How much were these actually used? Most seam to be in very good condition. Thank you.
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How much were these actually used? Most seam to be in very good condition. Thank you.
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I think the fact that they all seem or appear to be new and unissued speaks volumes. I personally don't think that they were used generally. The Sten gun magazine was designed to be as long as it is (9.5") so that it would fit into the 37 pattern ammo pouches. You could probably get 10 magazines into two pouches so quite why there'd be a need for a bandolier type of mag pouch is anyones guess. As I said. No doubt they WERE available for issue but I never saw them and I was an Armourer during the last days of Sten guns - and 37 pattern webbing. Pouches, yes, Sten magazine bandoliers, no!
But they are still a nice acessory!:D
And pretty uncommon over here in the USA.
Thank you, that's what I thought.
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There is photographic evidence of the Sten bandoleers being used by members of the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion during the war. Jumpers needed to carry a lot of kit and the basic pouches would have been full of other gear leaving no room for the Sten mags. I've never seen photos of anyone other then paratroopers using the bandoleers.
Thank you infanteer, can you post any pictures? I'd be interested in seeing them. Thanks
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I was a paratrooper, so was Brian at BDL and anything extra, over and above what we carried in our basic kit, it was carried in in the container and not on us
Oh yes, I almost forgot......... Anything loose, especially heavy and loose like a flapping bandolier that could tangle or get caught anywhere such as rigging and the like (something sharp caught under the risers was always fun!) was a BIG no no
Afraid they do exist. This one was picked from a pile of gear being scrapped in the early 60's by the Canadian government. An entire truck load was dumped at a scrap dealer in western Canada and the feeding frenzy began... I was there at the time and got this one along with some other kit such as a Boys cover, and other items. Much of it had stores tags on it as well.
Attachment 32699Attachment 32700
A number of years ago when I was looking for one I tried to get a first pattern but it brought over $600. I was outbid on a 1942 dated one. So I ended up with the 1944 dated one. They all seem to be in the same condition. But I feel lucky to get one. Has anyone seen a 1st pattern lately?
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Don't get me wrong Warren, I never doubted that they exist as they clearly do, it's just that I don't think that we/UK ever used them. Certainly not in the last days of the Sten gun era in the UK or as paratroopers. All I'm saying is that I never SAW them and I've been round the block a few times Mind you, I could see a use for them being dropped to partisans who might need something to carry magazines. As-new Bren mag 'bags' were mentioned recently on that forum and generally speaking, they were made from the sort of material/cloth that you'd associate with a 'one-way-trip' item
Considering a large number have surfaced on this side (North America) of the pond, i wonder if they were part of the huge pile of Commonwealth equipment assembled in Texas for shipment to the far east. Several years ago i talked to a US ordnance chap who knew of the stores and was actually involved in the disposal of some of it at the time. The equipment was British, Canadian and Commonwealth and apparently just abandoned after the war ended. The equipment never moved as Fat Man and little Man brought and end to the war in the Pacific. (I got several 32 leather scope caps from that cache by the way for the princely sum of .75 cents each.
I do understand that the bandoliers are now being re manufactured in India and China which will throw suspicion on any of the originals. I've had mine for around 50 years......long before the days of the humpers and not many were making surplus in those days as there was still a lot of original WW II equipment around.
I'll see what I can do. Haven't posted photos here yet so I'll have to figure that part out. If you have access to the book "Into the Maelstrom" there are a few photos in there.Quote:
Originally Posted by gsimmons