Arguably one of the best films to come out of the Cold War, 1984's "Red Dawn" depicts a fictional World War III centering on a invasion of the United States by an alliance of Soviet, Warsaw Pact, and Latin American states. The film follows a group of teenage guerillas known as the Wolverines in Soviet-occupied Colorado, and stars Patrick Swayze, Charlie Sheen, C. Thomas Howell, Lea Thompson and Jennifer Grey.
And this was the watch - a full-serviced early 1980s Hamilton MIL-W-46374B mechanical - the USMIL would have been wearing at the time.
The Hamilton 46374B features both 12 and 24 hour markers and on its dial and a rather Cold War-esque radioactive symbol, indicating the luminous markers are radioactive (luminosity provided by a safe H3 tritium coating).
The “B” version of the 46374 made its U.S. military debut in May 1975, and was produced through April 1983. No fancy buttons or bezels. Just a very simple and reliable watch that does what it is specified to do – tell time on the battlefield. Since the watch was first worn, it has been an information tool, giving its wearer some piece of intelligence otherwise not known.
Perhaps nowhere is that truer or better realized than in the military watch. Almost as long as watches have existed, governments and military's have been buying and issuing timepieces to be used in nearly every military scenario imaginable.
These 46374B USMIL-issued watches have held up quite well, especially for collectors who like to wear their watches. Strictly utilitarian, these watches have served as functional instruments, designed to give their wearers specific and accurate information in environments not often encountered by civilian watches.
This watch comes on an olive green nylon strap, with a second nylon Velcro "NASA" strap, rugged travel case, and springbar tool.
1982 USMIL-Issued Hamilton MIL-W-46374B Mechanical Watch
DIAL: Unsigned Hamilton dial, which features a rather iconic Cold War radiation symbol, with matching hands that feature tritium (H3) lume (hence the radiation icon) that glow brightly. Excellently-aged uniform patina on the dial indices and hands.
CASE: Bead-blasted, to a fantastic matte color, anti-reflective stainless-steel case measures 34mm (35.5mm w/crown) x 40.5mm. As with most 46374 watches, this one features fixed springbars (these can be removed, if buyer prefers, in favor of more traditional ones). Case back reflects a September 1982 USMIL issuance.
CRYSTAL: Domed acrylic crystal, no deep scratches or cracks.
BAND: This 46374B comes on an olive green nylon strap; it also comes with a black and dark green nylon and Velcro "NASA" strap.
MOVEMENT: Seven-jewel Hamilton 466 S.T. CO. manual wind mechanical movement, non-hacking. We have performed a full service on this USMIL-issued 46374B.
CROWN: Unsigned stainless-steel crown.