Thoughts on reproduction slings (and other accessories)

[Longshaor]

As a reenactor (Cold War & WWII British) in the States, part of the problem is that originals on this side of the pond are hard to come by. Take P37 braces. MECO actually had a special type of mill so that the brace was sewn as one piece, including the changes in size for the shoulder 'pad'. Even though Aussie and Canadian ones were made of several pieces, don't try arguing that with the judges. P37 Browning Hi-Power magazine pouches - I've never even SEEN originals! I could go on, but you get the picture. Also, some reenacting events here in the States include tactical demonstrations. If you've got a rare piece of webbing, do you really want to beat the hell out of it?

I've never had any issues with other reenactors nit-picking over what's original versus what's repro. Having just been to Military Through the Ages in Jamestown, VA, the judges are another matter! We lost points for, among other things, the "What Price Glory" manufacturer's tag showing on a hung up BD jacket. I'm 5'-10" with a 44" chest, when was the last time anyone here in the States saw BD in that size for anything less than a king's ransom?

The Cold War stuff is even worse because no-one is reproing it. P68 trousers are the single biggest clothing problem we have as 90% of what comes up for sale is US size 32 or smaller. The equipment is also a problem. We're still looking for an IWS mount for an L1A1. And speaking of the IWS, minimum estimated price to get one here is a little over $2000 - not counting the cost of the UK export license. We've been completely unable to find an Observers Thermal Imaging Sight (OTIS), nor the parts we need to finish our L4A3 Bren gun (a barrel and breech block - both of which are illegal to import). Even P58 webbing - which is plentiful - is an arm and a leg to ship over here because of the weight. The last major shipment we had, which was a dozen Para weapons sleeves, took 6 MONTHS to arrive and cost 70 pounds to ship.

So that's my experience, sorry it turned into a bit of a rant...

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[ActionYobbo]

We're still looking for an IWS mount for an L1A1. And speaking of the IWS, minimum estimated price to get one here is a little over $2000 - not counting the cost of the UK export license. We've been completely unable to find an Observers Thermal Imaging Sight (OTIS), nor the parts we need to finish our L4A3 Bren gun (a barrel and breech block - both of which are illegal to import).

perhaps I can help you there
DSA has the L4 bren barrels in stock. the 7.62 bolts are around I sold 6 (ZA) last month. sorry I only had 6

[Slater]

On the topic of slings, was this item actually used on Enfields or some other rifle?:

https://www.libertytreecollectors.co...&idcategory=64

[browningautorifle]

But back to the subject......... Are these ten a penny webbing slings so scarce that people are making repops? Surely not.........

Apparently this IS the case Peter.

On the topic of slings, was this item actually used on Enfields or some other rifle?:

I've never seen anything like that in my life...and yes, I used those slings in my youth.

[Slater]

So evidently the fellows over in India are getting a bit creative

[Peter Laidler]

What do you need to do with your L4A3 Bren Longshoar? If it's just to show it, then what's the matter with machining down a bog standard ten-a-penny Mk2 barrel, fitting a fluted flash eliminator. Have it b;lasted, phosphated and painted and there it is. Same as skimming the front off a bog standard .303" breech block.

If it's to fire blank at a show, just insert a 7.62mm chamber into a Mk2 barrel and then proceed as above. We used .303" barrels with new chambers inserted while I was in Australia. I saw hundreds of them!

[Peter Laidler]

Funny you should say that Beery, but according to the equipment regulations of the era, webbing was only to be scrubbed clean and the brass was to be left to tarnish of its own accord, Blanco was permitted in order to re-colour the webbing where it had stained in use. I don't know the wording but an old post war/Korea vintage CSM told me that several years ago, And when I had a chance to look in an old Equipment Regulations a few years, there it was!

While we were Boy Soldiers/Apprentices at Carlisle we were knee deep in all this 1937 pattern webbing shxxe that had to be scrubbed and blancoed with polished brassware including our everyday belts and anklets. Hopefully Frostie will come on board and remind us! Did you find it character building Fostie?

This webbing was still doing the rounds into the mid 60's until we got the 'just-scrub-and-forget' '44 pattern in Australia to go to Malaya and back in the UK well into the 70's where we still had the 37 pattern web belts

But back to the subject......... Are these ten a penny webbing slings so scarce that people are making repops? Surely not..........

[Beerhunter]

Funny you should say that Beery, but according to the equipment regulations of the era, webbing was only to be scrubbed clean and the brass was to be left to tarnish of its own accord, Blanco was permitted in order to re-colour the webbing where it had stained in use. I don't know the wording but an old post war/Korea vintage CSM told me that several years ago, And when I had a chance to look in an old Equipment Regulations a few years, there it was!

While we were Boy Soldiers/Apprentices at Carlisle we were knee deep in all this 1937 pattern webbing shxxe that had to be scrubbed and blancoed with polished brassware including our everyday belts and anklets. Hopefully Frostie will come on board and remind us! Did you find it character building Fostie?

This webbing was still doing the rounds into the mid 60's until we got the 'just-scrub-and-forget' '44 pattern in Australia to go to Malaya and back in the UK well into the 70's where we still had the 37 pattern web belts

I've read those regs as well Peter and apparently they were widely ignored: "Can't have the chaps not turned out like proper soldiers" etc. BD wasn't supposed to be pressed the way that we all did it at school either - but was!

To my certain knowledge, Patt. '37 webbing was still around in the 1970s. An RE Regiment that I was with in BAOR for s short time in the early 1970s still wore blackened '37 patt webbing. It was also common Sapper practice to back then wear the '37 Patt waist-belt blackened and boot polished polished.

[Longshaor]

In our WWII group that's what we do, however there is academic debate about which colour is correct and whether or not the brass bits were allowed to dull naturally or were painted. There are documented orders for the Guards Armoured Division and the 2nd Division to use KG3 blanco on all webbing, however it's now believed that 1st Airborne used #97 "Pea Green" instead, while on the fittings end, there is documented proof of, at least, the divisional recce of 15 (Scottish) Division painting their metal fittings either SCC2 or SCC15.

Peter, with the amount of money it's going to cost to reweld the Bren, and my inability to find an L4 Bland firing adaptor, I kind of can't justify it being a 'blanks only' gun.

[gsimmons]

Some people do blanco their webbing, but only on one side. So it doesn't come off on your uniform. I would rather blanco repro webbing. Most repro British webbing seems not to be marked. Slings of course seem to be the exception.