Martin Acoustic Guitars - 1935 0-17 "Black Cat" - Tank Destroyer

This 1935 0-17 is a fantastic example of Martin's single-0 mahogany guitar, and as it turns out celebrates a part of US Army World War II history. When we first encountered this 0-17 we all thought the hand painted artwork on the top was the sort of whimsical folk art that we see from time to time on vintage guitars. Isaiah from our repair shop, however, continued to be curious about the design and while researching online eventually made a discovery that unlocked it for all of us. The artwork on this vintage Martin is actually the insignia for the Tank Destroyer units of the US Army during World War II.  Once we saw the patch online we all realized that Isaiah had cracked it, and that what we had always seen as paws, where actually the tank treads in the cat's mouth. We sourced a replica unit patch online and are including it with the guitar, as it really brings home that the designs are the one in the same (see photos). The Tank Destroyer units were activated in 1941 and served throu