Latest Acquisitions

I really like the look of Italian North African kit, especially the mix of grigio verde puttees and tan breeches.

I've heard that the Carcano wasn't that bad of a rifle, just average. I suppose it was bad when compared with the Lee Enfield and the Mauser though.

Are early war games like King Zog an annual thing? I ask as all this talk of French uniform has got me wanting to start a French or Foreign Legion impression.

When I was chatting to Craig at the last game he mentioned that there would be one annually and hopefully 2 this year!

I love the North Africa kit, like you say the mix of green gray and the sand, of course topped off with the pith helmet ala cockerel feathers, looks great.

As for the carcano, it wasn't bad at all, it had a manlicher action which worked well, but with the m38 they introduced a different calibre and fix sight that were too far for the bersaglieri to use as they get close and personal.
Also ammunition manufacture was appalling, different quality of metals and different grains of cordite per round so the rounds either went over the targets head or dropped on front of them.

Yeah I've heard about the quality of Italian ammunition manufacture, or rather lack of...

Would love for an early war Italian vs British/Commonwealth NA game, such a brilliant mix of uniforms and weapons.

Afrika korp all the way

Ah but the uniform isn't as stylish as the Italians, still very nice though. Quite like the look of the faded tropical uniform, Steiner's looked brilliant at Kasserine last year.

We could do the Italian invasion of Egypt, that would be immense! Or later on and we could even mix unifroms with over run supplys, seen a few pics of Italians in KD

Italian invasion of Egypt would be amazing, the Italian uniforms aren't too expensive either. I think North African kit on all sides looks brilliant.

1941 when the afrika korp gave the Italians a much needed helping hand would be a great

Replacement Luftwaffe buckle, K98 cleaning rod, breadbag strap, helmet cover and a few other bits and bobs from epic. Think I might get my Fallschrimjager kit out for a bit this weekend.

Gaiters and a frame from dickeunderwood ready for the st alfie game

bazzooka now just need to get me some tag rounds

now just need to get me some tag rounds

Let me know if you find anywhere cheap to get them from !

My British Battle Jerkin from Khaki on Parade arrived today. Love it and am looking forward to getting some good use out of it at Nordwind. Gave it a go in the garden and I'm thinking it'll be my go-to, post D-day webbing for non airborne skirmish day kit.

Finding hard to find information on how long these were used. I know they weren't common to begin with and it seems the Canadians were issued a lot of them for D-day. Does anyone know how long after D-day they were used, by the standard infantry (not commandos), for? I'd love to get as much use out of it as possible but if there'd be none still in use by the end if the war I'd feel like a fraud wearing it over the 37 pattern webbing for some games.

EDIT: I've come across some anecdotal evidence that these vests were still being used by 1945 in holland by the Canadians near wars end.-- attachment is not available --

Nice! I noticed Epic Militaria do the Bren vests for £34.99 if it's of any interest (if you don't have one already)?

Linky link:
http://www.epicmilitaria.com/ww2-britis ... acket.html

Thanks Moss! I've actually got one of those already for my Italian theatre commando loadout, though I admit I paid a lot more for it as it came from the US.

I might put it up for sale now I've got the full vest. They're nice bits of kit though the toggle's on the pouches were quote hard to use in the heat of (airsoft) battle.

Another gp ammo bag, and another pile of shotgun mags to convert for my Garand.

From Stoneleigh on Sunday:

Brit' 1938 dated Type F MkI (ali' bodied version) Field Telephone, missing it's handset - £5
Brit' MkV cable reel, half full of period D3 cable, told it has never left France until being brought over to Stoneligh this weekend - £30
Brit' wireless set manpack shoulder straps, economy pattern (look like a set of L-straps), matching pair and no wear/unissued, from the same French seller as the cable reel - £10
Brit' frame-mount leather tool pouch for MkIII/MkIV/MkV infantry cycle, seemingly unissued but straps cracked from becoming dry - £20
Brit' Snow gloves, matching 1940 dated pair, unissued but storage marked/dirt - £5

From Panther Store (ordered just before they put their prices up!):

Smock, Suit, Drab
Smock, Suit, Snow
Trousers, Suit, Snow
20x brass BD buttons

Oh, nearly forgot....

From eBay this lunchtime - I had just clicked on 'militaria' sub category for a general browse before typing in specific search terms... ...when I saw, with just 8 mins to go, a tatty "leather jurkin(sic)" for staring price of 0.99p, 1 bid. One last seconds snipe bid later, I'd got myself a WW2 British leather jerkin in need of some love for £2.37 (£6.87 including postage)!!!

Got my Japanese entrenching tool through the post today.-- attachment is not available ---- attachment is not available --