US Insignia Main Page

Enlisted Rank

Stripe Squabbles: After 7 or 8 years of peace and quiet, a new debate has sprung up between the purists and the realists. There were 2 main variations (with several further manufacturing and color variations) of WWII chevrons. Rayon and Wool/Felt. According to the collecting purists, the rayon stripes were for cotton uniforms and the wool type were for service coats and Ike jackets. War time reality was "dream on". I have dozens if not a hundred original WWII jackets and coats of all sorts and the only thing consistent about the chevrons is that there is/was no consistency. Wool on cotton uniforms, rayon on wool, etc, etc. Supply situations and soldier preferences appeared to have been the deciding factor. It's possible that tropps that were stateside or in training would more likely observe the rules (if there were any, I've yet to see US Army documentation) than those in the combat theater. I suspect this may indeed be another collector fantasy akin to that of German re-enactors believing that wool insignia was for wools and BeVo was for HBT's...ya know...fabrics gotta match... Overall, the rayon types appear to be more common. So, historically speaking, pick what you like.

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Chevrons, Rayon, Reproduction:
Reproduction rank stripes. These are khaki stripes embroidered on dark blue rayon. Officially these are for wool or cotton uniforms.

Exception: The Sergeant chevrons are unissued originals. They are already paired, from the factory WWII 60+ years ago and that's how we send them out. However, some vary slightly. They are not always perfectly matching in shade or shine. It gets no more "correct" than originals- this is news to some folks. If you're unhappy with what we send you, just return them for a refund- no exchanges. (Since this is not an error, return shipping is your responsibility.) We will NOT go through the whole bin trying to find matching perfection. This how they were issued to the real guys, the greatest generation, the heroes of yesteryear, the paratroopers who saved the world and all that jazz. Once we run out, we'll have some nice repros made so you won't have to pollute your repro uniform with any old smelly crap your grandpa wore to war.

For other original chevrons click here

Rayon Chevrons Sold In Pairs
Private 1st Class $10.00	Corporal $10.00	Technician 5th grade $12.00
Sergeant Original $12.00	Staff Sergeant $12.00	Technician 4th grade $12.00
Technician 3rd grade $12.00	Technical Sergeant* $12.00	Master Sergeant $12.00
	1st Sergeant $12.00

*Nowadays, this is called "Sergeant First Class". We know this. We are using the WWII names. If you feel like calling us to flex your trivia skills...save it.
Chevrons, Wool, Reproduction:
Reproduction wool chevrons. Olive stripes embroidered dark blue wool backing. Officially for use on wool uniforms, but seen on other types as well. Quality is excellent.
Exception: The Pfc chevrons are unissued originals. They are already paired, from the factory WWII 60+ years ago and that's how we send them out. However, some vary slightly. They are not always perfectly matching in shade or shine. In other words, original pairs. If you're unhappy with what we send you, just return them for a refund. (Since this is not an error, return shipping is your responsibility.) We will NOT go through the whole bin trying to find matching perfection. This how they were issued to the real guys, the greatest generation, the heroes of yesteryear, the paratroopers who saved the world and all that jazz. Once we run out, we'll have some nice repros made so you won't have to pollute your repro outfit with any imperfect crap your grandpa wore to war. For other original chevrons click here

Wool Rank Chevrons Sold in Pairs
Pfc Original $10.00	Corporal $10.00	Technician 5th grade $12.00
Sergeant $12.00	Staff Sergeant $12.00	Technician 4th grade $12.00
Technician 3rd grade $12.00	Technical Sergeant $12.00	Master Sergeant $12.00
	First Sergeant $12.00

Get it right! Enlisted rank chevrons had no exact regulations concerning their placement, except that they were to be sewn "between the shoulder and elbow".

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Officer Rank Insignia
Genuine US military issue rank insignia. These are mostly new production with a few
WWII Meyer's mixed in. Most are clutch-back.

Sold only in pairs Prices are per pair
Second Lieutenant	$10.00
First Lieutenant	$10.00
Captain	$10.00
Major	$10.00
Lt. Colonel	$10.00
Colonel	$10.00
Brigadier General	$10.00

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Officer Rank Insignia, Cloth
Excellent machine-embroidered reproductions on shirt wool.

$10.00 a pair
NOTE: We will be filling in the other ranks in the future.

2nd Lieutenant

1st Lieutenant

Captain

Get it right! Worn on the epaulets of the Class A coat and jackets, the left side of overseas caps or the right collar of the shirt. You get one piece, and you have to cut it in half.

 

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