Off topic 1911 but British Issue

[Paul S.]

It's just struck me. The British Government would not mark stuff like this 'British Government'. ...

You're not wrong there. 'H.M.G.' maybe on a cold day in a very hot place, but 'BRITISH GOVERNMENT'? Not likely considering for example the 'O.H.M.S.' marked envelopes I received over a few decades.

[Beerhunter]

You're not wrong there. 'H.M.G.' maybe on a cold day in a very hot place, but 'BRITISH GOVERNMENT'? Not likely considering for example the 'O.H.M.S.' marked envelopes I received over a few decades.

That reminds me, when we poodled off to BAOR (British Army f the Rhine), as we did from time to time, we labels that we tied to kit were printed: "On Her Britannic Majesty's Service". We had thousands of the things, I wish I had kept one.

[Simon P]

Just a thought could it have been applied to counteract the US Property mark to make them legal to sell in the US.

I'm just starting to get in to Colt 1911s and saw this one, at least it has sparked some good debate & comments.

[Peter Laidler]

You're right Simon. It's clearly not a one-off as they exist in the USA. On the same subject, anyone out there remember toilet rolls with each sheet bearing the mark GOVERNMENT PROPERTY. I mean......, as if anyone would steal a couple of rolls. As you can imagine, as a nearly 16 year old new apprentice after a cushy life at home and boarding school it was like wiping your tender bottom with thin cardboard. You could probably have used those sheets of toilet paper instead of wire gauze on Bren barrels.

I wonder if anyone else in the US has sen or encountered the mark................. Anyone?

[browningautorifle]

anyone out there remember toilet rolls with eachy sheet bearing the mark GOVERNMENT PROPERTY. I mean......, as if anyone would steal a couple of rolls.

They had a waxy finish so you could smear things around and dry everything faster? I remember those.

[Peter Laidler]

I always wondered why the true waxy finish was like that. We were told it was so that you could wash them again - and again - and again - pretty well indefinately

[Simon P]

This the stuff ?

Also doubles up as tracing paper as well.

[Peter Laidler]

That's the stuff................... An illustration of mans inhumanity to man. That is to toilet tissue what ISIS is to tolerance!

[browningautorifle]

Did this thread ever wander...

[Colonel Enfield]

And wouldn't the British Government at the time be more likely to refer to itself as "HM Government"?