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WWII US MILITARY PINS, HINGES AND OTHER - Every war produces a wide variety of miscellaneous items used by the armed forces. WWI was no exception. This page showcases various insignia, patches, and military accessories from the period.

The data provided here allows the militaria collector the ability to identify some of the insignia employed during World War One. Additional data discusses the pricing of these items. This forms a picture of the worth of the collectibles.

This page is brought to you as a service free of charge courtesy of MilitaryItems.com. While the items displayed here are not for sale, click HERE to view insignia available for purchase.


HELMET PHOTO ATTACHMENT TYPE DESCRIPTION OF THE ATTACHMENT
Fixed Bail This is the early war type of bail. It was weded straight to the shell of the helmet. The problem with this design is that as the soldier was runing and jumping, the forces applied to the bail were too extreme, causing it to break off the helmet which rendered the chin strap useless.


Swivel Bail The bail was chaged to a swivel type later in the war. the advantage to this design is that the bail moves as pressure is applied, therefore mitigating the forces that could break it.


Swivel Bail This is found in an early war doughboy style helmet. It uses a double swoivel bail. One is attached to the helmet shell. The other is attached to the aluminum liner ring.


Leather chin strap hook

The liner of the helmet came with its own chin strap. This was a thin strap of brown leather. It could be worn separate from the main helmet shell. This photo shows how the chin strap was attached to the liner.


Chin strap ball latch The M-1 helmet came with a canvis chin strap which was secured cloed via the use of latches. The ball type latch was used late in the war.


Chin strap hook latch The M-1 helmet came with a canvis chin strap which was secured cloed via the use of latches. The latch system featured here is the one employed in the early days of WWII.



PIN PHOTO ATTACHMENT TYPE DESCRIPTION OF THE ATTACHMENT
Pin back A pin hinged to one end attaches to a catch on the opposite end.


Clutch back Some of the insignia were attached to the uniform via the use of two small pins known as clutches. A metal cap with spring loaded clamps is used to grab onto the pin to secure the insignia to the uniform.


Screw back A threaded stud is placed on th back of the badge. A wheel is screwed in place to hold the insignia in place. This system is most commonly used in hats. It was also used for collar insignia during WWI and the early days of WWII. the collar in the uniform would normally have a pre-cut hole to accomodate the stud.



MEDAL PHOTO PIN TYPE DESCRIPTION OF THE PIN


Full Brooch This type of medal hanger was used during WWI and the early days of WWII. The design consisted of a thich piece of metal in an oval pattern where the ribbon of the medal is secured.
Stitch design The stitch design was employed to secure the pin to the medal from around mid-war to the Korean war. The base consisted of a flat panel with a small hole in each side of the bottom section. A stitch was applied to each hole - hence the name of the type.



INSIGNIA PHOTO PIN TYPE DESCRIPTION OF THE PIN
Thin pin from Combat medic badge.
Thin pin from rank insignia .
Screw Screw back type fromt collar insignia.



FIELD GEAR PHOTO HARDWARE TYPE DESCRIPTION OF THE HARDWARE
Clips Spring loaded clips front the load bearing suspenders.
Wire hooks Wire hooks used in a variety of field gear to attach it to a utility belt.





 
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