knowledge is good to go, that combo on a uniform would mean that the wearer had been in VN early on, before SF became an independent command. Close? I'm assuming MACV is the combat patch.

SteyrAUG

05-09-15, 20:14

If my SF knowledge is good to go, that combo on a uniform would mean that the wearer had been in VN early on, before SF became an independent command. Close? I'm assuming MACV is the combat patch.

Yep, back when they were still "advisers." The combination MACV and SF would also later form the group MACV-SOG with 5th SF remaining an independent group working in conjunction and sometimes even in competition with MACV-SOG.

26 Inf

05-09-15, 21:04

Here is a good history: http://www.history.army.mil/books/vietnam/90-23/90-23c.htm

SteyrAUG

05-09-15, 23:37

Here is a good history: http://www.history.army.mil/books/vietnam/90-23/90-23c.htm

Great resource. Thanks.

SteyrAUG

05-10-15, 01:47

A little more "cool"...

http://i59.tinypic.com/n1z33s.jpg

Moose-Knuckle

05-10-15, 01:49

Nothing like a quadruple volunteer!