Every now and then I come across back-worn webbing equipment; such as small packs, MMG liner carriers, etc..., but with an extra strap and buckle. This extra strap and buckle is situated at the top of the various back-worn items, between the wide L-strap tabs. This small strap and buckle is usually about the same size as a standard 37patt strap/buckle like found on the front flap of a large-pack, or the slightly smaller size like on the front flap of a small-pack.
I've read on a "brit' webbing collector's" website, and also been told once, that this extra strap and buckle denotes it as a para' issued item, and the strap is to be threaded through the rear of the para' helmet as a final precaution to stop it flying off in decent. The small-packs are said to be desireable for re-enactors wanting to get a spot-on para' kit, and the MMG liners with this strap are supposed to be very rare - and I can well understand why!
Can anyone shed any light on this? Is what I've been told true or not?
A Proud Member Of 'Team Spleen!' who play mainly at Gunman Airsoft, Tuddenham, Suffolk.
Probably another example of a dealers myth trying to sell something slightly different(maybe post war or foreign)at a huge price just by adding the AIRBORNE SPECIFIC words 
On the other hand may well be true but ive never heard of or seen such a thing.
Ditto... 
But also I'd have thought that using such an attachment would make the chance of breaking your neck much higher!
That and the small pack was dropped in the drop cannisters for paras and attached to the hip for airlanding so its utter balls....
"I think we are in rats' alley - Where the dead men lost their bones."
All the items I've seen are Brit and war dated. About the whole increased chance of neck-snapping - I thought that too, would be bizzar! I myself do not own an item with one of these extra straps, but my dad does (a small pack) and I know where there are loads (abiet in a poor-ish condition) for quite cheap. I'll try and get pics' up next time I visit my parents.
A Proud Member Of 'Team Spleen!' who play mainly at Gunman Airsoft, Tuddenham, Suffolk.
Is it possible its just to make it easier to secure them to vehicle with a utility strap?
I've just been looking at packing diagrams for drop cannisters (rock and roll eh?) and they definatley carried small packs and rifles in them.
"I think we are in rats' alley - Where the dead men lost their bones."
Theres a lot of mention in SAS books about the small pack being used like a US musette....long strap to go over shoulder obv! That wud save lugging loads of kit around in a bergen. They were also used as escape packs...kept handy in the jeep in case they got bumped.
Every now and then I come across back-worn webbing equipment; such as small packs, MMG liner carriers, etc..., but with an extra strap and buckle. This extra strap and buckle is situated at the top of the various back-worn items, between the wide L-strap tabs. This small strap and buckle is usually about the same size as a standard 37patt strap/buckle like found on the front flap of a large-pack, or the slightly smaller size like on the front flap of a small-pack.
Interesting. I don't believe I've ever seen this. If you can get those photos it'd be great.
On further musing (but difficult without a pic) i have two theories and both scream post war mod. (like the helve retainer on e-tool covers)
First theory is if this buckle and strap are vertical then it may be to store rolled items liek gas capes, groundsheets or blankets.
If its horizontal than its incredibly likely its post war mod to retain a shovel.
Combat experience showed the e-tool to be next to useless so the section carried seven picks and spades between them... these were normally put between back and small pack.
"I think we are in rats' alley - Where the dead men lost their bones."
