Flanders mud flaps, post WW1 use.

[mrclark303]

Come on down Roger, the price is right!

Love to see some pics, if yours is original, it would be interesting to compare to mine and perhaps place pics in the Knowledge Library. Detailed pics of originals are virtually non existent!

[5thBatt]

Here is my example

Attachment 118576
Attachment 118577

[Roger Payne]

I honestly don't know if it is original (mine) but 5th Batt's looks to be, at least to me. It's very late here now & way past my bedtime, but I'll get a couple of photo's of one of mine tomorrow......

[Alan de Enfield]

Does anyone know if any of the originals were marked with just a broad arrow & were devoid of a maker's mark/logo?

I have seen documents that have said they were maker unmarked, and have said they were maker marked.
Both were non-original(MOD) documents, just collectors summaries ie :


The 'Flanders Flap' were manufactured during 1915 by J. Purdey & Sons, A. Purdey, M. Myers & Son and Brandauer & Co.
Prices varied from 2 1/2d per 100 (or about 1p today, these were made from canvas) for 10,000 units from A. Purdey. 1/3d (6p) per 100 for 50,000 units of basic protectors from J. Purdey & Sons. The sheet metal War Office purchases were /|\ marked and bore the contractors name, these cost 10/- (50p) per 100 on 100,000 orderd from Brandauer and 8/-(40p) per 100 on 100,000 orderd from Myers.

But after 100+ years has past and seemingly no documetary evidence (to date) who know what is original and what is fake, unless like this company you make noticeable (to collectors) differences :

SMLE Cover "The Flanders Mud Flap" FF.01
A museum quality replica of this 1915 classic designed to keep water and mud out of the barrel
Copied from an original in every way with the exception of a couple of minor differences to prevent them from being sold as original.
Firstly we have stamped them with the makers name J&P (Jay & Paul) The originals did not have a makers name. Secondly we have finished them in a hard wearing matt black powder coat instead of the blackened oil finish of the originals. None of these changes detract the item from being ideal for re-enactors or as a perfect utility for any SMLE owner.
Our example will fit the majority, but should yours not fit correctly you will have to file a little off each end of the stabilising lug which fits into the foresight slot. See Picture


I have seen both with and without manufacturers name, both allegedly 'originals'
(On the one fitted to the rifle the makers name is very very feint but is there)

I wonder if this was cleaned up what we'd see below the crud ?

[mrclark303]

Here is my example

Attachment 118576
Attachment 118577

Thanks 5thBatt, yours looks to be in excellent condition..

[baltimoreed]

I’d never seen these before this tread. Makes sense given the horrific conditions of trench warfare but just wondering what happens if the rifle is fired with the door closed?

[bigduke6]

Think the date is correct John, uniform is pre 37 pattern, Train is a very elaborate target retrieval system system for a TA unit, but back then they were better equipped than the Modern TA unit so you never know........

Cap badge is quite distinctive but not all Fusiliers badges had a prominent plume as the ones in the pic, also The Royal Artillery wore there collar badge at times as a cap badge but not sure when this was, it was to with the size of the original badge.

The white washed wall reminds me of Grantham, the toilet in what is now the Laundrette still has pre WW2 Graffiti embedded in certain areas.

[mrclark303]

I’d never seen these before this tread. Makes sense given the horrific conditions of trench warfare but just wondering what happens if the rifle is fired with the door closed?

I'm sure that happened a lot. The flap blanks the sight picture, so you can't accidentally fire the rifle with it closed.

Though it would raise the pressure if fired closed a tad, it would simply blast off the flap, probably sheer off the bracket. After all, the added pressure would be nothing like firing a rifle grenade for instance.

[Warren]

Here is an original Flanders flap.
I have had it for about 50 years and there are two or three others that I cannot find,,but they are somewhere here!!!!

[Warren]

Just clean up the lenses and replace the post and cross hair.