Retirement and Change of Command Gifts That Actually Get Displayed

Walk into the office of anyone who has retired from the military and look at the walls. Most of the plaques from the farewell dinner are in a box in the garage. The things still on display are the ones that meant something: a framed flag, a photo of the old crew, and very often a round from the weapon system they spent a career with.

We have built retirement and change of command gifts for batteries, battalions, mortar platoons, tank companies and museums since 2018. Here is what we have learned about picking one that ends up on the shelf instead of in the garage.

What makes a good retirement or change of command gift

It ties back to their branch and their job

A generic eagle statue could go to anyone. A 105mm M1 shell goes to an artilleryman. An M829A1 sabot round goes to a tanker. An 81mm round goes to a mortarman. When the gift matches the job, it tells the honoree that the people giving it knew what they did and respected it.

It looks right

Veterans can spot a bad replica from across the room. Our rounds are life-size, printed in our shop, then hand-painted and stenciled in the correct ammunition markings, so the person who handled the real thing nods instead of winces. Each one is a 100% inert plastic display replica: no metal, nothing live, welcome in a headquarters building or a civilian office.

It fits the space

Think about where it will live. A 105mm round at about 18 inches tall suits a desk or bookshelf. A 155mm at 27 inches or a complete 120mm tank round is a floor or credenza piece. Big is impressive at the ceremony, but the right size is the one that gets displayed.

It is personal

Names, dates, unit and a line the honoree will recognize. That is what turns a nice replica into their replica.

Personalize it: stencil, base and placard

Three add-ons turn a replica into an award:

• Custom stencil. We cut a stencil and paint your wording on the round in military stencil lettering: name, dates of service, unit, battery motto. Text only is $25; a unit crest or logo cut as a stencil is $40. Available on our 60mm, 81mm and 120mm mortars, the 105mm M1 and 155mm rounds. Custom Stencil Add-on →
• Trophy base. A caliber-matched base and adapter that holds the round upright on a desk or shelf. Trophy Base with Adapter →
• Engraved placard. A laser-engraved two-tone placard, gold and black or silver and black, that mounts on the front of the base. Text only $30, with your logo $50. Engraved Two-Tone Placard →

Want it all in one listing? Our custom 120mm mortar comes complete with a trophy base and a laser-etched placard with your artwork and text. Custom 120mm Mortar with Base and Placard, $140 →

Type your wording in the box when you add the add-on to your cart, and email artwork to info@redleg3d.com. If anything is unclear, we email a proof before we paint.

Our picks by branch

Field Artillery

The classic is the 105mm M1 whiskey stash, which holds a fifth and has more five-star reviews than anything else we make. 105mm M1 Whiskey Stash, $85 → For a battalion-level farewell, the 27-inch 155mm is the centerpiece, with a hidden compartment for a lowball glass. 155mm D544 Whiskey Stash, $200 → More in our guide Gifts for Artillerymen.

Mortarmen

Mortar sections are tight-knit and they remember. The 81mm is a desk-sized favorite, and the 120mm doubles as a whiskey stash or a coin bank. 81mm M374 Mortar, $75 → 120mm Mortar Stash or Piggy Bank, from $75 →

Tankers

For the Abrams crew, nothing beats the 120mm M829A1 "Silver Bullet" sabot round, life-size and complete. For a smaller budget, the 105mm M833 sabot hides a bottle, and the Sherman 75mm M48 suits the WWII armor fan. 120mm M829A1 Round, $350 → 105mm M833 Sabot Stash, $75 → See the full list in Gifts for Tankers.

Navy

Retiring sailors have a home here too: the 5-inch/38 projectile is a whiskey stash that holds a one-litre bottle. 5in MK 35 Projectile, $175 →

Everything we recommend for these occasions is in one place: Retirement and Change of Command Gifts.

Group gifts from the battery or battalion

Most of these gifts are bought by a group, so a few tips from the orders we have filled. Pick one person to collect the money and place the order, so the wording and the ship-to address come from one place. Get the stencil and placard text approved by the senior person in the group before you order; it is much easier to fix a typo in an email than on a painted round. And if the budget is generous, put it toward a bigger round with full personalization rather than several small items. One centerpiece gets displayed; a pile of small things gets boxed.

Lead times

Order by December 15 for Christmas delivery on our most popular rounds (105mm, 155mm, 75mm and Bofors). Specialty, oversize and custom pieces: order by November 24.

Every round is made to order and painted by hand, so most ship in 5 to 20 business days, and custom stencils add a few days. Ceremonies have fixed dates: order early and email info@redleg3d.com with the ceremony date so we can plan the build around it. Most US orders over $125 ship free; oversize rounds such as the full-size 155mm and complete 120mm tank rounds ship at a flat rate.

FAQ

Is it real?

No. Every piece is a 100% inert plastic display replica, 3D printed and hand-painted. There is no metal, no explosive and nothing that functions. It is a display piece, safe for any office.

Will it ship by Christmas?

Order by December 15 for the 105mm, 155mm, 75mm and Bofors rounds, and by November 24 for specialty, oversize and custom pieces. For a ceremony date, email us when you order.

Can it be personalized?

Yes. Add a custom stencil (text or artwork) to a mortar, 105mm M1 or 155mm round, then a trophy base and an engraved placard with the honoree's name, dates and unit.

Does it hold a bottle?

Our whiskey stash rounds do. They unscrew to hide a bottle; the 105mm M1 holds a fifth, and HideyHole versions add a compartment for a lowball glass. Each listing says what it holds.