Collecting Vietnam on a shoestring budget

[dano1917]

After I commented on the high prices on Vietnam ordnance I thought i'd show that you can collect in a given era without a large expendature of green. Practice stuff is generally reasonable and some of the more obscure items as well. I think one can still put together a fine (in my opinion anyway) collection without laying out thousands of dollars. A little compromise, some dickering and not a large yearning for the "finest" pieces it can be done. I will be adding to this thread from time to time and please feel free to contribute your items that you think to be bargains. I have to stretch my dollars as best as I can. Also if I can save some money along the way it leaves some green for more extravagant purchases. So here goes

Picture 1) M19A2 green star parachute shell with original container Aug. 69 - 47.50

Picture 2) Left - M69 practice baseball. I got in a trade but consider to be a 40.00 item but they are going up - Right - Practice M30/62 lemon 29.50

Picture 3) Left - BDU-68 25.00 Right - BLU-36 70.00

Picture 4) Left - Chicom NV stick grenade 68 dated 80.00 Right - NVA stick grenade 250.00 (splurged a bit on this one)

Picture 5) Left - 40mm white star parachute case 5.00 Right M21 RFX practice pineapple with M205A1 fuze Korean war thru Vietnam 29.00

Picture 6) Left - M18 Yellow smoke 60.00 Right - Post Vietnam M69 practice baseball 25.00

Picture 7) M69 practice baseball repainted OD 25.00 Right - M67 baseball grenade (part of trade so I don't know what I have in it)

Picture 8) BDU-28B dummy cluster bomb dated 11-66 20.00

Picture 9) M25A2 riot grenade with original can (opened from bottom) 175.00 (another splurge)

Picture 10) "go withs" Left - U.S. Mark 2 fighting knife marked U.S. CAMMILUS N.Y. 35.00 Center - misc. ration tins about 3.00 each Right M7 bayonet for M16 rifle marked U.S. M7 IMPERIAL

Dano

 

[DICKAREN]

Not my era Dano but a nice collection.
Richard

 

[V40]

I agree Dan. One can certainly do this on little money, especially by going to gunshows here in the States. Great deals are incredabley easy with the right guys here on this forum!

Me however, I started back in the very late 1960's and have been collecting ever since. As I got older and had the money I expanded my collection exponentially.

Like Dano once stated or was it someone else that "Just staring at the item and wishing that it could talk to you about what it has been through and seen"!

Yes, Dano, you are on a great start with a very good selection of Vietnam items. One question though? How far are you going to go with your collection? Are you going for the fatigues, packs, water bottles, boots,etc., etc.


Maybe I should shoot more of the regular issue along with the rarer items?

 

[pointblank0]

I used to have one of those Camillus USMC knives. Great quality, bit to long to use as a tooth pick though

 

[banksy-2k10]

Hello dano very nice collection you have and dose show that you have not got to spend thousands on a collection ! Really like the grenades !!!!

 

[dano1917]

Hello dano very nice collection you have and dose show that you have not got to spend thousands on a collection ! Really like the grenades !!!!

Thanks banksy, And that is what I want to show - that you can put together a respectable collection without going broke. Don't get me wrong, I would love to have HE stenciled examples of everything but it's not in the cards for me, and I do love seeing the better stuff in others collections. With my situation if I spend 300.00 it would have to knock my socks off. Will be adding some pieces to this thread over the next week or two as I have ran into some good bargains of which two of the pieces are around for higher dollars, but waiting for the right deal paid off. I love my collection and what others think of it would be their own perogative. I think there is a place in this hobby for all. Thanks again for the kind words banksy..Dano

 

[Jolly Green]

I'd like to nominate Dano for President of the BOCN Vietnam Collectors Club and V40 VP and Technical Advisor.

 

[V40]

Sounds good to me!

 

[V40]

Also, if OK'D by the Mods maybe we could start off by having a new thread dedicated just to the Cold War Era items and that of the Vietnam War to!

 

[dano1917]

Claymore

This came in today and in my opinion definately fits the bargain criteria. Been after an M18A1 Claymore set for a while and after some heartache finally got one. It is dated 1-74 on the back cover. Price 100.00. What you see is what I got.......Dano

 

[Richard709]

Hi Dano,

Really pleased to see that you have finally got your claymore and for a good price as well. Nice looking set as well, should fit nicely into your collection.

Richard

 

[BOMBSaway1980]

Where's the test set?

 

[V40]

Dano,

Check and see on the end of the spool of wire if you have a fake detonator attached?

 

[dano1917]

Dano,

Check and see on the end of the spool of wire if you have a fake detonator attached?

I think so Mark, Appearantly all there except "test set"......Dano

 

[EODGUY]

Dano,

I have attached a photo of the M40 Electrical Test Set to show you what it is. It is the electrical continuity check for the firing system of the M18 mine. Pretty sure you already knew what it looked like, but just in case. Bob

 

[V40]

Dan,

you sure do have one. Do all you can to keep that puppy from damage. They can be dented easily if not protected and eventually will come off. We do not want that to happen.

 

[dano1917]

Dano,

I have attached a photo of the M40 Electrical Test Set to show you what it is. It is the electrical continuity check for the firing system of the M18 mine. Pretty sure you already knew what it looked like, but just in case. Bob

Hi Bob, Thanks. I had seen it before but did not what it was. I would assume it was used to check for an open circuit in the mine/wire assembly? My kit did not come with one. There is a tester for sale by itself on GB, but I think 40.00 a little steep??? I think i'll stick where i'm at. The whole Claymore set up is somewhat larger than I had thought and I am very happy with it....Dano

 

[dano1917]

Dan,

you sure do have one. Do all you can to keep that puppy from damage. They can be dented easily if not protected and eventually will come off. We do not want that to happen.

Mark, I see where the bigger end of wire roll plugs into the trigger. Where did the detonator fit? I guess somewhere around the screw fittings on top of mine itself??? Dano

 

[foubar]

jungle!

Danno
hope your all good mate.
so..you have made some mock ww1 trenches for your ww1 stuff.
What about some jungle for your Vietnam stuff??:tongue:

regards

 

[HAZORD]

Dano,

The detonator (electric blasting cap) would have been attached to the firing wire, on the opposite end of the black plug. The detonator would then be inserted into one of the two fuzewells on the top of the mine body. The threaded elbows in the top of the mine unscrew to allow you to insert the detonator, and the wire slides through the slit in the elbow piece, so that when the elbow is reinserted, it holds the detonator inside the mine. The spare fuzewell can be used for an alternative means of initiation, like a boobytrap device, etc.