WW2 Pacific USMC Picture Frame?

[Greeneman215]

I picked this up at a thrift store for $4.00 today.
Has anyone seen anything like it before.
It has the USMC symbol, some dragons, and some Japanese Temples.
I took it apart and the bullets look like real casings, the insides were brass.
The back looks like it's a mirror and it has a sliding piece on top.
No Mark on it anywhere.
There was a magazine ad in between the two pieces of glass from 1956.
It seems to well made to be trench art, but could it be?
Thanks!

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

A History of Mining on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska - Grab it through Amazon!

[jewelerguy]

I believe it's post WW2. Possibly from when US Marines served a tour in Tsingtao China 1945-1949

 

[nhbenz]

I'd have guessed it to be VietNam era, bought by a Marine on R&R. How far apart can it be taken? Is there's any chance of reading a headstamp from one of the bullets, which may have a date on it?

 

[Retired Fire]

.308? Sniper?
very cool

 

[cammobunker]

I would guess that to be from Japan (Okinawa? Yeah, I'd bet Okinawa) probably 1950's-1960's time frame. Such items were very popular with Gyrenes at this time to send home to loved ones. Those are dummy .50 cal shells on the edges. The Marines have two large bases in Japan, Camp Hansen/MCB Smedley Butler on Okinawa, and MCAS Iwakuni, Japan. Many, many Marines went through Camp Hansen on the way to Vietnam. This kind of "Gungy" Souvenir was a common bring back from the late 40's to the 80's.
This looks nicely made, and would probably bring more than a few buck on the 'bay.

 

[Greeneman215]

Thank you all very much for your informative help! Aaron