Dog Tag Dog Tags chains necklaces holders chain

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Necklace, Personnel Identification Tag
Dog Tag Chains
Dog Tag Holders

Genuine Issue - Official Regulation identification tag or dog tag necklace's are available for purchase thru our on-line catalog.

Please see our on-line catalog to purchase Genuine Issue regulation necklace's.

Necklace, Personnel Identification Tag

8460-00-261-6629

Dog Tag "chains"

NECKLACE, PERSONNEL IDENTIFICATION TAG

The necklace is the chain that military personnel use to wear their identification tags. One might ask why have a informational section dedicated to the necklace or chain? Is the necklace that important that we should spend our time writing about it? Well obviously the military thinks the chain is very important. The military thinks the chain is so important that they have issue a military specification dedicated solely to the necklace and it's construction.

Below is a short history of how we came to have a necklace issued with the identification tags. Initially dog tags were not issued with a chain.

Enclosed here are selected excerpts from the current military specification that governs the Necklace, Personnel, Identification Tag.

Necklace, Personnel, Identification Tag

A-A-55245
MIL-N-3019
MIL-N-3019C 1970
MIL-N-3019D 1982
MIL-N-3019E 1990
8460-00-261-6629
8460002616629

Abstract. The necklace is intended to be worn by military personnel to support two personnel identification tags.

Salient characteristics. The necklace shall be comprised of a main loop and extension loop, made up of chain. The chain shall be comprised of bead shaped and dumbbell shaped elements. The chain and splicing links shall be fabricated from corrosion resistant (stainless) steel. Each bead shaped element shall be Number 3 size, with 97 beads per foot and a tolerance of plus 3 beads, minus none. The overall length of the main loop chain including the splicing link shall be 27 inches, plus 1/4 inch, minus 0 inch. The overall length of the extension loop chain including the splicing link shall be 5-1/2 inches, plus 1/4 inch, minus 0 inch. One splicing link shall be used to join the ends of the main loop chain and one splicing link shall be used to join the ends of the extension loop chain. All parts of the necklace shall be freely rotatable and longitudinally movable relative to each other. The necklace shall be given a bright polished finish. The necklace does not include the identification tags shown in Figure 1.

1.1 Scope. This specification covers one type and size of necklace for personnel identification tags.

2.1.2 Other Government documents, drawings, and publications.

Drawings

4-1-486 Necklace, Personnel, Identification Tag

3.2 Materials and components.

3.2.1 Steel, corrosion-resistant. The steel shall conform to types 304, 305 or 316, condition annealed, hot-rolled or cold-rolled of ASTM-A 240.

3.3.1 Loop and extension. The main loop and extension loop shall be made of chain. The chain shall be composed of bead shaped and dumbbell shaped elements fabricated from steel specified in 3.2.1. There shall be not less than 7 nor more than 10 bead shaped elements in each inch of necklace length. All parts of the necklace shall be freely rotatable and longitudinally movable relative to each other.

3.3.1.1 Dimensions. The overall length of the main loop including the splicing link shall be 27 inches, plus 1/4 inch, minus 0 inch. The overall length of the extension loop including the splicing link shall be 5-1/2 inches, plus 1/4 inch, minus 0 inch.

3.3.2 Splicing links. The splicing links shall be fabricated from steel specified in 3.2.1 and shall conform to the details and dimensions of Drawing 4-1-486. One splicing link shall be used to join the ends of the main loop and one splicing link shall be used to join the ends of the extension loop.

3.4 Breaking strength. When tested as specified in 4.5.1. The main loop and the extension loop shall have a breaking strength of not less than 15 pounds and not greater than 32 pounds. The section of the loop tested shall include the splicing link.

3.5 Finish. The necklace shall be given a bright polished finish.

3.6 Marking. The contractor may place his identification on the splicing link provided there are no rough edges and the splicing link is not damaged or impaired.

4.5 Methods of inspection.

4.5.1 Breaking strength test. Two breaking strength determinations shall be made on each sample unit (one on the main loop and one on the extension loop). The testing machine shall consist of a means of supporting the chain; and a means for slowly and uniformly applying the load to the chain, and a means for determining the applied load. The chain material shall be inserted in the machine in such a manner that there are no kinks in the chain, that the supporting means and the load applying means do not damage or distort the beads, and that the chain section tested includes the splicing link. A load of 0 to 15 pounds shall be applied uniformly over a period of 1 minute. The load shall then be uniformly increased to determine the maximum breaking strength. If the chain breaks within three beads of the clamping device the test shall be disregarded and repeated. The results shall be reported for
each loop to the nearest 0.1 pound. Any result not falling within the limits specified in 3.4 shall be considered a test failure.

6.1 Intended use. The necklace is intended to be worn by military personnel to support, in a regulation manner, two personnel identification tags.

Click on the Photo to the Left to see a copy of the Government engineering drawing.

Official Drawing Title:
NECKLACE, PERSONNEL IDENTIFICATION

Reprints of this drawing are available for purchase in our catalog.

History shows that identification tags were not standardized in the United States military until the early part of WWII. Originally identification tags were issued but there was no standard method of wearing the tags around the neck. Some people used store purchased necklaces, other used store bought chains while some used just cotton cord similar to a shoe lace.

There have been documented accounts of the following items being used for Identification Tag necklaces or holders in the past.

Leather cord
Cotton cord
Rayon cord
Nylon cord
Chain

Rayon Identification Tag holders:

The company that supplied these Identification Tag holders supplied them in different colors and patterns for different branches of the military.

Below is a box that illustrates the branches of service that this company supplied.

Air Corps
Medical
Engineers
Artillery
Military Police
Quartermaster
Ordnance
Infantry
Armored
Tank Destroyer
Signal Corps
Chemical Warfare
Finance
Calvary
Officers
D.E.M.L.
Navy

These Identification Tag Holders were constructed of Rayon. Rayon was introduced in 1910 and was a predecessor of Nylon.

Rayon has the following characteristics:

Highly absorbent
Soft and comfortable
Easy to dye
Drapes well

To find out more about Rayon you can review a complete document on the subject at the following web site: http://www.fibersource.com/f-tutor/rayon.htm

These identification tag holders were aftermarket products that were usually purchased by service men and women themselves.

Below are some Examples of the Rayon Identification Tag Holders

The above is an "ORDNANCE" ID Tag Holder

The above is an "CALVARY" ID Tag Holder

The above is an "MEDICAL CORPS." ID Tag Holder

The above is an "SIGNAL BATTALION" ID Tag Holder

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[ Civil War Dog Tags ] [ WWI Dog Tags ] [ WWII Dog Tags ] [ "The Notch" ] [ Korean War Dog Tags ] [ Vietnam Dog Tags ] [ Current Issue Dog Tags ] [ Dog Tag Report 09/18/2004 ] [ Dog Tag Articles ] [ Radioactive ] [ Covers - Silencers ] [ Medical Alert Tag ] [ Dog Tag Necklace ] [ Emboss/Deboss ]