Denison Smock Sniper Modifications

[Micheal Doyne]

Within training literature there are various references to personal modifications by snipers to their smocks. I am particularly interested modifications to help with shooting rather than camouflage, these seem to have been modifications to help retain the sling on the arm. Does any one have more details of these or better still photos of a modified original?

Information

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[Gil Boyd]

Michael,

Many variations occurred, once you had finished the ALL ARMS SNIPER Course to suit the individual, but I have to say none were a serious deviation from the norm.

In terms of wanting ideas surrounding the actual shooting not camouflage, these relate primarily to the use of a well fitted sling and your hold of the rifle using that as an aid.

Parachute Regiment snipers were issued with smocks minus the sling clips as it was these very same smocks that were used to parachute in on operations and the clips if retained in the normal issue ones would snag rigging lines.

My label in my old smock says simply SNIPERS DPM but it is a PARA issue and as rare as rocking horse poo, as only 100 were made for Military Parachutists and I was lucky.
In short it was the selection of the right sling which proved the best solution and I always preferred the SEYNTEX Belgium fibre sling issued but we did also get the leather 1907 one from the USA as well.
Hope that helps

[Micheal Doyne]

Hi Gil,

Thanks, the specific modification I was after photos was for additions to help maintain good sling position prior to the integral sling clips being added. Your smock is a great bit of kit, I had wondered about whether the clip on later smocks snagged kit, but just assumed if you where in a situation where it might you wound wear the sniper smock, I had no idea a sniper smock existed without clip. Where other smocks non sniper smocks in use at this time and if so how did they differ to yours?

[Gil Boyd]

No different at all but with the clips fitted.

[GeeRam]

Within training literature there are various references to personal modifications by snipers to their smocks.

Only mod to the issued Denison smocks I've heard about it the creation of a vertical pocket on the rear hip side to hold the spotting scope.
And that was probably likely on done by a sniper that had been issued with a 1st Pattern smock, which were longer in length. Late in teh war when they were likely issued with a shorter in length 2nd Pattern smock, such a mod would have likely take the form of a horizontal poachers pocket for the spotting scope.
Even then, such a mod would have only been done by a unit tailor, from any remnants of any seriously damaged smocks, as that would have been the only way of getting the material.

[Micheal Doyne]

Does any one know of a good maker of repro Denison smocks in the uk? Kay Canvas has been recommended, but I am rather tall (6’6”) and they only go up to the 6’2” of size 8. I’ve tried to contact them directly but they seem allusive. Any thoughts welcome.

[GeeRam]

Does any one know of a good maker of repro Denison smocks in the uk? Kay Canvas has been recommended, but I am rather tall (6’6”) and they only go up to the 6’2” of size 8. I’ve tried to contact them directly but they seem allusive. Any thoughts welcome.

There are no good repro Denison smock available in the UK. The Kay Canvas ones are rubbish and they are the only ones available as far as I'm aware.

Your only option will be one of the USA makers, which might make one suitable for your height, but even then you might struggle to get one that size I'm afraid.

The best ever repro Dension smocks were made by a guy in the USA named Harlan Glen, who used to run a company called King & Country. He only ever made about 200 or so of them back in the late 90's, and did a run or both 1st Patt and 2nd Patt ones. They were about the closest to original as there has ever been made. They weren't cheap, but they were excellent.
When Harlan packed in the repro uniform business, I heard that another company bought the rights to use the patterns and material supply that he used for his smocks, and they are still made and available, but I've not seen one close up to compare with an original H&G one to verify how close or not they maybe.

These are the ones.

https://www.militarytour.com/denison...ratrooper.html

The other advantage of these is that he also sells the material by the yard, so making it possible to mod one to have a sniper telescope poachers pocket if desired.

[Sunray]

I'd be guessing/assuming, there'd be as many modifications as there were troopies. If you look at any parade, every one of 'em shapes their beret differently. It'd be the same with a guy's jacket.
The Denison Smock was issued to guys who thought jumping out of a perfectly good aircraft that wasn't on fire wasn't unusual.
Try these guys. No idea what "Size 8" means. That's a girlie thing here. There was a U.S. site, horrendously expensive, that mentioned 3XL. And a place selling patterns.
Denison Smocks

[GeeRam]

Try these guys. No idea what "Size 8" means. That's a girlie thing here. There was a U.S. site, horrendously expensive, that mentioned 3XL. And a place selling patterns.
Denison Smocks

The ones sold by SOF are the Kay Canvas repro's already mentioned. They are awful as repro's go.

[Gil Boyd]

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