Advice for beginner !

It's amazing to me that this stuff keeps turning up.

I'm in my sewing period !! (great.... )

The 82nd SSI and AB cargo pockets are about to come and I was wondering who you had to sew all that on M43 uniform.

For the 82nd AB SSI, I read that it should be sawn a half an inch below the shoulder stitching (left sleeve). As for ranks (tech 5) should it be in middle between the shoulder and the elbow ?

Where do you have to saw the cargo pockets (what height ?) ? and the leg ties ??

Thanks chaps !

Pat, I'm sure Ben posted something about the pockets some time ago??

Well I've used the search thing on the forum but the only thing that came out is a topic where Paul had found £10 WWII imp pockets for sale !! didn't find much on the WWII Forum (wayyy too many results). To what I've figured out with pictures, pockets seem to be placed a bit below the middle between the knee and the hip.
As for ranks, some are sawn about an inch under the 82nd SSI whereas some a placed in the middle of the arm

Hi Pat,

The placement of rank chevrons is a difficult one to describe, but in general the rule which was employed was that the chevrons were to be centred between the shoulder and elbow. Please see the illustration at bottom right:



As for the position of the cargo pockets on the M43 Trousers (I assume), my original pair measures 3 1/2" from the bottom of the slash pocket on the M43 Trousers. Here are a few shots to show position and stitching of the pockets. They're a bit difficult to make clear because the mannequin is seated and has equipment on...







Hope this helps, Pat!

Regards,
Ben.

Thanks a lot Ben !! That's excatly what I was looking for. I had found somewhere the drawing about where to put the various insignia but i didn't know if theses rules were respected.

Cheers

PAt

Hi

Just had a few question about HBT's. For the vest did the soldiers take off the gas flap or did they leave it on ? (just asking because it a bi bothering).
As for T/5 stripes, what is the proportion between the soldiers that sewed some one, the ones that painted them and the ones that didn't put anything ?

Thanks folks !

Pat

Pat wrote:Hi

Just had a few question about HBT's. For the vest did the soldiers take off the gas flap or did they leave it on ? (just asking because it a bi bothering).
As for T/5 stripes, what is the proportion between the soldiers that sewed some one, the ones that painted them and the ones that didn't put anything ?

Thanks folks !

Pat

Nobody can answer ??

I finally identified the M1 pot I have. It's a Schlueter (found the stamped S) with heat stamp number 230 (it doesn't seem that other numbers are stamped next to the heat stamp). It's front seamed and has swiwel bails, but these aren't soldered the same place on each side (one is put a bit on the steal rim). There are some remains of the original texture but it has been repainted (several coats) and I can't say when it was done.

Could this pot have been fixed and have its fixed bails replaced with swiwel ones ??

Thanks

Pat

There are certainly swivel bailed helmets that were originally fixed bail about. I had a swivel bail that I restored a few years ago, and after removing the swivel bails, and cleaning the area around them up before having the fixed bails welded on, there were the original spot weld remnants from where the fixed bails had been fitted. Perhaps I should have had my suspisions it may have been a fixed bail with it having an early heat stamp

Cheers,
Chris.

Thanks Chris !!

Will bring it along next time i attend an event to have your opinions about it

Pat

Hi !

I'm currently finding some good deals in the States for webbing and uniforms (hope to get pistol belt, carbine pouches and M6 gas mask bag for Xmas !). I have two questions :

- I found two M6 bags at good price : one is OD3, in good shape (but missing the bottom straps as usual) and the other one is OD 7 and minty. Price is not really a factor but I'd like to get one I could use for most impressions. I recall that the OD7 ones were quite often seen in Normandy and later on but what I'm looking for is when there were widely used in the army ! The rest of my webbing will be OD3 (except maybe the M43 E tool cover, haven't found an affordable OD3-transitionnal one. Might go for a good first type OD7 one).

- My second question is concerning fighting knives : according to the 90th IDPG study about carbines in Normandy (and probably true for later war), around half of the soldiers bearing a carbine had an M3 knife. Since originals are selling for silly money and i'm not too willing to use a good repro for displays (i have repro webbing for battles and bayonet is useless in battles ^^) : what other options do I have ? either don't carry any knife or get a vintage PX purchase knife (apparently common to some extent). In that case I'm looking at a PAL 36 RH that appears common among troops. I just fear it won't fit the pistol belt. Other solution is to carry it on the pants belt. Well all in all, what advice can you give me for knives ?

Here a pic of a PAL 36 RH



Many thanks folks !!

PX Pat

Hi guys !

Just a quick question that shouldn't be too hard !

Were bandoleers only used to carry .30-06 ammo in 8 round clips ? were they issued with 2 x 5 round stripper clips per pouch ?

Finally were they issued with .30 carbine ammo in 15 round mags ?

I've got an empty bandoleer and just wanted to know the options I had to fill it !

Cheers

PX Pat

I don't believe that carbine ammunition was issued ready loaded in magazines. I know that it was packed in stripper clips in bandoliers post war, but I don't think this was done during the war.

The original ammo that I have came in boxes like this: http://www.dk-arms.com/ammunition-39/skyde-brugs-ammunition-50/us-karabin-ammunition-kal-30-1023.html

Joe, we have moved! http://44-45.co.uk/forums/.

Cheers Murph, just waiting for my profile to be activated.

Joe