Highest quality GI dog tags
Would like to tell you all a story. My grandfather was a WWII veteran, I never met him as he died when I was very young, maybe 2 or 3.
First day of deer season. I woke up and it was already light. I had overslept. I gulped down a breakfast and was almost out the door when my mother called to me, " Here, take dads dog tags, they'll bring you some luck". He was an old time deer hunter after the war. Well, I thought I was already screwed, having slept more than 2 hours past when I wanted to be out in the woods. I threw his tags on under my jacket and went. When I got to my stand, "I had hung it about 3 weeks before", there was a man standing about 100 yards downhill, smoking a cigarette, so I moved on. I went about 300 yards and stopped. It was'nt 10 minutes before I heard some crackling brush, and saw this huge buck. Well I shot at him, and totally F'ed up the shot, hitting him way low at the bottom of the chest. He did'nt even seem to realize I had shot at him, as he was just grazing very calmly, giving me a shot for another shot. I shot him again and he went only 20 feet or so. He ended up being te biggest buck I had ever harvested.
Now, I did just about everything wrong, I overslept, had my stand site fouled, and fubared the shot. Now, I have to thnk that tags helped me out. The saddest part of the story is I lost his tags some years later. I'd like to get another set made. I've checked some sights, they are only maybe 8 dollars, and I am leary of setting the hook on something that means so much to me, for only 8 dollars or so. Does anyone out there know of a high quality provider of dog tags?
First day of deer season. I woke up and it was already light. I had overslept. I gulped down a breakfast and was almost out the door when my mother called to me, " Here, take dads dog tags, they'll bring you some luck". He was an old time deer hunter after the war. Well, I thought I was already screwed, having slept more than 2 hours past when I wanted to be out in the woods. I threw his tags on under my jacket and went. When I got to my stand, "I had hung it about 3 weeks before", there was a man standing about 100 yards downhill, smoking a cigarette, so I moved on. I went about 300 yards and stopped. It was'nt 10 minutes before I heard some crackling brush, and saw this huge buck. Well I shot at him, and totally F'ed up the shot, hitting him way low at the bottom of the chest. He did'nt even seem to realize I had shot at him, as he was just grazing very calmly, giving me a shot for another shot. I shot him again and he went only 20 feet or so. He ended up being te biggest buck I had ever harvested.
Now, I did just about everything wrong, I overslept, had my stand site fouled, and fubared the shot. Now, I have to thnk that tags helped me out. The saddest part of the story is I lost his tags some years later. I'd like to get another set made. I've checked some sights, they are only maybe 8 dollars, and I am leary of setting the hook on something that means so much to me, for only 8 dollars or so. Does anyone out there know of a high quality provider of dog tags?
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I sure there are period correct ones to be had. I wear one of my issue ones all the time. I'm sure my sister has dad's from ww2.
edit thanks for true notch story0 -
We have a guy that has a old original machine and uses the heavy tags,not the real thin ones and sets up at the Museum of the Kansas National Guard and 35th Div. ever year in June and ive had him make some replacements for me. Dont remember what he charges but i could find out if you want. 0 -
In Moss Landing, CA there is a surplus store "J&S Surplus" where they use the original tag puncher out of WWII. It's one of those put your hand at the wrong place and you will be chunkless. Basically a big ass type writer monstrocity. I don't know what they charge but they do use stainless steel tags. No notch just the "regular" tags.
So if you got a surplus store near you they might be able to help you out. If U.S. Calvery still exisits they also punch up tags, too.0 -
No notch?
I don't know how correct they'd be. Mine are notched.
The notch is supposed to be wedged in your teeth if you're KIA.0 -
quote:Originally posted by v35
The notch is supposed to be wedged in your teeth if you're KIA.
That's an old and popular story, but it's true purpose was much more mundane.
Beginning in 1942 a handheld imprinting machine was used to transfer a soldier's dog tag info directly to paper records by use of carbon paper.
It could be set to imprint any number of lines on the tag depending upon what records were being noted. The notch was incorporated to properly align the tag for use with this device.
Model 70 Adressograph:
v35 - My intent was not simply to call you out on this. I just thought the OP might be interested in hearing a strange piece of trivia involving his grandfather's dog tag design.0 -
No offense taken, just surprised since it was "General knowledge" in the Army.
I never saw KIA's just their graves and bones and never heard the urban legend disputed before this.
I did wonder why there weren't two notches but never gave it much thought.
For comparison with repros, material thickness is .016" with all edges folded over, including the notch and chain hole to form a border, about 1/32 wide on the opposite side.0 -
I still have one of mine on my key ring and it's from the Middle 60s and no notch. 0 -
Try Sgt.Grit at Grunt.com
Suprizing what you can find there from this Marine.
For GOD and COUNTRY
Not as Lean[:D][:D]2x as Mean BUT STILL a MARINE[}:)][}:)]
Vet0 -
You might also try www.medalsofamerica.com for when you're making that memorial. 0 -
I have mine, no notch, and my fathers which had a notch. I have seen the tags put in the mouth of the slain, not kicked into the teeth, just placed and then taped shut, prior to putting into a body bag. Not my best memories, just another bad memory to put back in the box for later times. 0
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