Can you Identify this Vietnam era insignia?

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by Minuteman, Apr 15, 2012.


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  1. Minuteman

    Minuteman Chaplain Moderator Founding Member

    A friend of mine just got back from a trip to Vietnam. He brought me back a souvenir. I can't tell if this is original or a fake but it appears to be old. But the markings have me confused. I can't recall the insignia on it. Sorry for the blurry pics. The inscription reads "Vietnam. Long Binh 69-70" and on the back it says, "I've loved every inch of the land I stand I'll die before I'll run." Doesn't sound like an American inscription and the insignia doesn't look American to me either. So can anyone shed any light on this for me?
    PIC_0006.JPG PIC_0007.JPG PIC_0011.JPG
     
    Minuteman, Apr 15, 2012
    #1
    Cephus likes this.
  2. Cephus

    Cephus Monkey+++ Founding Member

    Marksmanship Badge .
     
    Cephus, Apr 15, 2012
    #2
  3. Redneck Rebel

    Redneck Rebel Monkey++

    upside down Expert version right?

    Armyqual.
     
    Redneck Rebel, Apr 15, 2012
    #3
  4. Minuteman

    Minuteman Chaplain Moderator Founding Member

    So it's upside down and missing the weapon designation bar. So fake or real? That's really what I am trying to determine. So was it common to put a badge on a lighter? I'm thinking tourist trap trinket
    [​IMG]
     
    Minuteman, Apr 15, 2012
    #4
  5. Redneck Rebel

    Redneck Rebel Monkey++

    There are a few websites with pics of Vietnam GI Zippo lighters and a few have different badges on them but most look to have simply been engraved. Easiest way to check authenticity would probably be to check date codes on the lighters bottom to see if the lighter itself is period correct.

    zippo_id_large.

    NOTE: Zippo made two changes on the bottom of the cases mid-1969. Zippo used a new press
    machine in 1969 which caused the "canned" bottom of the lighter to be more dented in. Also,
    at this time, Zippo changed the "Z" logo on the word Zippo and gave the letter "Z" a "tail" hanging
    down on the right side. Therefore there are two different logos on a 1969 lighter.
     
    Redneck Rebel, Apr 15, 2012
    #5
    kellory likes this.
  6. Minuteman

    Minuteman Chaplain Moderator Founding Member

    Bingo!! Exact match on the 1968. 3 vertical bars on each side of the logo.

    That's one thing I love about this place. Sharing knowledge, and fast!!

    I would have never thought about date codes. Thanks RR. And Cephus too! So it appears to be the right year, so maybe it is an original, carried by one of our soldiers. That makes it much more valuable to me.

    After closer examination I can see where the loops for the weapons bar were attached.
     
    Minuteman, Apr 15, 2012
    #6
    Cephus and Redneck Rebel like this.
  7. tacmotusn

    tacmotusn RIP 1/13/21

    Just wondering if this might be something a sniper unit on a small scale might have come up with as a unit momento along the lines of a chalenge coin. I don't think challenge coins were all that popular at that time, but smoking was pretty much a majority or even super majority thing during that era. It could be farmed out to a local tinkerer who would produce almost anything upon demand by the GIs. just saying ....
     
    tacmotusn, Apr 15, 2012
    #7
  8. Minuteman

    Minuteman Chaplain Moderator Founding Member

    I've been skimming some sights for Zippo lighters and found this one;

    Vietnam Army Zippos

    Seems to have been a very common thing. Many had badges affixed to them along with the engraving. With the burgeoning tourist market one article said that zippos by the thousands have been making their way to vendor shops in the cities.

    I think it is original. But the engraving is still puzzling. I have known several Veitnam vets and I can't picture any of them claiming to "loved every inch of the land." I am still searching around for anything similar.

    Seems to be a saying found on a brand of Chinese cigarettes as best I can tell. It shows up in a couple of searches and even one guy has the same saying on a zippo lighter from Vietnam.

    http://unchineko.blogspot.com/2010_10_01_archive.html


    http://www.instructables.com/community/Brass-Vietnam-Zippo-repair..-Help/

    http://www.mobypicture.com/user/alonzo_armless/view/8921729
     
    Minuteman, Apr 15, 2012
    #8
  9. Tikka

    Tikka Monkey+++

    The "challenge coin" began ~1969 by 10th. I don't know when they become so popular with RA.

    So far, I haven't met a Vn Vet who was stationed at a base camp which lacked a PX and a "souvenir" shop with an engraving machine.
     
    Tikka, Apr 15, 2012
    #9
  10. oldawg

    oldawg Monkey+++

    When I cleared assault coxswains school I recieved one with the "fouled anchor" insignia on it and received another when I made my crow with a subdued crow affixed that was done at the PX on the base at Chu Lai. Probably a million zippos still in country buried in the mud.Only one of mine and one coffee cup made it out of there.
     
    oldawg, Apr 15, 2012
    #10
  11. oldawg

    oldawg Monkey+++

    As far as"LOVING EVERY INCH OF THE LAND" GUESS HE WASAN'T A GATOR STATIONED OUT OF Chu-Lai.
     
    oldawg, Apr 15, 2012
    #11
  12. Thaddius Bickerton

    Thaddius Bickerton Monkey+

    [​IMG]
     
    Thaddius Bickerton, Apr 17, 2012
    #12
  13. Tikka

    Tikka Monkey+++

    That one is rather unusual. :D
     
    Tikka, Apr 17, 2012
    #13
    Thaddius Bickerton likes this.
  14. DKR

    DKR Raconteur of the first stripe

    spotting fakes

    Fake lighters from RNV
    The Vietnam War Zippo

    eBay Guides - spotting fake Vietnam war lighters

    Vietnam-Era Zippo Etchings Spark Artist's Fixation : NPR

    Another scam, dog tags.
    For many years after the Vietnam War ended, there was a "cottage industry" in Vietnam of selling fake dog tags copied from actual ones from American soldiers

    Purchase in a big city = fake 99.9% of the time.

    Purchase in a Village, maybe a fake.

    It's been 35 years since the country fell to the NVA. Lots of time for fakes.
     
    DKR, Apr 17, 2012
    #14
  15. Tikka

    Tikka Monkey+++

    Even worse, you can buy the same RPD drum canvas pouch I brought back on ebay. The markings looked the same to my eyes. The uncles, Ivan and Mao dumped a lot of weapons munitions and gear into the North so they ought to have plenty of surplus left to sell.
    I've seen "VC" machetes on ebay; primitive local made they vary.
     
    Tikka, Apr 17, 2012
    #15
  16. HK_User

    HK_User A Productive Monkey is a Happy Monkey

    " The uncles, Ivan and Mao dumped a lot of weapons munitions and gear into the North so they ought to have plenty of surplus left to sell.
    I've seen "VC" machetes on ebay; primitive local made they vary. "

    Worse yet is the amount of US Gear we left in Nam that is on Ebay.

    Check out Bluemoon Ebayer and you'll find M38 Jeep parts etc.
     
    HK_User, Apr 17, 2012
    #16
  17. HK_User

    HK_User A Productive Monkey is a Happy Monkey

    The right Ebay name is,
    <table class="s-content-eu s-content" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0"><tbody><tr><td>Seller information

    </td></tr><tr><td>Member id bluemoonscooter11 ( Feedback Score Of 9415 iconGreenStar_25x25. )
    <table style="margin-left: 0px !important;" class="vi-is1" border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0"><tbody><tr><td class="vi-is1-clr" colSpan="3">Item location: saigon, Vietnam
    </td></tr><tr><th class="vi-is1-lbl"></th><td class="vi-is1-clr" colSpan="3">Ships to: Worldwide

    As always I am not connected personal or business.

    But I did have him in my sights one time.
    </td></tr></tbody></table>

    </td></tr></tbody></table>
     
    HK_User, Apr 17, 2012
    #17
  18. Redneck Rebel

    Redneck Rebel Monkey++

    Not only informative but a great read IMO.
     
    Redneck Rebel, Apr 17, 2012
    #18
  19. Tikka

    Tikka Monkey+++

    I did about 10 pages; lots of pieces, jeep gauges, even some flat head HD parts. Not too much Militaria.

    I did better searching for NVA, VC or Vietnam in the Militaria area.
     
    Tikka, Apr 17, 2012
    #19
  20. chelloveck

    chelloveck Diabolus Causidicus

    JUst curious

    Quote:
    <TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px inset; BORDER-LEFT: 1px inset; BORDER-TOP: 1px inset; BORDER-RIGHT: 1px inset" class=alt2>Originally Posted by Thaddius Bickerton [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
    That one is rather unusual. :D<!-- google_ad_section_end -->

    Read more: http://www.survivalmonkey.com/forum...ify-vietnam-era-insignia-2.html#ixzz1sLo9SVaQ    ​

    Just curious...why would the "expert"tag have bottom hanging loops?? Presumably it will the bottom most tag even if there is more than one expert rating. What would hang below it?
     
    chelloveck, Apr 17, 2012
    #20
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