Peter Graham said:
I don't intend bidding on it guys. I just posted it for observation. Great jacket though it is, I know from experience of buying jacket with name tapes, and rank in particular, that I just don't feel comfortable wearing them so they go largely unworn.
Yep. I agree. Not long ago I found the perfect M-51. It was from a 1952 contract in good condition and with great patina. Sadly, it still retained all its original patches including a horse blanket, the owner's (Lt. Stringer) name strip and his 2Lt. bars. I bought it thinking I'd remove the patches and make it my everyday wearer...after all...it would be my jacket, I could do with it as I please, right?
Well, no, I could not.
I kept putting off the patch removal project until I finally just admitted to myself that I couldn't do it. And I couldn't wear it with the patches, especially the rank, still on. So now it hangs in the jacket room. Thankfully, Jim (watchmanjimg) hooked me up with another M-51, exactly like Stringer's, but without patches...so I'm smilin' again.
AF