willysmjeeps.com

Hello
I just recently purchased a M38. I don't know much about them which is my reason for joining this site. Since the purchase I have been looking around for accessories and have found many sources. Just recently I was scrounging around in a local surplus store and came across a few gas can holders. They have numbers stamped on the front right, half-ass done tan paint over OD, and one of them has USMC stamped on it. My question is how do I find out the meaning of these numbers? I am thinking about selling the USMC marked one, but I am unsure of price. Any help or information about these markings would be appreciated.

There are several ways.

1-Go to Portrayal Press site and buy the military marking manuals for the Army, Navy and Marines. There are two books for the Army on Portrayal Press and there were several more printed through the years.

2-Post photos of the markings on these web sites and folks with time in those services can answer your questions.

You'll find the personal testimony is more reliable than the manuals. The manuals were guidelines and individual units did not always interpret them the same.

Ok It's taking me a while to figure out how to post my pictures. I was finally able to put them in my album. If interested in the stampings/markings on the gas can holder/carrier please check out my album. Thanks

USMC = United States Manufacturing Company. That's what I was told by a buddy but never bothered to confirm it. Mine says the same thing. It is not original to the Jeep as I think my tailgate is repro.