FINALLY got around to getting a German Gas mask can. Smells funny inside o_o
Gas maybe? 
FINALLY got around to getting a German Gas mask can. Smells funny inside o_o
Gas maybe?
More likely to be the odour of a 65 year old Bierschinken, as a gas mask was the least likely thing to be found in there! 
FINALLY got around to getting a German Gas mask can. Smells funny inside o_o
Might be the asbestos residue from the filter. You may find out in 20-30 years !
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Meine Ehre Heißt Treue
SS-Rottenführer Kotzur
Zweite Kampfgruppe
I. SS Pz. Div. Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler
...so its either some beer OR I'll get Asbestositis. YAY!
Also I got a Torch for Freshman but it didn't work. First the bulb blew and the batteries are hard to find so I'm rewiring mine to use 3 AA batteries using a PCB Battery bay and some funky wiring! 
Plus I got the filter slides working with some good ol' WD-40!
Most of the remaining bits I need for my Home Guard impression + a GS cap as the final bit for my Hallamshire impression.
Some of the HG bits were in the SOF sale as used/seconds, £35 for the bag, 2 x pouches and the leather anklets, the only thing I need to do is fit a buckle on the bag and new fastners on the pouches , there's nothing wrong with the anklets as far as I can see 
at normal SOF prices they would have cost me £90
1940 dated 39 pattern shovel and carrier... very happy!
I've been looking for one of those too! Where'd you bag it from?
In other shovel related news, I've just made two repro' infantry spades for usable display use (i.e: for digging sleeping pits and entrenchments with period looking gear, without scratching up or denting an original item)
I'm sure I saw some in Sabre Sales when I went there at Freshman. In their 'webbing room' on the right as you go in. Didn't pay them much attention as not what I was looking for. I think they even have had covers on some of them.
1940 dated 39 pattern shovel and carrier... very happy!
I've been looking for one of those too! Where'd you bag it from?
In other shovel related news, I've just made two repro' infantry spades for usable display use (i.e: for digging sleeping pits and entrenchments with period looking gear, without scratching up or denting an original item)
I'm sure I saw some in Sabre Sales when I went there at Freshman. In their 'webbing room' on the right as you go in. Didn't pay them much attention as not what I was looking for. I think they even have had covers on some of them.
I saw them and bought one. They're post-war Belgian, and are a copy of WW2 German style pattern/type, except not skeleton and made out of web material instead of leather.
A Proud Member Of 'Team Spleen!' who play mainly at Gunman Airsoft, Tuddenham, Suffolk.
Actually I thought the ones in Sabre were the folding type? They have the right handle, but the rest is wrong.
I saw them and bought one. They're post-war Belgian, and are a copy of WW2 German style pattern/type, except not skeleton and made out of web material instead of leather.
Actually I thought the ones in Sabre were the folding type? They have the right handle, but the rest is wrong.
Sorry, I misunderstood. I was talking about the 39patt spade carriers. 
I didn't see any spades when I went.
A Proud Member Of 'Team Spleen!' who play mainly at Gunman Airsoft, Tuddenham, Suffolk.
Ah, the webbing "39 pattern carriers" at Sabre are actually Israeli ones (I think). Anyway they are actually far too small for the 39 pattern spade. I got one myself a while ago and from studying photos I suspected this to be the case. However now I have a real British one I know it is certain.
Oh it's original. 
It was suggested to me that someone made repros, but I can't for the life of me remember who!
I had considered trying to make a repro myself actually... especially now I have an original to copy.
Skipper! Yes that's sorted it...
Schipperfabrik
http://www.schipperfabrik.com/ww2_british.html
2nd from the bottom and it looks right.
British Ammo Boots
Unblancoed Anklets
Mk3 Helmet
bags for the Mess tin/KFS
Small Pack - with brass fittings rather than my terribly farby steel (or grey metal at least) ones
House Wife thingy
and a spike bayonet...
I think I have just about got what I need now
Oh and a MkII helmet that I can put a nice yellow eagle on, but I don't really need that.
Small Pack - with brass fittings rather than my terribly farby steel (or grey metal at least) ones
There's nowt wrong with austerity gunmetal; it is period and perfectly 'fitting'.
It's only '50s black painted steel you've got to avoid
A Proud Member Of 'Team Spleen!' who play mainly at Gunman Airsoft, Tuddenham, Suffolk.
Small Pack - with brass fittings rather than my terribly farby steel (or grey metal at least) ones
There's nowt wrong with austerity gunmetal; it is period and perfectly 'fitting'.
It's only '50s black painted steel you've got to avoid
really? (yes! that means I don't have to blanco it and can keep it for the desert-y impression (oh and that was always plan b... it is nice to have a plan b))
Small Pack - with brass fittings rather than my terribly farby steel (or grey metal at least) ones
There's nowt wrong with austerity gunmetal; it is period and perfectly 'fitting'.
It's only '50s black painted steel you've got to avoidreally? (yes! that means I don't have to blanco it and can keep it for the desert-y impression
I've got two un-issued small packs (and I got a third one for rashBAWSS) that are mostly brass fittings, but with the odd few gunmetal fittings, due to the change over period. You usually also find austerity era items with strap end caps (i.e: the brass buckle tabs and the L-strap attachments straps) not fitted to save on metal consumption. Buckles on anklets, field telephone stap end and buckles, etc... were also made in gunmetal. Gunmetal wasn't used on the 2" web belts and rifle slings though, these stayed brass - probably due to those items also being needed/manufactured for parade use. 1943 was the gunmetal austerity changeover date (most items with part or fully made with gunmetal fittings are dated '43!), but brass came back into full use late '44.
A Proud Member Of 'Team Spleen!' who play mainly at Gunman Airsoft, Tuddenham, Suffolk.
You usually also find austerity era items with strap end caps (i.e: the brass buckle tabs and the L-strap attachments straps) not fitted to save on metal consumption.
Like these?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/WWII-37-Pattern-1 ... 439ddeaa1c
You usually also find austerity era items with strap end caps (i.e: the brass buckle tabs and the L-strap attachments straps) not fitted to save on metal consumption.
Like these?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/WWII-37-Pattern-1 ... 439ddeaa1c
Yup, like those, but the 2" (L-strap) and 3/4" (small pack tab) versions.
The 1" version (as shown in your link) was always fitted, be it brass or gunmetal.
A Proud Member Of 'Team Spleen!' who play mainly at Gunman Airsoft, Tuddenham, Suffolk.
Mags batteries and scope rail for my M14, and a massive swiss arms bag to fit it in.
Repro '40 patt. BD blouse (Spearhead). Very comfy, but it smells like napthalene 
Friends meet to part - love laughs at faith;
True foes, once met, are joined 'til death!
