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Hi all,
I've started trawling for accessories for my M1A1 and wondered if there is a particularly good online resource for the leg drop bag and Carbine related web equipment.
'Huge' numbers or repros out there (and faked up repros), looking for a little guidance from our resident experts.....
The below is apparently an original??, if so, great pics for comparison use...
M1A1 Paratrooper Carbine Jump Case Absaroka Antique Arms
I bought this "new" ATLAS AWNING 1943 jump case many years ago, so long ago that fakes were not even being fabricated. I posted these photos before on this forum years ago and an advanced carbine collector noted the ink stamping smear which also is authentic in second photo
From the gun shows and collectors it is my understanding these original padded jump cases from Atlas Awning either dated 1943 or 1944 sell for $300 to $400 US repros are very much less in cost. I can not state that I have seen numbers on the inside flap,Attachment 127956Attachment 127957Attachment 127958 but could be original ?
Thanks for that RCS, very helpful information indeed...
Mrclark,
An M1A1 is much to pretty to put inside of a jump bag, although it might look neat with the M1A1 laying on top of the bag for a display. :thup:
Absolutely mate, I've cooled my jets on Firearms collecting at the moment and I'm working on building up the accessories.... I have a feeling it's going to cost me as much as the rifles have!Quote:
Originally Posted by lboos
I understand, here's my M1A1 with a few cheaper accessories. this is after I went back to the WW2 period configuration, which was not cheap at all. I just think they look better the way they came. ;).
It's hard to tell by the pic. but the top guard is a two hole.
Let's see some more pic's when you finish. :)
Very nice, looking absolutely superb!Quote:
Originally Posted by lboos
I've got two more days of oiling, then get the M1A1 into her alternative Type2 'frock' for a Wednesday range day.
I'll post pics on Wednesday. I will start collating the period M1A1 parts, at the moment I actually prefer the look of the post war carbine. My M1A1 was post war refubished at Mount Rainier, then off to god knows where. Eventually it ended up in Israel, from there to Italy and then to me in the UK.
My story started out with a nice about correct Quality Hardware carbine sn 1603422 with a nice Underwood 7-43 dated barrel. I had this for years and it had a nice (and rare) IBM cherry high wood stock. I am not that much into carbine collecting so I posted some photo of the QH and IBM stock - someone saw my photos and a collector sent me an email with a nice offer for just the IBM stock, I sold the stock
I checked my stocks and remembered that I had a damaged Inland M1A1 stock with really nice metal. Also had a Inland M1A1 stock still in the wrap (new old stock) but without metal.
I then installed the new M1A1 stock with metal from the damaged stock on my Quality Hardware carbine. While not original it was still put together with WW2 period parts and looks nice too. third photo shows the IBM stock rest are M1A1Attachment 127976Attachment 127975Attachment 127974Attachment 127977Attachment 127978
Very nice work, you are very lucky to have a [nos] stock still in the wrap. my M1A1 is an Inland # 695709 have no Idea if it came together, so many were changed around I guess. I still like that WW-2 configuration on the carbine, M1A1 or M-1 standard.
Thanks for the pic's.
If you guys really want a correct screaming eagle patch, you better find one where the eagle has a WHITE tongue! The red tongue didn't appear until later. My father was 101st AND I STILL HAVE HIS ORIGINAL PATCH. It has the white tongue. I may have to post a picture so you guys can see a correct one.
You really don't know what your talking about :rolleyes:, there were some white tongue WW2 patches, not many, most were red tongue. there were many variants of the WW2 101st eagle patch. you should research it a little instead of going by the one patch you have and making a statement like above. :bash:Quote:
Originally Posted by jimb16
Correct, see below link.Quote:
Originally Posted by lboos
Eagle Patch Corner
When I was in 5th Inf Div in Colorado there were several old timers that had been in WW2 and Korea. They said that the bags carrying weapons were lost when the parachute opened and the shock snapped the line between the bag and the soldier. I think that this was the case with the bags used for the M1 rifle. These carbine bags were strapped to the soldier? Correct? I would assume that the position you were in in the stick made some differences?
I thought these carbine "Holsters" went on the waistbelt. Thus the miscoined term holster.Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveHH
What is there a list of items to be packed in the "Leg Bag" ?
Or was it up to each individual?
How it was attached.
From Louis's picture, looks like it would be very hard for one of them to fly off if strapped to a soldier's waste and leg. Looks to me like pretty thick webbing holding it and securing it to the soldier's leg. Seems like it would take a lot of force to break that loose?
Is that an M1 rifle bag (coming off the plane) in this picture? - Bob
Attachment 128009
Yes, the "Griswold" bag. You see trooper at right with his fastened to his side(I think a Thompson) and of course the "Holster" in wear at front. The ones coming loose were probably the first attempts at the lowering rope. There were cases in recent past of gear still coming adrift of the lowering rope, such as the CO of the airborne here nearly getting clocked by a 1919 Browning hammering in alone.Quote:
Originally Posted by USGI
Great picture, absolutely facinating, that cast iron look of grim determination sums up the legendary generation....The guy in the middle is certainly loaded for bear, looks like he's planning to raise some serious hell!!
---------- Post added at 10:58 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:56 PM ----------
The M1A1 holster appears to have a mag pouch stitched to the flap Jim...
Yes, they would get the unit textile tech to sew up things to improve their lot. Ours would do anything from sew rank on for field promotions to make a complete rucksack bag from better material...anything.Quote:
Originally Posted by mrclark303
You see M1 cartridge belts that had oversize pockets to hold double load...made by the textile techs.
The Ambrose book "Band of Brothers" describes the Leg Bag as a British invention to carry more stuff and the GI's thought it was a great idea. However, none had ever tested them on a real jump. On D-Day the combination of speed, low altitude and an extra 70# of weight dangling in the slipstream was almost catastrophic. They probably would have been a hit in Holland where is was more a serene jump situation but in Normandy they caused more issues than benefits.
Dave C
[QUOTE=mrclark303;520090]Great picture, absolutely facinating, that cast iron look of grim determination sums up the legendary generation....The guy in the middle is certainly loaded for bear, looks like he's planning to raise some serious hell!![COLOR="black"]
My late friend Eddie was a pathfinder in the 101. He said that everyone was loaded with gear and as the last man out in his stick, he felt the parachute open and his feet hit ground seconds later. A great book on this event is "Night Drop" by SLA Marshall. The number of men shot and killed in those first few days is stunning.
[QUOTE=mrclark303;519916]Hi all,
I've started trawling for accessories for my M1A1.
mrclark,
Here's a few accessories I have for my carbines, 1st pic. top: a WW2 M4 imperial.
1st pic. bottom a Korean/Viet-Nam era M4 Conetta.
2nd pic. both
I'm still looking for a M3 knife to go with my M1A1, they have really went up in price, and will only go higher I guess.