The United States Marine Corps Historical Company (USMCHC) is a not-for-profit educational corporation established specifically to support the United States Marine Corps.  Our first and foremost job is education.  To support this mission has demanded continuous research and establishment of resources for museum quality Marine Corps historical uniforms and equipment.  We are NOT a dealer, no has it ever been our intention or desire to become a retail supplier of uniforms.  However, over the past two decades we have, by default, become the principal organization dealing with the research and development of historic reproduction Marine Corps uniforms for bases and commands.

Unfortunately, due to a multitude of reasons, we can no longer compile and provide complete historic uniforms, most of which require as many as six separate sources for component items to complete one uniform. Over the past few years, with the retirement of our own in-house tailor and many of the artisans and venders that we were getting uniform components from (many of which were being custom made for us) having also retired and/or gone out of business, has completely disrupted our ability to compile complete uniforms for most eras. We are working to establish new sources, but for the present we are unable to provide reproduction Marine Corps historical uniforms.

Again, our apologies. If you have any questions, please feel free to call our office at any time.

NOTE: The following services are only available to Marine Corps Commands, Bases, museums, and agencies associated with the Marine Corps.

Material History (Reproduction Marine Corps Uniforms) Educational Packages and Support

As stated, the USMC Historical Company is a not-for-profit educational corporation established to support the United States Marine Corps, and Marine Corps Heritage Foundation. Our first and foremost job is education. The research and reproduction of the material aspects of Marine Corps history helps provide usable tools to tell the Corps’ story.

Providing the material support for our educational programs demands continuous development, and creation of museum quality reproductions of Marine Corps historical uniforms and equipment. However we are not a dealer, nor is it our intention or desire to become a retail supplier of uniforms. Nevertheless, with the Marine Corps Museum Division no longer supplying “Pageant” uniforms and no other agency actively focused on this type of development, we have attempted to fill the void. By default, we have become the principle organization dealing with the research and teaching of the Corps’ materiel history, and development of historic reproduction Marine Corps uniforms. Due to continuous requests from throughout the Marine Corps to replace existing pageant uniforms and/or obtain exhibit materials, we have compiled and supplied sets of historic educational uniform packages to bases, commands, and museums throughout the Corps. We provide this service as a courtesy, and offer it only to Marine Corps Commands, Bases, museums, and agencies associated with the Corps. Since this is not our primary mission we review requests, and our ability to meet them, on a case by case basis depending on available time and resources.

To date we have supplied educational packages and uniforms to the National Museum of the Marine Corps, the President’s Own Marine Band, and Marine Corps Bases and Commands around the world, such as MCB Camp Lejeune, MCB Camp Pendlton, Marine Forces Korea, and MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, just to name a few. Although many commands purchase these uniforms primarily for use during the Marine Corps Birthday, they and the accompanying historical information, are intended as educational tools and can be used for exhibits and PMEs throughout the year.

Each educational package is custom tailored to the requesting agency. The package includes a book covering the complete historical background of the uniform(s) and the era they represent, a complete description of each uniform and its components, photographs and description of how to wear each uniform, and training material on the history and proper handling and use of associated weapons and equipment. The uniform items included in these packages are highly authentic reproductions of period Marine Corps clothing and equipment. They are usable historically accurate uniforms faithful to the originals, not costumes, nor will we lower our quality to produce costume grade items. Each uniform is made for practical wear but is correct enough to use in museum exhibits.

The following is a list of the most commonly requested uniforms. Each are usable historically accurate and documented uniforms made with the same durability and construction of the originals. Each is functional and made for wear.

MOST COMMONLY REQUESTED ERA AND/OR HISTORICAL INCIDENT and RELATED UNIFORM:

1. The American Revolution : Continental Marine Regulation Dress
2. The Barbary War, Tripoli: Marine 1798 Regulation Dress
3. The War of 1812: Marine 1805/11 Service Dress
4. Seminole Wars, Florida: M1833 Service Dress
5. The Mexican War: Marine M1839 Fatigue Dress
6. The American Civil War: Marine M1859 Undress
7. Spanish-American War: Marine M1892 Undress
8. Philippine Insurrection: Marine 1898 Fatigue (Tropical Field Service) Dress
9. World War One: Marine M1917 Winter Service (field)
10. Banana Wars: Marine M1926 Summer Service (field)
11. World War Two, 1942-Guadalcanal: Marine M1941 utility uniform and equipment
12. World War Two: USMC Women’s Reserve, M1943 Summer Service
13. World War Two, 1943-Tarawa: Marine, M1942 camouflage utility uniform and equipment
14. Korean War: Marine, M1941 (44 modified) utility uniform and cold weather gear
15. Vietnam War: M1965 Jungle utility uniform and M19565/62 Marine ‘782’ gear

Photographs and listings of the component items that make up each uniform can be viewed on subsequent pages.

We have developed many other uniforms from the various historical eras for our own programming, including many full dress uniforms, and we are continually developing and adding further uniforms and equipment to our inventory. If there is something special that you would like to include in your Package that is not listed above please inquire. We have custom developed several “one of a kinds” for various commands and museums. However research and development of prototypes, construction time, and material costs and availability will be definite contributing factors in delivery time and expense.

Costs for the packages is calculated on a case by case basis, taking into account several factors. To fill requests requires us to divert time and resources from our primary program development and presentation mission. Extensive time must be spent by our limited staff to develop and procure / produce, assemble, package and deliver the uniform components and information. The majority of the items are custom made in house and normally it takes a minimum of 8 months to compile and assemble complete packages. These are museum quality restrikes, not costume items and are extremely labor intensive to put together.

Below are examples of the uniforms that we have created:

If you are interested in obtaining any of these uniform Educational Packages please contact the Directors office at di************@ao*.com“>di************@ao*.com, or call (301) 662-3141 for details and information on prices and procurement.

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1776
Maryland State Marine

1812, Sergeant of Marines, 1805 Service Dress

1848, Sgt of Marines, 1840 Fatigue Dress

1864, Pvt of Marines, M1859 Undress

1901, Pvts of Marines, 1899 Campaign Dress, Philippines

1918, Womens Marine Aux

1927, Pvt of Marines, M1926 Summer Service, Haiti

1943, NCO of Marines, M1942 Marine Camo Utilities, Pacific

1952, GySgt of Marines, M1947 Full Dress

1970, Marine Helo Crewman, Vietnam

2001, PFC of Marines, Tri-color BDUs, SAW gunner, Afganistan