Anyone else collect militaria? (including watches)

DoctorEvil · Mar 27, 2023

Greetings all.
I was wondering if anyone else here on OF also has a keen interest in military history and are into collecting militaria as well given that we are a community of watch enthusiasts and collectors. One of the things I like about militaria is that it is incredibly diverse and can include items like medals, uniforms, weapons, field gear and yes, watches.

What interests me most is how function influences form. Which kinda explains why I'm also mostly a tool watch person and love pilots watches, divers, chronographs etc. I also enjoy the stories associated with some items, their history and how they came to be in the owner's possession.

So, if you have any interesting items in your collection, please feel free to share them here.

Note:
Please be mindful and respectful if wanting to post items from the Third Reich, especially those containing Nazi symbols, as this can provoke strong reactions from some members. I wish to keep the discourse on this thread civil and to keep politics out of this thread. Thank you.

I'll start with a couple of items of mine:

Being an aviation enthusiast, I'm mostly into US flight jackets and field uniforms:

USAF Type MA-1 flight jacket from 1963:

Interesting points about this jacket:
- Bottom picture shows the spec tag found inside the jacket's left hand pocket, stating the contract date for the jacket.
- Note the reversible orange lining to help rescuers find the pilot when he/she is downed. Some older MA-1 flight jackets have a black spec tag with white writing just below the collar rather than inside the pocket, together with a green inside lining. These jackets are considered a lot more collectible than the orange lined ones.
- The interlining material is wool/cotton compared to the polyester used in the more modern iterations of the MA-1, making this jacket much thicker and heavier.

And as this is a watch forum:

Although not strictly a military watch, this Casio Forester was issued to me when I was serving as a medical officer in the Royal Australian Air Force. It has been with me through two active service deployments, East Timor and Iraq. My original service issue watch was some no-name brand plastic analog quartz sports watch, which looked like it cost just $10 to make. Just prior to deploying to East Timor, I went to the Q-store to draw some additional kit when the supply sergeant noticed the crappy watch on my wrist. He must have felt sorry for me, so he reached into a box of assorted watches, pulled this one out, and gave it to me in return for the other one. It's been a rugged little thing and has served me well during my time in.

Edit: Photo was in wrong order.

Omegafanman · Mar 28, 2023

I used to have some items but sold them / getting too much clutter around. It does all tell a story for sure.
I think a reinactor bought the vest so that is getting good use now.
.

DoctorEvil · Mar 28, 2023

Omegafanman
I used to have some items but sold them / getting too much clutter around. It does all tell a story for sure.
I think a reinactor bought the vest so that is getting good use now.
.

Thanks for sharing. That vest looks like something straight out of Stan Kubrick's "Full Metal Jacket". Wonder what caused the hole? If it was a projectile or shrapnel it certainly could have saved someone's life.
Don't know the nationality of the helmet though. Possibly an old French tank crew helmet?

Omegafanman · Mar 28, 2023

DoctorEvil
Thanks for sharing. That vest looks like something straight out of Stan Kubrick's "Full Metal Jacket". Wonder what caused the hole? If it was a projectile or shrapnel it certainly could have saved someone's life.
Don't know the nationality of the helmet though. Possibly an old French tank crew helmet?

The helmet was just post war / Belgium. There was lead in the hole so it was from a round I think. It had an old and very degraded camo stick in the pocket as well. It came via a guy based in Germany in the seventies - I know people did fly back via there.

JimInOz · Mar 28, 2023

DoctorEvil
Greetings all.
I was wondering if anyone else here on OF also has a keen interest in military history and are into collecting militaria as well given that we are a community of watch enthusiasts and collectors. One of the things I like about militaria is that it is incredibly diverse and can include items like medals, uniforms, weapons, field gear and yes, watches.

What interests me most is how function influences form. Which kinda explains why I'm also mostly a tool watch person and love pilots watches, divers, chronographs etc. I also enjoy the stories associated with some items, their history and how they came to be in the owner's possession.

So, if you have any interesting items in your collection, please feel free to share them here.

Note:
Please be mindful and respectful if wanting to post items from the Third Reich, especially those containing Nazi symbols, as this can provoke strong reactions from some members. I wish to keep the discourse on this thread civil and to keep politics out of this thread. Thank you.

I'll start with a couple of items of mine:

Being an aviation enthusiast, I'm mostly into US flight jackets and field uniforms:

USAF Type MA-1 flight jacket from 1963:

Interesting points about this jacket:
- Bottom picture shows the spec tag found inside the jacket's left hand pocket, stating the contract date for the jacket.
- Note the reversible orange lining to help rescuers find the pilot when he/she is downed. Some older MA-1 flight jackets have a black spec tag with white writing just below the collar rather than inside the pocket, together with a green inside lining. These jackets are considered a lot more collectible than the orange lined ones.
- The interlining material is wool/cotton compared to the polyester used in the more modern iterations of the MA-1, making this jacket much thicker and heavier.

And as this is a watch forum:

Although not strictly a military watch, this Casio Forester was issued to me when I was serving as a medical officer in the Royal Australian Air Force. It has been with me through two active service deployments, East Timor and Iraq. My original service issue watch was some no-name brand plastic analog quartz sports watch, which looked like it cost just $10 to make. Just prior to deploying to East Timor, I went to the Q-store to draw some additional kit when the supply sergeant noticed the crappy watch on my wrist. He must have felt sorry for me, so he reached into a box of assorted watches, pulled this one out, and gave it to me in return for the other one. It's been a rugged little thing and has served me well during my time in.

Edit: Photo was in wrong order.

Calling @Mad Dog 😁

I had one (actually a number of) the orange liner jackets. When we had to take stuff down to the base rubbish dump for safe disposal (TX starter cartridges, ejection seat cartridges etc) we would see what the supply section (L Group) had dumped after being surveyed as U/S.
If we found a jacket, a few words and promise of a slab with a knucklehead (fighter pilot) would get the "worn out" jacket exchanged for a brand new one.

The L Group clerks never asked why a six foot/110kg pilot needed a size "M" replacement. But I was glad they didn't 😁.

DoctorEvil · Mar 28, 2023

JimInOz
Calling @Mad Dog 😁

I had one (actually a number of) the orange liner jackets. When we had to take stuff down to the base rubbish dump for safe disposal (TX starter cartridges, ejection seat cartridges etc) we would see what the supply section (L Group) had dumped after being surveyed as U/S.
If we found a jacket, a few words and promise of a slab with a knucklehead (fighter pilot) would get the "worn out" jacket exchanged for a brand new one.

The L Group clerks never asked why a six foot/110kg pilot needed a size "M" replacement. But I was glad they didn't 😁.

Haha. Great story. Page 100 of the book below details a similar story regarding the US Navy's Type G-1 leather fight jacket:

"Castro also discovered the special dumpster behind the base paraloft where they stored jackets that had been "surveyed" (turned in for disposal). Castro liberated dozens of these jackets, swapping them to guys who would turn them back in for new ones. He got caught too soon, he recalls".

Apparently, these jackets were very popular as "cumshaw" (US Navy slang for a gratuity which could be given if someone needed a favour). Up until the late 1970s, these jackets were an item that could be ordered by the supply staff of any flying squadron so they could get a lot more than they needed:

"In spring of 1978, a Congressional survey of the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) warehouses brought the free-for-all to an abrupt halt. DLA auditors began looking at the 305,000 different items in the agency's warehouses. One of the items was the G-1 flight jacket. They discovered that the Navy had an average of 15,000 personnel in flight status from 1970-77, but was doling out as many as 31,000 leather flight jackets a year. That number was far more than was needed to outfit the new aviators and replace those lost or damaged. One squadron, which had only eighteen aviators, requisitioned seventy-five flight jackets in a twenty-month period."

As a result of the abuse of the supply system, the Type G-1 jacket was cancelled in 1979. However, in 1982, a new contract was let out and the supply of jackets to new aviators resumed. This time, however, the jackets were a tightly controlled item that could now only be issued to a specific person rather than a squadron. They were also only issued, or could be ordered from, just one location (in NAS Pensacola, Florida, I believe).

Which brings me to this US Navy Type G-1:

The jacket above dates from the early 1980s and according to the spec tag is from the first contract let out by the US government after it decided to resume supply. Points of note:
- It is made from embossed cowhide, which is tough and takes a long time to break in. However, it provides good protection from the elements and knocks/scrapes.
- The collar is made from a synthetic material.
- The wind flap has the regulation "USN" letters punched into it.
- The zipper slider is not original.
- It has a "bellows" type back to allow for greater freedom of movement in what is otherwise a snug fitting jacket. This design feature is thought to be so that it would make it easier for the pilot to swim if he/she came down in the water!
Earlier Type G-1s up until the late 1960s were made from goatskin and had a collar made from shearling (lambs wool). The spec tags were also black, with white lettering.

river rat · Mar 28, 2023

I collect a little military stuff. Being retired military and my family long history with the military. And when growing up every ones dad was a WW2 vet. Started with a WW2 Bulova A-11 wristwatch and moved on to more than military timepieces.

This tells you how the ship is rolling believe be in a typhoon it will hit the 60 mark. They have these seat belt like straps in your rack where you sleep it's to hold you in when it hits the 60 mark.

Even a US Navy file cabinet I got in my office I found in Montana.

A old colt issued in Argentina.

A few Naval navigation equipment.

A Naval chart of Guam I was stationed there.

An aircraft compass from a British bomber from WW2 picked this up at a Military show when I use to live in Calif.

WW2 Japanese Naval Clock

US Army Chelsea Message center clock

Remember these on the bridge when in the Navy.

More Navigation stuff I was on the bridge a lot was my watch station so have a soft spot for this stuff.

A US issued 45 found this cheap in a town not far from me it was the weapon I was issued as petty officer of the watch on quarter deck. Why I wanted it.
Here are the last things I added this year to the collection.

This watch was owned by Mr. Copper in WW1 the X in photo him wearing this watch came with a lot of other stuff including his pay records and military driver license.

This Issued Hamilton FADP issued in 1970 only for one month a rare one at 36mm case.

And this issued in 1941 to the Royal Navy just bought this the other day. And probably the last thing for the year use to be a cheap hobby not anymore. Remember military clocks are often under looked so you can get them cheaper than a issued wristwatch because everyone's collecting them those issued wristwatches and it's getting crazy got a great deal on this clock.

river rat · Mar 28, 2023

I remember those old flak jackets when I first went to SBU XI we even used those old steel pot helmets then later we got those new Kevlar helmets and the newer camo flak vest that still did not stop a bullet. Glad they have improved since I retired.

Mad Dog · Mar 28, 2023

The only militaria that I collect is what was issued to me during USN active duty. I have quite a bit of stuff [much to the wife unit’s dismay]…old working uniforms, dress uniforms, flight suits, a pair of flight boots, a helmet bag, a flyers kit bag, a kneeboard, rank devices, designator devices, some medals and ribbons [I was not highly decorated], patches, etc…but my fave is my old 1986 AOCS issued G-1 leather flight jacket.

Pictured below is when Top Gun Maverick debuted…I rode my amazing Honda Monkey [with my equally amazing Captain America helmet from the movie Easy Rider] to the theater wearing all of my old flight gear including my old G-1. A few people at the theater excitedly asked if I flew F-14s and/or F/A-18s. When I told them that I didn’t fly either of those, but flew SH-60Bs, they were extremely disappointed…and of course they didn’t know what the SH-60B is/was…until I went into my way-too-long dissertation…which made them run away. Mission accomplished! Sometimes I really like being a dickhead. 👍

DoctorEvil · Mar 29, 2023

@river rat
Great collection. Thanks for sharing. Love the timepieces, especially the Hamilton field watch.

DoctorEvil · Mar 29, 2023

Mad Dog
The only militaria that I collect is what was issued to me during USN active duty. I have quite a bit of stuff [much to the wife unit’s dismay]…old working uniforms, dress uniforms, flight suits, a pair of flight boots, a hemet bag, a flyers kit bag, a kneeboard, rank devices, designator devices, some medals and ribbons [I was not highly decorated], patches, etc…but my fave is my old 1986 AOCS issued G-1 leather flight jacket.

Pictured below is when Top Gun Maverick debuted…I rode my amazing Honda Monkey [with my equally amazing Captain America helmet from the movie Easy Rider] to the theater wearing all of my old flight gear including my old G-1. A few people at the theater excitedly asked if I flew F-14s and/or F/A-18s. When I told them that I didn’t fly either of those, but flew SH-60Bs, they were extremely disappointed…and of course they didn’t know what the SH-60B is/was…until I went into my way-too-long dissertation…which made them run away. Mission accomplished! Sometimes I really like being a dickhead. 👍

[/QUO

OMG. You really do look the part! Love the Type G-1. Such a great looking and practical jacket, especially the vintage ones from the 1960s.
I'm pretty much the same with all my service issued gear. I'm a bit of a hoarder and I can't bear to throw any of it out. Much to my wife's dismay also...

JimInOz · Mar 29, 2023

river rat
And this issued in 1941 to the Royal Navy just bought this the other day. And probably the last thing for the year use to be a cheap hobby not anymore. Remember military clocks are often under looked so you can get them cheaper than an issued wristwatch because everyone's collecting them those issued wristwatches and it's getting crazy got a great deal on this clock.

I really like that Smiths mantel clock.
🥰
Obviously not for use at sea, but I could see it in the wardroom when Chatham was the RN establishment, HMS Pembroke.
Could even have been in the office of the OC.

SpeedyPhill · Mar 29, 2023

Just kept my blue leather "solo" jacket and a brown US A2 flight jacket
The European hard blue leather pilot jacket is of immens quality compared to the light leather US flight jacket

river rat · Mar 29, 2023

As mad dog and doctor evil said. Me to kept a lot of issued gear after I retired from the navy. Fight bags they were better than sea bags for packing your gear have both. In SBU 11 and two other units I was with woodland camo uniforms was the working uniform the navy did not ask for them back so kept them still fit in them. Funny even though we used the camo uniform we still had to have every other navy uniform like the Jean bell bottom pants Dixie cup hats the pecoats the dress uniforms I can understand for inspection. After I retired was at the USS Hornet museum saw a group of sea scouts there talked to there leader asked if they could use some uniforms since they use those same ones she said yes so I dropped everything I had except the camouflage uniforms and flight bags and sea bags. After getting out of active duty did the reserve until I retired the reserve would make you take all your stuff home then haul it when you did your drill weekends I would open the closet at home and stuff from my war bag would roll out halve the closet was this stuff the helmet would always roll out. Only thing we did not take home was our weapons. Still got the winter and summer jumper dress uniforms all pressed in a garment bag some reason I kept those.

DoctorEvil · Mar 29, 2023

SpeedyPhill
Just kept my blue leather "solo" jacket and a brown US A2 flight jacket
The European hard blue leather pilot jacket is of immens quality compared to the light leather US flight jacket

I've got one of those A-2 flight jackets as well, except that mine is a "civilianized" version without the Velcro receivers. The jacket was made by the same manufacturer which produced the first batch of modern A-2s for the USAF in the late 1980s.

STANDY · Mar 29, 2023

Have an extensive collection of ships coins and unit coins.
This is a small sample compared to what I have nowadays

river rat · Mar 29, 2023

Here are a few zippo's and challenge coins from units I been in.

river rat · Mar 30, 2023

What's cool about watch forums is you get to know members over at MWR forum Patty A. knew I collect this stuff and she ask if I wanted her uncle's pilot wings one for the RCAF and the US Army Air Corps. Before the US got into WW2 and Canada and England was already in the fight Americans would sneak across the border and join the Canadian military just like some go to Ukraine today to fight. They all knew what evil was. Well, her uncle joined the RCAF and flew for them until the USA joined the fight then joined the US Army Air Corps. She sent me his wings at no cost that's what cool about forums. Tried to find info from Canada but they could not help. A lot of times the Americans did not use their true names maybe to avoid the law I have read.

river rat · Mar 30, 2023

Here are some watches from Czechoslovakia before WW2 their aviation technology was top notch but not enough to stop Germany. With wings before and after WW2. There watches were top notch to.

zebrespace · Mar 30, 2023

"Civilianized" also

Anyone else collect militaria? (including watches)

DoctorEvil

Omegafanman

DoctorEvil

Omegafanman

JimInOz

DoctorEvil

river rat

river rat

Mad Dog

DoctorEvil

DoctorEvil

JimInOz

SpeedyPhill

river rat

DoctorEvil

STANDY

river rat

river rat

river rat

zebrespace

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