hc8604

In addition to Richard's well-founded comments, I'd offer the following. While I don't have direct personal knowledge, I wonder if there may not have been a resurgence of interest among the Chinese themselves. I know that CHinese art in general has appreciated considerably in recent years, in large part because the Chinese are buying again. Does anyone else have comments?

Hugh

I have seen an interest in KMT era militaria on the mainland. Before ebay's removing bidders names (or I can see from feedback left to and from bidder), I have seen a few bidders from China bidding on Nationalist daggers and other items. WWII items is very interesting to many people over there. They have a lot of TV dramas on the war with Japan (Qing dynasty, warlord era, 1930s, and Civil War period are other time period popularly dramatized), even though it is mostly propragandized. Reenacting is also becoming popular.

I have found a few Chinese militaria forums and the ones I have seen have a section for that era up to 1949. There is still items to be found there! One thread had a complete officers tunic! These things probably have been buried away or forgotten during the Cultural Revolution. I have always thought the only way to find WWII items is outside of China because of fakes, but these forums have persuaded me otherwise.

There is a little bit more liberty to collect the stuff (probably to appease the ROC and/or maybe their acceptance of the KMT/ROC involvement in WWII), even though the mainland still restricts some freedoms. However, the TV stations there still censor out the Taiwan flag.

This is outside of my area, but I do have a link for you that may be somewhat useful:

http://home.earthlin...einrl/repro.htm

All the best,

Jonathan

I have seen that link before. They didn't really say when it was from and they don't provide a contact link

Thanks for the help though.

I found out a little bit more about it. I got one reply in an email that he said that he saw these appear in the gun shows in the mid-1990s.

Because of that I belive these were probably from the PRC from post 1949 or so. Maybe these were imported along with the old Chinese firearms from China.

I have seen a few examples of a saber on eBay but the sellers listed these as Nationalist WWII sabers that were modeled after the Japanese calvary sabers.

Recently one seller listed this example as a post-WWII saber made by the Communist Chinese.

Currently, there are two on ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/...emZ290372577003

http://cgi.ebay.com/...emZ350283630959

Any books or websites for more information?

Hopefully I can get a reply, as many Chinese militaria information is hard to find.

yes

fake

Due to special historical reasons, really armbands have been extremely rare, expensive

Yep they are really expensive if found.

I remember there were a few fakes sold on eBay (one seller continues to sell them), they were going for $50+ but now some are about $10, but a few without any knowledge on these patches still bid in the $50 range.

I bought one for $10 still too high and I asked the seller where he got these, he replied back in the 1970s from China (he is the one that continues to sell these but list 4-5 of them every 2-3 months ).

Well I guess since I don't have anything else to do:

東北: Northeast

抗日聯軍: Anti-Japanese Coalition

中華民國二十八年: Republic of China year 28 (1939) 度佩用: I couldn't get this to really translate in my favor :o

I am not sure what all of the patch says, but it says Northeast ???, Republic of China year 28 or 1939, summer. Patch is worn on the left shoulder of the uniform, but not worn during battle.

I also agree that it is a fake. Notice the modern-ish font and that the patch on the front should be read right to left. The reverse is "correct" only that it is read correctly.

I have a cavalry 5th brigade unit patch that is fake, mostly because the unit never existed in 1940

thanks, yeah I guess more people here are interested in medals and orders. I would say 95%+ of posts here are medals/orders related.

Yep It is the MND insignia. Probably both badges were worn by MND officials.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/taiwan/mnd.htm

Forgot to add these two:

Small wing badge, probably for uniform wear. Length 2 1/16" or 5.3cm; ~ 1950s - ?.

-

for service cap. 1950s or so , Length: 1.5" or 3.9cm

It is not much. For anybody interested or identification:

Master Pilot badge. Comes with serial number on the back... dates I believe to the 1960-70s?

Length: 3 1/8" or 8cm; quite heavy too

Air Force cap badge, dates to the 1950s-60s or 70s....

Note: exact same design as the Civil War period, but made with cheaper metals. Later on the design was modified, unless it was used concurrent with this one.

huh.. not much respones. I guess many of you all have seen these things before or not interested in Taiwan/Republic of China Army stuff (from what I see, only medals..95%).

I forgot to mention that those patches were from 1954... aka the 1st Taiwan Straight Crisis. It is history many are aware on Taiwan, but few around the world. There is a book out there that tracks several families after their move from Dachen Islands. A few of them moved to the United States, a few stayed on Taiwan. IIRC, those in the US had better lives than in Taiwan (although that is the norm for most immigrating families from other countries too).

I guess I won't be saying any more since there isn't any interest.

It is 1962. 51 is the Republic year

I have a copy of a M1943 jacket made in Taiwan. It is the Taiwan paratrooper version with a small pocket on the left arm. That is the only uniform my dad has left. He had a bunch of other uniforms, helmets, and plenty of other stuff, but I think my grandmother left it outside while she was cleaning up the house and somebody thought it was trash and took it away, or stolen, according to my dad. I was told the M1943 copy is scarce...

My dad told me it was his jacket, but it has somebody's name in it.. I am guessing it was returned and given to my dad after he finished his time. I could barely read the tag; I can barely see 51 year as the manufacture date. So it was new, issued once.

I think I have a few more items. I have his identification paper. I have a picture that you give out to people as a Christmas card thing... but I can't find it right now. My dad has not seen it recently, but it is somewhere around...

I think that is about it. My dad and me grabbed a few items from my grandmother's old house when we visited Taiwan two years ago. Hopefully I can go back soon and throughly search the house

Oh yeah here are some Dachen patches. It was given to each person on the island as the US military was helping evacuate the island as the communist forces were going to attack soon in 1954.

I have both my dads and my grandfather. Although my aunts' and grandmother are missing, maybe only males were issued these?

Here is something not many people have seen before. These are a recorded jump document and a Master paratrooper certificate.

Certificate dated 1962

Inside of Certificate

Recorded and dated jumps

It folds out into 100 total spaces for recording jumps

Badge is not original to the documents (incorrect serial number). Hopefully I can find it one day...

Picture of my dad. The documents belong to him.

Also just to note, recent Master certificates are nearly identical as it was 40 years ago (the one I saw was dated 2001). There are a minor differences such as better printing method, no serial number is included, and a few modified spaces for information.

Here is a nice article from 1971

http://calldp.leavenworth.army.mil/eng_mr/txts/VOL51/00000006/art3.pdf

A picture of my hat badge:

I meant to take off the little nut on the left post... but forgot when taking the picture.

From observations of recent medals, I believe these are post 1949 medals. The one I have posted a picture above has a US type WWII design. Older ones should be identical to how the Japanese medals are made. Also, I think the 國 character is not placed before the serial number on the older ones.

Anyways, these are just observations and not actual facts...

I saw the second one on ebay, nice win by the way.

When was the medal awarded? On the Certificate in the frame, it says Chinese Republic, 48 year, 11th month. Which dates to November 1959.. seems it took 12 years for him to be finally awarded this medal.

I, too, agree that $200 seems low, especially w/ documentation. In the US it will go for a lot more. In Taiwan, maybe less since there is probably more available.

I may probably find a new medal and replace the ribbon for the Garrison medal.

I was just wondering how the ribbons were made. WW2 US medals are different from today by the style of the construction of the ribbon part.. well from what I have seen.

I am still going to assume these were awarded on Taiwan. I know a guy who told me records are hard to find. But I was hoping I can get an answer with the design of the ribbon type.

I think the tell tale sign may be the ribbon and pin design... but I have no idea.

I think this is the same guy that built the 1/6 Dora rail gun. The link has a bunch of pictures of the 1/6th Dora in stages of construction. In the last picture it seems it is the same guy.

http://www.vonabt.co.uk/models/Dora/index.html

This is going to be my first post here, so hi to all.

I have some Chinese/Taiwanese medals that I do now know what time period they come from.

The first medal is the Medal for Victorious Garrison B, First Class and it is made out of silver, Serial No. 5916.

The second medal is the Medal of Brilliant Light A, First Class, made out of silver, Serial No. 771.

I am thinking that the Brilliang Light may have come from WW2... but I am not sure what WW2 medals and post war look like...

Thanks