Makers of cruciform bladed No. 4 MK. I bayonets?

[Surpmil]

I picked one up from a pile of junk at the War and Peace show. I was approached by some wannabe SS trooper who said it was no good as it had been messed about with. He did not have a clue about the Mark 1. He said it was mine for a fiver. Someone who walks around dressed like those thugs deserves no mercy, so I gave him the money and ran. It is pristine and genuine.

I share your distaste for such wankers. John R. now sadly deceased enjoyed telling the story of a couple of them who ran into a couple of Mossad types in the men's room at an LA gun show and left looking rather different. :-)

[Peter Laidler]

My brother has an old c1945 Bedford QL lorry that he might take to a militaria show a couple of times a year at most. It's not dressed up as something it's not. No wartime markings or union jack flags etc etc and tall stories about being the first one ashore on D-Day and all that old rubbish. Well......., that's a bit of a fib! It started its life as an RAF lorry but was restored in Army colours of the early 50's post war Army/RASC in the old BAOR in Germany. He's always being suggested to that he should dress up in uniform and....... and.......... Like he says....., you can't hide being 65 and not too many 65 year olds were driving these as National Servicemen in Germany!

I think that they need to get out a bit more

A group of re-enactors wanted to come and visit us at Warminster. So we arranged for a Saturday visit and all that that entails - but they told us that they wanted to come in uniform!

[Flying10uk]

I have heard of one or two stories of junior serving personal saluting re-enactors dressed as officers and I believe this happened in the late 1970s when there wasn't as many re-enactors about as there is now. I don't think that the serving personal's superiors would have been very pleased if/when they got to hear about it.

[Peter Laidler]

Just a small point F-10. In the Army we didn't have superiors. We had seniors. It was always drummed into all ranks that nobody was superior to anyone else. Senior in rank, maybe. But not superior

[bigduke6]

Just a small point F-10. In the Army we didn't have superiors. We had seniors. It was always drummed into all ranks that nobody was superior to anyone else. Senior in rank, maybe. But not superior

There are a handful that believe they are superior, but mainly small WO2's ........

Re-enactors...... personally I don't have anything against them, some do look out of character but there are ones that really go out there way to represent certain Regiments and there battles etc, this year at the War & Peace show at the living history part, the German enactors won hands down, just a vast array of different examples, one which had all the original stuff to portray his trade.... a Cobbler.

Another was a bearded German Solider riding around on his bike, the detail was outstanding..... to be honest at one point he was at some sign posts, if you took all the modern stuff around away you would of thought you had of been invaded.

[Flying10uk]

Post 23, I was using "superior" in the context of a higher rank only, nothing more.

Personally, I do not mind or have a problem with re-enactors portraying ordinary WW2 German soldiers. However, I do not understand why anyone would wish to dress themselves up as an ardent Nazi such as Gestapo or Waffen SS. In the U.K. there has been a problem in recent years at preserved steam railways when they have held 1940s weekends, of a small minority or re-enactors thinking it acceptable to arrive to the event dressed as Nazis. I believe that most venues have now banned entry to individuals who arrived dressed as a Nazi. Personally, I don't like seeing re-enactors dressed as Luftwaffe personnel because my Father and other family members suffered at their hands but I am willing to accept and tolerate them as re-enactors at events.

[Peter Laidler]

Nope...... Superior NOTHING. It is SENIOR. As in Senior ranks mess or senior officers or senior NCO's or senior management etc etc. Superior is of a superior social standing and that (in my humble opinion of course..... ) is something that some give or think of themselves as a form of aural promotion.

I don't think the word 'superior' in respect to or of a person exists in the Australian or NZ dictionary

[bigduke6]

However, I do not understand why anyone would wish to dress themselves up as an ardent Nazi such as Gestapo or Waffen SS. In the U.K. there has been a problem in recent years at preserved steam railways when they have held 1940s weekends, of a small minority or re-enactors thinking it acceptable to arrive to the event dressed as Nazis. I believe that most venues have now banned entry to individuals who arrived dressed as a Nazi

I can understand folks who take offence and not just at the sight of the SS re-enactors, although the "Runes" do send a shiver down the spine, but if we ticked the box's on the check list, of who was naughty, bad and pure evil, then we would end up probably with just field ambulances and nurses at certain big shows......

History is History and we can't change it, to me it needs to be presented as best as it can and in some case it will involve certain uniforms we don't like being worn, like I said in post 25 a lot of these enactors really go out there way regarding detail and a good few are History buffs also, I know of one I met in Tilbury who was getting ready to go to the War and Peace show, after a conversation etc, he was part of a Royal Artillery group of enactors who based them selves on a certain unit in WW2, they actually went with all there gear to the places the original unit went to during WW2, basically re tracing their steps........ where possible, quite fascinating to be honest plus he was the owner of the 25pdr Field Guns they used (live firers) some of the lads with him were Ex Gunners so they would practise drills as often as they could...........

Thats just one example, I'm not saying all are like that....... but these are the ones who put on the best displays etc.

This year when I was talking to "tankhunter" I was telling him if I finish the matchless I wouldn't mind bringing it down for the displays etc, he mentioned I'd need all the gear..... Errrr no not my scene, although having some DR gear to display with the bike is fine, but dressing up no thanks not my cup of tea.

[Peter Laidler]

I see your point and others entirely Big Duke. And appreciate of course the amount of work that's probably gone into making most of the stuff. It's just that it does rather seem a tad odd to see pictures of a 16 stone Gefreiter (German Corporal ?) running across the arena as part of a gun team with other equally er........., 'well fed' mebers of the gun team. Or, as my brother quips, a 60 year old, grey haired portly 'conscript' WW2 lorry drivers weren't thick on the ground either!

[bigduke6]

I know what you mean Peter and agree with you on that one, I base the portly chaps in the " out of character" I mention in post 25, then again there was a few portly chaps today on parade plus the average hair colour was ash blonde........