sks identify and other help please

[Blicero]

: exactly what is a "bringback" is it like sports memorabilia--if you have a c.o.a. the stuff is legit?
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In 1944 Gen. MacArthur issued an order allowing for and regulating the keeping of war trophies by soldiers in the Far East. This order is known as Circular No. 21 USAFFE.

Soon afterward, the War Department expanded on the order to ensure that the humane treatment of enemy wounded and dead was observed while we collected our bringbacks, as dictated by the Geneva Convention. For instance, no personal effects or insignia could be removed from prisoners, wounded, or dead. Only military equipment could be obtained as a bringback, insofar as it didn't undermine US military intelligence. This is known as Circular No. 353, WD. It dictates that all captured enemy material not useful to US intelligence may be retained by a soldier, so long as it is released by the commanding intelligence officer. This is where the paperwork we associate with "bringbacks" comes into play. The US military cozied up to US customs, and got them to agree to allow anything into the country that has the bringback documents. It's definitely not uncommon to find US Customs paperwork accompanying a bringback package.

In 1945, another circular was published that disallowed automatic weapons to be taken as trophies.

One of the interesting phrases in those circulars is "In order to improve the morale of forces in the theaters of operations, the retention of war trophies is...authorized." In a nutshell, we started allowing and regulating bringbacks but did our best to adhere to the rules of war and not come off as plunderers. When I see all of the German and Japanese spoils of war available in the marketplace, it's sometimes hard not to think of the Allies as looting marauders.

At any rate, some collectors are tepid about the existence of paperwork. Some find it to be a fascinating and valuable addition. I'd fall into the latter category and

I wouldn't shoot that one anymore... A truly certified Vietnam bring back, in the condition yours is in, is a rare find.  If it were mine, it would be hanging in a display case in my mancave.

I could not agree with that any more wholeheartedly. 

You have an intensely cool SKS with what looks to be rock solid provenance. I'm sorry that I can't contribute anything too concrete on it, I've never studied Vietnam era bringbacks.

[mikota40]

Thanks again fellas, I'm definitely going to keep it.