U.S. Enlisted Collar Discs

Circular No. 68 issued by the War Department on October 8, 1907 described new insignia to be worn on the enlisted service uniform. Initially two 1" bronze discs were described, one on each side of the collar. One disc marked with the letters U.S., and the second with the insignia for the branch of service. The discs were to be attached useing a threaded post and thumb screw nut. Circular No. 78, issued on November 17, 1909 delayed the implementation to July 1, 1910. New instructions were issued that each soldier would wear two discs with the right one being the U.S. and the left one being the branch insignia. Specific designs were approved for each branch but several specialty discs were available through private purchase. Most "unofficial" discs were banned by 1920. In 1942, the design was changed to use 2 clutches to attach the disc to the uniform. Both Timmerman and Ballou clutches can be found on initial production, but the Ballou clutch soon became the standard. Dimples were added to the face of the Ballou clutch in 1948. The "pin-back" style was never officially authorized.

Note that similar discs were used by the U.S. Forestry Service, the Civilian Conservation Corps, the American Legion, the VFW, various Military schools and academies, and most ROTC programs.

© 2010, 2013 byGermanDaggers.com

Official Collar Disc Types

Type 1 1910-1926 Screwback

Type 2 1926-1937 Screwback

Type 3a 1937-1943 Screwback

Type 3a Disassembled Screwback

Type 4 1942-1947-8? various early type clutches

Type 5 1942-1970 Timmerman (top)/Ballou (bottom) clutches

Type 3b 1970-present Balou (dimpled) clutches

Miscellaneous/Unattributed Collar Disc Types

Single pin type Usually seen on State/Militia Discs

Stamped pin type Theater Produced - Typically English

Pinback Theater Produced - Typically French

Pinback Theater Produced - Typically French

Pinback Theater Produced - Typically French

Reproduction Screwback Disc No pins on back

Reproduction Pinback Disc

Naugatuck Novelty Company Restrike Note low domed area around screw post

Collar Disc Type 1

Type 1 Collar Discs were issued from 1910 until 1926. They were primarily issued in a bronze finish and used a screw nut to attach to the uniform. The left collar disc could contain the Regiment number and Company Letter, or number/letter combinations for special assignments. The left disc could also include the regiment number and company letter. To simplify disc production as mobilization for WW1 progressed, the Regiment number was moved to the right disc with the Company letter on the left disc. As mobilization continued and the number of units increased, both letter and number were dropped. Six background patterns have been identified but are considered manufacture variations. Army Regulations issued on October 14, 1921 stated that collar disks were to be bronze on service uniforms and gilt on white uniforms. On November 25, 1924 the bronze disks were dropped. Any discs still in service were to be polished to a bright finish. Below are typical examples.

Type 1 Right Collar Discs

US 1910-1924	USR US Reserves (activated reserve units) 1910-1917	US 1921-1926	US - 64th Regiment 1917-1924	US - 20th Regiment 1921-1926	USNA US National Army (draftee units) 1917	USNG US National Guard (activated units) 1917	USR US Reserves (activated reserve units) 1917
USV US Volunteers (volunteer units) 1917	NA over US US National Army (draftee units) 1917-1918	NG over US US National Guard (activated units) 1917-1918	R over US US Reserves (activated reserve units) 1917-1918	V over US US Volunteers (volunteer units) 1917-1918	G over US US State Guard/Militia Units 1917-1918	NA over US - 23rd Regiment US National Army (draftee units) 1917-1918	NG over US - 139th Regiment US National Guard (activated units) 1917-1918
CAL over US California National Guard 1920-1924	MICH over US Michigan National Guard 1920-1924	PENN over US Pennsylvania National Guard 1920-1924	FLA over US - 124th Regiment Florida National Guard 1920-1924	MASS over US - 101st Regiment Massachuttes National Guard 1920-1924	MINN over US - 135th Regiment Minnesota National Guard 1920-1924	Massachuttes Home/State Guard 1917-1926	New York Home/State Guard 1917-1926

Type 1 Left Collar Discs

Tank Service 1917-1918	Tank Service 1918-1921	Infantry (Tanks) 1921-1922	Infantry (Tanks) 1922-1924	Infantry (Tanks) 1922-1926	Air Service (unofficial) 1914-1917	Air Service (unofficial) 1914-1917	Air Service 1917-1924
Air Service 1921-1926	Bugler 1910-1922	Army Band 1922-1924	Army Band 1922-1926	Branch Immaterial 1922-1924	Branch Immaterial 1922-1926	Cavalry 1910-1924	Cavalry 1921-1926
Cavalry - 7th Regiment, B Company 1917-1924	Cavalry - A Company 1917-1924	Cavalry - 347th Regiment, Machinegun Company 1917-1924	Cavalry - 3th Regiment, Machinegun Company 1917-1918	Chemical Corps 1918-1924	Chemical Corps 1921-1926	Coast Artillery 1910-1924	Coast Artillery 1921-1926
Coast Artillery - Anti-Aircraft 1918-1921	Coast Artillery - Heavy Mortar 1918-1923	Coast Artillery - Mine Planter Service 1918-1924	Commissary Corps 1910-1924	Commissary Corps 1921-1926	Detached - Service School 1918-1924	Detached - Service School 1921-1926	Electrician 1918-1924
Corps of Engineers 1910-1924	Corps of Engineers - 16th Regiment, D Comapny 1910-1924	Corps of Engineers - E Comapny 1910-1924	Corps of Engineers - C Comapny 1921-1926	Puerto Rico/Cuba Construction Engineers 1910-1921	Puerto Rico/Cuba Construction Engineers 1918-1921	Field Artillery 1910-1924	Field Artillery 1921-1926
Field Artillery - 18th Regiment, E Battery 1917-1924	Field Artillery - B Battery 1917-1924	Field Artillery - AntiAircraft Battery 1917-1924	Field Artillery - Trench Mortar Battery 1917-1924	Field Artillery - Trench Mortar Battery 1917-1924	Field Clerk 1916-1918	Finance Department 1920-1924	Finance Department 1921-1926
General Headquarters 1918-1921	Headquarters 1918-1921	Military Police 1918-1919	Headquarters 1921-1926	Indian Scouts 1910-1917	Indian Scouts 1917-1926	Infantry 1910-1924	Infantry 1921-1926
Infantry - 21st Regiment, B Company 1917-1924	Infantry - D Company 1917-1924	Infantry - Supply Company 1917-1924	Infantry - Depot Battalion 1917-1924	Infantry - Machinegun A Company 1917-1924	Infantry - Machinegun Company 1917-1924	Infantry - 5th Regiment, Machinegun Company 1917-1918	Infantry - Pioneers 1918-1920
Infantry - State Guard/Militia 1917-1922	Infantry - State Guard/Militia 1917-1922	Infantry - Philippines Scouts 1910-1921	Infantry - Puerto Rico Scouts 1910-1921	Intelligence Police 1918-1924	Interpreter 1918-1924	Machinegun unit not attached to Infantry or Cavalry 1918-1924	Military Police 1919-1921
Medical Corps 1910-1924	Medical Corps 1921-1926	Motor Transport Corps 1918-1920	Ordnance Corps 1910-1924	Ordnance Corps 1921-1926	Prison Guard 1918-1920	Quartermaster Corps 1910-1924	Quartermaster Corps 1921-1926
Recuiting Service 1917-1920	Reserve Officer Training Corps 1910-1924	Reserve Officer Training Corps 1921-1926	Service Corps 1918-1920	Signal Corps 1910-1924	Signal Corps Radio Operator (unofficial) 1914-1917	Signal Corps Telegrapher (unofficial) 1914-1917	Signal Corps 1921-1926
Supply Train Company 1917-1920	Farriers/Horse Handlers 1910-1916	Veterinary Corps 1916-1917	Veterinary Corps 1917-1924	Veterinary Corps 1921-1926		Marine Right Collar Disc Included for general interest 1914-1937	Marine Left Collar Disc Included for general interest 1914-1937

Type 2 Collar Discs

Type 2 Collar Discs were issued from 1926 until 1937. They were primarily issued in a gilt finish with a standard hatched background and used a screw nut to attach to the uniform. The left collar disc could contain the Regiment number and Company Letter, or number/letter combinations for special assignments. The left disc could also include the regiment number and company letter. Below are typical examples.

Type 2 Right Collar Discs

US 1926-1937

US - 12th Regiment 1926-1937

NY over US New York National Guard 1926-1937

PENN over US Pennsylvania National Guard 1926-1937

MASS over US - 102nd Regiment Massachuttes National Guard 1926-1937

NY over US - 106th Regiment New York National Guard 1926-1937

Illinois Home/State Guard 1926-1937

New York Home/State Guard 1926-1937

Type 2 Left Collar Discs

Air Service 1926-1937	Army Band 1926-1937	Branch Immaterial 1926-1937	Cavalry 1926-1937	Cavalry - A Company 1926-1937	Cavalry - Machinegun Company 1926-1937	Cavalry - Armored Car Company 1928-1933	Cavalry - Armored Car Company 1933-1937
Chemical Corps 1926-1937	Coast Artillery 1926-1937	Coast Artillery - B Battery 1926-1937	Coast Artillery - Anti-Aircraft Battery 1926-1937	Coast Artillery - Mine Planter Service 1926-1937	Commissary Corps 1926-1937	Detached - Service School 1926-1937	Corps of Engineers 1926-1937
Corps of Engineers - B Company 1926-1937	Field Artillery 1926-1937	Field Artillery - B Battery 1926-1937	Field Artillery - Supply Company 1926-1937	Finance Department 1926-1937	Headquarters 1926-1937	Howitzer Battery 1926-1937	Indian Scouts 1926-1926
Infantry 1926-1937	Infantry - 2nd Regiment 1926-1937	Infantry - 4th Regiment 1926-1937	Infantry - C Company 1926-1937	Infantry - Supply Company 1926-1937	Infantry - Machinegun Company 1926-1937	Infantry - Howizter Battery 1926-1937	Infantry (Tanks) 1926-1937
Medical Corps 1924-1937	Military Intelligence 1926-1937	Military Police 1921-1937	Ordnance Corps 1924-1937	Quartermaster Corps 1926-1937	Reserve Officer Training Corps 1926-1937	Signal Corps 1926-1937	Veterinary Corps 1926-1937

Type 3a Collar Discs

Type 3a Collar Discs were issued from 1937 until 1943. Type 3a discs are of two piece construction consisting of a plain brass disc with a square hole in the center and a device that has a screw post to fit into the hole. A separate piece screwed on the back to hold the disc and device together. The assembly was attached to the uniform with a screw nut. They were discontinued due to the amount of brass used in their construction. In 1970, a similar multi-piece disc bacame standard issue. Collectors refer to the early discs as Type 3a and the later discs as Type 3b. Below are typical examples for Type 3a.

Type 3a Right Collar Discs

US 1937-1943

US - 4th Regiment 1937-1943

IOWA over US Iowa National Guard 1937-1943

MASS over US Massachuttes National Guard 1937-1943

NY over US - 105th Regiment New York National Guard 1937-1943

WIS over US - 127th Regiment Wisconsin National Guard 1937-1943

Illinois Home/State Guard 1937-1943

Ohio Home/State Guard 1937-1943

Type 3a Left Collar Discs

Adjutant General's Office 1937-1943	Armor Corps 1942-1943	Air Service 1937-1943	Army Band 1937-1943	Branch Immaterial 1937-1943	Cavalry 1937-1943	Cavalry - G Company 1937-1943	Cavalry - Supply Company 1937-1943
Cavalry - 106th Mechanized Cavalry 1937-1943	Cavalry - Armored Car Company 1937-1943	Cavalry - Machinegun Company 1937-1943	Cavalry - AntiTank Battery 1939-1943	Chemical Corps 1937-1943	Coast Artillery 1937-1943	Coast Artillery - B Battery 1937-1943	Coast Artillery - Searchlight Battalion 1937-1943
Coast Artillery - Supply Company 1937-1943	Coast Artillery - Combat Train 1937-1943	Coast Artillery - Mine Planter Service 1937-1943	Corps of Engineers 1937-1943	Field Artillery 1937-1943	Field Artillery - 128th Regiment D Battery 1937-1943	Field Artillery - 190th Regiment F Battery 1937-1943	Field Artillery - 606th Regiment 1937-1943
Field Artillery - 1st Regiment Headquarters 1937-1943	Field Artillery - F Battery 1937-1943	Field Artillery - Supply Company 1937-1943	Finance Department 1937-1943	First Special Forces 1942-1944	Headquarters 1937-1943	Infantry 1937-1943	Infantry (Tanks) 1937-1942
Infantry - 174th Regiment L Company 1937-1943	Infantry - 8th Regiment 1937-1942	Infantry - Headquarters 1937-1943	Infantry - Supply Company 1937-1943	Infantry - Howizter Battery 1937-1939	Infantry - AntiTank Battery 1939-1942	Medical Corps 1937-1943	Military Intelligence 1937-1943
Military Police 1937-1943	Military Police - C Company 1937-1943	Ordnance Corps 1937-1943	Quartermaster Corps 1937-1943	Signal Corps 1937-1943	Tank Destroyer 1942-1943	Transportation Corps 1942-1943	Women's Army Corps 1942-1943

Type 4 Collar Discs

Type 4 Collar Discs were available from 1942 until 1947-8. They were a thick disc and used clutch fasteners. Right disc is marked US, left discs are for the branch of service. Below are a few typical examples.

US 1942-1947-8

Corps of Engineers 1942-1947-8

Infantry 1942-1947-8

Reserve Officer Training Corps 1942-1947-8

Type 5 Collar Discs

Type 5 Collar Discs were issued from 1942 until 1970. They were one piece of thin stamped brass. A plate bearing two pointed posts was crimped on the back of the disc. Different shaped plates were used but are considered manufacturers variations. The plates were initially made of zinc, but brass was used after it was removed from the strategic materials list in 1945. The discs were attached to the uniform using Ballou clutches. Dimples were added to the clutches starting in 1948. The right disc is stamped US, left discs are stamped for the branch of service. Below are typical examples.

US 1942-1970		Adjutant General's Office 1942-1970	Air Defence Artillery 1968-1970	Armor Corps 1942-1951	Armor Branch 1951-1970	Army Security Branch 1954-1967	Air Service 1942-1970
Army Band 1942-1970	Branch Immaterial 1942-1970	Cavalry 1942-1970	Chemical Corps 1942-1970	Coast Artillery 1942-1950	Corps of Engineers 1942-1970	Field Artillery 1942-1970	Finance Department 1942-1970
First Special Forces 1942-1944	Infantry 1942-1970	Medical Corps 1942-1970	Military Intelligence 1942-1962	Military Intelligence 1962-1970	Military Police 1942-1970	Ordnance Corps 1942-1970	Quartermaster Corps 1942-1970
Signal Corps 1942-1970	Tank Destroyer 1942-1945	Transportation Corps 1942-1970	Women's Army Corps 1942-1970

Type 3b Collar Discs

Type 3b Collar Discs were available for private purchase after WW2. Both flat and domed varieties were available. Type 3b Collar Discs were authorized as standard issued in 1970. Type 3b discs are of two piece construction consisting of a plain brass disc with a hole in the center and a device that has a screw post to fit into the hole. A separate piece with 2 posts screwed onto the back to hold the disc and device together. The discs were attached to the uniform using Ballou clutches. The right disc is stamped US, left discs are stamped for the branch of service. Note that these are frequently advertised as issued during WW2 but that belief is controversial. Below are typical examples.

US 1970-		Adjutant General's Office 1970-	Air Defence Artillery 1970-	Armor Corps 1970-	Air Service 1970-	Army Band 1970-	Branch Immaterial 1970-
Cavalry 1970-	Chaplain Corps - Chaplain Assistant 2012-	Chemical Corps 1970-	Civilian Affairs Corps 1985-	Cyber Warfare Branch 2009-	Electronic Warfare Branch 2011-	Corps of Engineers 1970-	Field Artillery 1970-
Finance Department 1970-	Infantry 1970-	Inspector General 1978-	Judge Advocate General 2006-	Medical Corps 1970-	Military Intelligence 1970-	Military Police 1970-	Ordnance Corps 1970-
Public Affairs 1989-	Psychological Operations 2006-	Quartermaster Corps 1970-	Signal Corps 1970-	Special Forces 1970-	Transportation Corps 1970-