# Military question - current "souvenirs"? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 9, 2016, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-question-current-souvenirs/751677 "2016-04-09T18:31:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2016, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-question-current-souvenirs/751677/21 "2016-04-14T23:55:54Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > From actual missions, things I brought back include…one thing I probably shouldn’t mention on this message board, and another thing that I absolutely shouldn’t mention anywhere… So _that’s_ where the Weapons of Mass Destruction went! ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-question-current-souvenirs/751677/22 "2016-04-15T02:11:38Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > Back in WW2 GI’s loved collecting souvenirs. Ex. Japanese Samurai swords were big in the Pacific Of course most of those “samurai” swords were of contemporary origin: P.O.S. mass-produced stamped metal. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-question-current-souvenirs/751677/23 "2016-04-15T09:14:15Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > From actual missions, things I brought back include two enemy bayonets, the serial number plate I chiseled off an old Russian BDRM, a couple Enfield pistols I purchased (one admittedly a copy, and the other supposedly genuine–but who knows…) I might? I’m not aware of any Khyber Pass copies of the Enfield revolvers; I know they copied the large-frame Webleys though. Wouldn’t surprise me if they copied the Enfields, though. If it’s a genuine Enfields, they should have the year of manufacture stamped on the right hand side of the frame. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-question-current-souvenirs/751677/24 "2016-04-17T19:36:04Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > I might? I’m not aware of any Khyber Pass copies of the Enfield revolvers; I know they copied the large-frame Webleys though. Wouldn’t surprise me if they copied the Enfields, though. If it’s a genuine Enfields, they should have the year of manufacture stamped on the right hand side of the frame. I messaged you a long time ago, and you agreed to take a look at them. I don’t know if you remember that conversation. I just never got around to taking pictures. I think I will do that right now, since I’m putting off doing my homework at all cost right now. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-question-current-souvenirs/751677/25 "2016-04-17T19:55:00Z")
Turns out I have three: two flint locks and and a percussion cap. I don’t know why I typed “cap and ball” in a previous post, I meant “percussion cap”. When **Martini Enfield** mentioned “revolver” I had to go back and look at what I wrote… I can’t remember if one of the flint locks was allegedly genuine or not. I think both were sold as copies. The percussion cap is the one that came out of a case and was claimed to be genuine, I do remember that. Either way, the price I got for all three was worth it even if they are just decoration. Here is a link to pictures of the three pistols. All of the close up pictures with only a single pistol in the frame are of the percussion cap Enfield. Let me know what you think. [https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B0rpnn6BI71pWFlEbnQxeWVOLTQ&usp=sharing](https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B0rpnn6BI71pWFlEbnQxeWVOLTQ&usp=sharing) I hope you don’t mind a G-Drive link. You shouldn’t have to log in to see it. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2016, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-question-current-souvenirs/751677/26 "2016-04-18T10:29:17Z")
The two guns with the decorative inlaying work are definitely copies - one of them has what appears to be an East India Company “rampant lion” logo on it, along with an 1812 date. Percussion arms didn’t exist in 1812 and the “rampant lion” logo is clearly a crude copy - [here’s what the logo should look like](http://images.yuku.com.s3.amazonaws.com/image/jpg/550b1fddc63171.03861312_r.jpg). The EIC didn’t begin using that logo until the 1830s, IIRC. The Enfield is an interesting piece - it appears to be a military pattern and it has all the right looking stamps and markings, but I don’t think it’s genuine, for a few reasons. Firstly, British military pistols of that era generally had round barrels, not hexagonal ones. Secondly, there’s only one “broad arrow” marking on it, and 19th Century British military guns had lots of them - pretty much every part would have one somewhere. Thirdly, the crossed penants with “2P” underneath is, I believe, a Second Proof marking generally only used for nitro-propellant guns. Additionally, the hammer doesn’t look right and more importantly, the markings are very well struck and perfectly in line, which just didn’t happen back then. In my opinion it looks like a well made recent reproduction of something based on a [Pattern 1843 East India Company cavalry pistol](http://www.ima-usa.com/original-british-east-india-company-model-1843-percussion-cavalry-horse-pistol-unrestored.html), possibly using some contemporary British parts (the lockplate might be from a Pattern 1853/1857/1858 or Snider rifle). A bit of searching has come up with a couple of people in firearms forums talking about similar guns acquired from Afghanistan which turned out to be non-genuine too, if that helps. At any rate, hopefully the info helps - and if nothing else, they’re nice display and conversation pieces! ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2016, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-question-current-souvenirs/751677/27 "2016-04-18T13:48:20Z")
Excellent information. Thanks! Yea, I figured they were probably fake. I figured they’d at least make decent costume props or serve as decoration in my office. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2016, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-question-current-souvenirs/751677/28 "2016-04-18T16:21:13Z")
I’ve got a real-deal German helmet with Luftwaffe insignia (probably from an anti-aircraft unit, I figure) and (supposedly) a German Officer’s field tent. The helmet may even be from WW1, and repurposed for the second war. I hear they did that a lot back then. I bugged my buddy to bring me an AK-47 from Iraq, but he said there was no way. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2016, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-question-current-souvenirs/751677/29 "2016-04-18T18:22:33Z")
I am recalling a vet story in an account of Guadacanal where a then Marine collected one of the little flags every Japanese soldier was issued. Many years later he was in his attic and found it with all of his other old militaria stuff. He felt it wasn’t right to keep it anymore so he contacted the Japan consulate who were able to identify which soldier it belonged to so he could mail it to the nearest kin. He didn’t think much about it after that but the town he sent it to was very grateful and sent him a rather fancy tea set. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2016, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-question-current-souvenirs/751677/30 "2016-04-18T19:28:28Z")
I just spent my last day in uniform with the Army National Guard. In all the pictures taken of the little gathering after there is a Nazi flag predominantly displayed. It is in the bar/heritage room of my unit. The unit history is very rich and the room has many historic pictures and artifacts on the walls. When I show the picture I still have to explain that to everyone. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-question-current-souvenirs/751677.md?page=1)