Originally posted by Federico
One leather collars were not standard issue, but were improvised by soldiers stationed in the Philippines. A common method of attack against these soldiers was decapitation. Now both these can be confirmed, however the reasoning as to why each individual would take the time making this leather collar, and whether or not because of this they were given the name is up to speculation.
It was in fact issued at one time. It did exist for approximately 100 years in The Marine Corps.
It was basically to keep the head held high. The Leather Stock was adopted in the late 1700s and was discarded in the late 1800s, I believe just a few years before The Philippine Insurrection began.
Now, was it reissued with the belief it might help in Close Combat given the legendary ability of the Filipino people with blades? I don't know. And no one can probably say for sure.
As Dave suggested, it's not going to do a whole hell of a lot of good.
It remains a beautiful piece of nostalgia from one of the finest Fighting Units the World has ever known, or had the severe discomfort of being on the wrong end of.
Because they are Marines, by their very name, they tend to fight on or near water. [DUH!] Anyway, to avoid sniping friendlies from the Crow's Nest, they developed the idea that Officers should take a short length of rope, twist it and pin it to the top of their hat so the Marines way up above the deck could identify fellow Marines and not shoot them.
Look at the dress hats of today. There is a design on it commemorating that practice.
USMC Officers have a "Mameluke," their Sword. That sword comes from the War with Tripoli in the early 1800s.
The red stripe down the legs of the dress blues signifies blood lost during the War with Mexico.
From the Halls of Montezuma to the Shores of Tripoli.
Everything means something!
The .38 Revolver being replaced by the Colt M1911 .45 Caliber Semi-Automatic handgun is another debate.
If we are speaking of the Philippine Insurrection at the turn of the century, 1800-1900, the M1911 in Prototype, if I remember correctly, was not in any great number at the time. I believe the Patent was issued to John Browning about 1905 or 1907, "1911" being the year of adoption.
Remember something, however, the great strength of the Filipino Arts is that it can be taught quickly, for battlefield effectiveness. Not every Filipino on a given battlefield is going to perform the way we imagine they would. People make mistakes.
In my opinion, it is entirely possible the Leather Stock came back into favor just from the bright idea of one Marine who may have seen a beheading in close combat. Know what I mean? Things like that spread like wildfire.
Lots of guys in combat will carry all manner of junk for good luck, etc. This might be a true story, but the protection it would offer would be nothing if the blow landed square.
What it could allow for is a counterstroke with a bayonet on a rifle, or in a turn, in close combat, a glancing blow, minimal damage, I shoot or thrust you.
Close combat, like the street but magnified, is confused and hectic.
That's about all the information I have and is a good synopsis of my opinion.
It sure is a great discussion though! Isn't it? Great stuff.
