Blue Grease Gun Lettering

[daishi]

Hello all,

Just a quick question(s). The lettering that we so often see in video games and in pictures drawn on guns to mark them as a certain soldiers....what is that done by? I'm guessing it is a blue grease pencil? Anyone have any recommendations?

As well, what consists of the lettering? Is it a part of your service number or is it just random? Say my service number was B18-123-456 what would I number my gear...or is there no standardization behind it?

[MADDOG]

Originally Posted by daishi

Hello all,

Just a quick question(s). The lettering that we so often see in video games and in pictures drawn on guns to mark them as a certain soldiers....what is that done by? I'm guessing it is a blue grease pencil? Anyone have any recommendations?

As well, what consists of the lettering? Is it a part of your service number or is it just random? Say my service number was B18-123-456 what would I number my gear...or is there no standardization behind it?

It can be a rack number/locker # where that individuals weapon sits in the armoury or a numerical callsign

[daishi]

So I can use parts of my service number, or anything really? I was just wondering if there was in fact a standardization like with the lettering and such on the lower receivers being done wrong by so many people.

Can anyone tell me if it is in fact a blue grease pencil, and if anyone has any recommendations? Id prefer something that is smudge and/or water proof of course.

[DaRkCoMmAnDo]

What Maddog said, its pretty much for an armorer to keep every piece of kit for that weapon, on that weapon (correct me if I'm wrong)

It's a sharpie paint marker. I got mine at Michael's, the artsy store.

[daishi]

So what are the parts generally marked up? Usually Ive only seen stocks marked, occasional Ive seen it on a magazine...which looked quite strange.

For guns that are like pdw's marking it wouldn't really make sense if it is for an armorer would it? There are some Triple A games out there that feature pdw style weapons with no accessories on all marked up. I'm primarily interested for my m4 platform, but if I was to do it to my backup p90, would that inspire face palms from those "in the know"?

[MADDOG]

Guys do it to their mags so that they can identify them after a game if they are shared in a firefight and/or redistributed after a consolidation of ammo after a attack.

Especially handy if you only want to get back mags that work in your gun (special brand , matched to receiver, etc.)

[Gato]

If done by a unit, it's usually a rack number so that they can easily tell who to give a rifle to instead of having to look through serial numbers on the rifles and match them to the individual who's supposed to get that rifle.

If done by individuals, it's not something I've seen a lot of outside of airsoft, at least with conventional units.

Some units have taken to putting the rack numbers inside the pistol grip of the C7s with a label maker. They seem to remain there pretty well due to the lack of stuff going in the pistol grip.

[daishi]

Does anyone have an accurate picture(s) of weapons with the markings on them? For the life of me I cant seem to find any google images for reference.

[chaz]