I've been wanting to buy a new pair of shades and have found a style I like. While visiting the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington I took a huge liking to the sunglasses worn by the guards. Can anyone advise a good source for military sunglasses? And exactly what style the Army guys from the honor guard wear?

Are these the ones?

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It’s Fudd-Daddy to you.

The lenses on those are bigger than the ones I was issued when flying (maybe, after looking at an old set they may be the same). If I were you I would look at what Ray-Ban has to offer, I would bet you will find them there.

The one thing I did not like about that style of glasses was the arms were not behind the ear type, they are just straight arms and would often want to fall off at the most inopportune time.

Here is what I am sure is just one of the many places that sell these glasses.

http://www.duluthtrading.com/96859.a...HP1&shop=gbase

bob

I like RayBan's but i don't think they are government issue anymore.At 100 bucks plus you have to remember that you have them on and don't set them down and forget them.
If you just want the look check out American Optics at about 40 bucks.
Another brand that comes to mind is Randolf.
I can't say if they are as good as 'Bans but........

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Dum vivo cano

I think you're lookingfor Rayban Caravans.


Okie John

I was issues two different types of sunglasses while in the Army. The most common style was simple the brown plastic glasses frames with tinted prescription lenses. The last pair I receives was the aviation style like in you picture. My understanding is that the straight ear piece was to make them easier to take off with a helmet on.

I have always preferred Bushnell to RayBans, but they don't make them anymore. You can find lots of glasses on ebay. There are lots and lots of fake RayBans. If you do a search, there are pages that tell you how to tell the fakes from the real.

I believe the ones the guards you mentioned wear have what are called bayonet style ear pieces.

Randolf claims to have the contract since '82.If you look at sigp220's pic notice the thickness of the arms,Probably Randolf's.The RayBans are very thin and wire like.When I was in the Army in the early '80s I think the Randolf's were issued.If you had some extra bucks you bought RayBan's and nobody ever said they weren't allowed.I was an airframe mech. and hung out with mostly other guys from the airfield.Most of us wore our own RayBans.But I was wearing them since I was about 11 or 12.My Grandfather worked for PanAM. and could get them pretty cheep.

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Dum vivo cano

There's an approved list of military sunglasses for actual deployments and such. These days they have to meet fragmentation and UV specs that are quite stringent. Other times they are unit purchase items. Like most of the Honor Guard stuff, things are more for the look and to go well with the uniform than to necessarily be practical.

For years American Optics was the supplier of sun glasses for the Air Force flight crews. Still good solid optics at an reasonable price. I do prefer the Bosch and Lomb Ray-Bans.

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Always Stay Strong!

+1

I can't remember ever seeing any of our Sand Box guys sporting RayBan's.

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Dum vivo cano

The Ray Ban "Shooters" were always my favorites. They set up a little higher on you face so when you shoot a rifle or shotgun it does not hit your glasses. Also you can see through them when shooting prone...

They are heavy.

Now I wear either Zeiss, with my shooting prescription lenses, or Oakley's.

Since I am right handed, and left eye dominate, I have the right lens set up for Service and Long Range rifle shooting, and the left lens set up for handgun shooting....

My "glasses guy" is a rifle competitor, and had me bring my rifles and handgun to his office for the "fitting"...

Sig's pic is what I am thinking of. Thanks to all for your input, I got a lot more to go on now.

In the early 70s the issue pilot glasses were that style. They were supplied by American Optical IIRC..

The lenses were neutral, not green tinted to not cause color shift to vision.

The sunglasses the guard wears are made by Randolph Engineering. They're the successor to the Old American Optical. The particular glasses used to be the "Skymaster". They were the standard, along the the Rayban "Aviator" for "flight" sunglasses.

The "Aviator" comes in two sizes, and with at least two different temples, bayonet and bent.

Randolph Engineering also makes some of the best shooting glasses around. Here's a link to their site.

Randolph Engineering :: Sunglasses and Shooting Eyewear

A lot of guys are wearing Oakley's now because they are made to the UV resistant and impact resistant specs that are required. If you are military, police, fire etc. check out U.S. Standard Issue (just do a Google search). You can get an account using your service ID. They don't handle sales to the general public but they offer some great products.

+1 on not losing expensive glasses! I bought a pair of Bay Ban Shooting Glasses in 1962 and paid $20 - a fortune for me at the time. I wore them as everyday sun glasses for years and never misplaced them even though I had the frames replaced once and the case a couple of times. Guess I didn't want to have to buy another pair, and they are still in my range box.

I went on American Optics sight and guess what I found.............
They sell Smith&Wesson wrap around style shades.

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Dum vivo cano

My catalogue lists them as RayBan "Asskickers"

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

If you look at the mannequin next to the guards quarters you will notice that the guard is wearing oakleys. After doing some research I believe they are either 1 of 3, the square wires, the whiskers, or the tapers. just go to oakleys website Oakley Active Sunglasses for Men | Official Oakley Online Store and you can check out the different styles there.

I haven't visited Arlington for quite a few years, but when I was there and subsequent photos show the "Old Guard" soldiers wearing these:AVIATOR ? Randolph Online Store They are the same as the American Optical brand Army flight crew sunglasses issued in the late 1960's.

They are apparently special sunglasses formed to their faces, to prevent eye damage from the sun reflecting of the marble surrounding the Tomb.

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Back to back World War Champs.

These are the ones I prefer to wear: American Optical Original Pilot glasses.
Amazon.com: american optical original pilot

I like the smaller 52mm lenses, bayonet temples, in gold with tan lenses. Randolph Engineering makes the same glasses, but they are now close to double the price. The bayonet temples work well with a motorcycle helmet. These glasses from both manufacturers used to be available from a local PX for about $30.

I used to like the Ray Ban shooting glasses, especially after seeing Battle of Algiers, but they don't work for me on a motorcycle because they create air currents that make my eyes water.

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Not in jail.