"The cork helmet is covered in black wool with brass front plate and fittings. The brass ball top displays a few small indentations. The wool cover shows dust and age, but it is without damage. The front plate and fittings all show an uncleaned patina. The interior leather sweatband is intact, as is the fabric lining. The interior shell of the helmet is manufacturer marked by the firm of Hawkes & Company. The helmet is lacking the chain link chin strap. Overall very good used condition." Advertised as Victorian for $525. Any comments as to quality and price? Is it possible to find an Edwardian Chain Chin Strap to add? Any thoughts about cleaning the brass?  Thanks Larry

Thanks so much!

Thanks to both of you!   I should get that book. Very interesting.  My carbine has Winchester barrel but 1943 Underwood receiver. from what Danimal03 says, if Winchester and Underwood were the ones rewarded, Winchester wouldn't have Underwood receivers.   Do i understand that right?  Good information. I always hear about these parts sharing programs such that a rifle could come out of the factory with parts from several different contractors.  That said, and I hoped at one time to find evidence that mine is in that category, i think mine was post war rebuild with virtually all WW2 parts, i.e., flat bolt stamped SW, operating rod is Winchester, and gas cylinder stamped PI.     As for the markings, thank you!  I think did not describe correctly where the oval and W are on my barrel.  The W is near the top.  The oval is underneath the bayonet lug so you can see it unless remove the handguard and slide lug up.  I think its the WP that you have on your barrel, but i can really only see the oval markings.    as far as i can tell no bursting bomb near the muzzle.  beautiful stamps on your barrel!

I was given an Argentinian bayonet that's says Modelo Argentino 1909 on it.  The blade is in good shape, but the scabbard has a lot of rust.  What is the best way to clean it up? Does CLP work? 

There should be a PW in the oval which is the Winchester proof mark.  See the attached photo from one of my early carbines.   

The stamp on the back, according to the warrelics.eu site, designate the area within the department. I wonder what that S designates. 

hello, I do not know the answer to your question.  However, I recently bought a WWII Winchester carbine on a whim.  I was actually annoyed with myself for not researching it beforehand.  So fast forward a month.  I moonlight in a high-end antiques shop.  We are currently selling a high-end collection.  In the collection is a book called 'War Baby Vol 1'.  It is a book entirely on WWII M1 carbines.   I read it.  I highly recommend it but it is a little pricey.  Anyway, in the book it was explained that in 1944 the US Government cancelled all carbine contracts except for Underwood and Winchester as an 'atta boy' for delivering so many carbines.  Shrewdly Winchester bought up all leftover parts from the other contractors and assembled remaining carbines with these other parts.  So in theory, a WWII mismatch of WWII parts from Winchester from late 1944 and onwards could be, 'as built'.  I had no idea. I found this interesting.  Mine was made around September 1944.  Mine has a Rock-Ola barrel.  No import marks.  So, who knows but based on the book I would say there is a chance it could be a Winchester 'Frankenstein' carbine. Cheers! By the way, you may want to post this on the US Militaria Forum which is a sister site.  I thought I was there when answering this.  I then realized I was on the World Militaria Forum.  

That helps. Thanks very much. By conscripted, that means rounded up among the population and made to work or Korean, I guess. 

Indochina, not Indonesia. 

This badge indicates that the wearer is working as a conscripted laborer【徴用労働者 ／*「徴」→山王】 at the naval arsenal.

When did Germany drop the spike helmet?  I see Hindenburg wearing shortly before he died in photo.  As far as I can tell, it seems to have disappeared from German uniforms after WWI, but I really don't know. I don't recall ever seeing a WWII picture where a German was wearing the spike helmet.   

Hello everyone. I hope everyone had a great 250th Independence Day. Unfortunately, for me I had a power outage due to all those storms. Luckily it lasted only 1 day and I had a generator, so I saved the food. Yaay. Also, the beer stayed cold. LOL! I've had family and friends over, so I haven't been able to do much work. But I finally started the tracks for the Panther D. Hopefully they'll get done soon.   Semper Fi.   Manny