tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post1145900396460643893..comments2024-03-29T07:25:04.687-04:00Comments on SleuthSayers: More Black MarketLeigh Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-59857368637657102602014-08-09T09:45:57.294-04:002014-08-09T09:45:57.294-04:00As usual, R.T., so very informative and interestin...As usual, R.T., so very informative and interesting. Thanks for this.David Deanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13005457506363262838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-65198318519505755592014-08-08T10:07:53.475-04:002014-08-08T10:07:53.475-04:00R.T., thanks very much for the plug. In re Viet N...R.T., thanks very much for the plug. In re Viet Nam, there were big differences in the economies of scale, selling off smokes or Class VI liquor at the low end, and the enormous kickback schemes run by senior NCO's in the PX system - a protection racket, in effect - not to mention the traffic in China White. A good piece.David Edgerley Gateshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05302818835018859164noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-46001023766307105542014-08-08T08:35:42.045-04:002014-08-08T08:35:42.045-04:00Interesting piece. Of course, black markets have t...Interesting piece. Of course, black markets have two sides. One is cheating the overall society; the other, in times of war, occupation and repression, may represent a potential life line.janice lawnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-75311500109018172752014-08-08T07:46:48.113-04:002014-08-08T07:46:48.113-04:00Your article reminded me of a girlfriend who had b...Your article reminded me of a girlfriend who had been intimate with the Youngstown Mafia, a story that may never get told. But your paragraph on counterfeits struck a chord. Counterfeit items aren’t always consumer goods and can be mundane. In the 1970s, the US and Canada had problems with counterfeit bolts.<br><br>Bolts are tested for tensile strength and ISO strength ratings are forged or stamped in the heads of bolts, screws, and rivets, commonly a number or small radiating lines. One of the lowest rated, grade 2, typically carries no markings at all. Some overseas genius figured out he could stamp low grade bolts as grade 8, which are supposed to be more than twice as strong and might be critically used in fighter jet engines. Thus the Air Force reportedly became involved in testing not-so-simple bolts.<br><br>See <a href="http://www.boltdepot.com/fastener-information/materials-and-grades/bolt-grade-chart.aspx" rel="nofollow">this page for bolt head markings</a>.Leigh Lundinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-17646424595557241342014-08-08T07:04:37.961-04:002014-08-08T07:04:37.961-04:00R.T., interesting column that provides an idea for...R.T., interesting column that provides an idea for a short story that I'll begin as soon as I click on "publish your comment." Thanks.Fran Rizerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08655783035179620991noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-4230150047426313552014-08-08T01:35:00.545-04:002014-08-08T01:35:00.545-04:00Nice piece, RT. I immediately thought of Milo Mind...Nice piece, RT. I immediately thought of Milo Minderbinder in Catch 22, and his selling of the squadron's parachutes!Stephen Rosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05594368159220033291noreply@blogger.com