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webkitlover

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  1. webkitlover
    that looks like the one, as for Paras using the reversible kit, I can understand Royal Marines being issued kit and it staying "Navy issue" but The Paras too, they were always rivals! I'm surprised it didn't filter down into squaddies Gucci kit, pretty much all the rest of the Para related gear did!
  2. webkitlover
    Hi here are the pics, I lined it up next to a standard MoD mat and everything matches. I had another really close look on both sides of it, and theres no evidence of any ink stamps at all. The olive standard MoD side (nothing to see here) The white side, the only visible mark is a surname in capitals (covered by the top brick on the white side) I had to use bricks it's windy here. Below, I've tried to show the standard MoD mat (not rolled tightly) next to so you can see the thickness/texture.is pretty much the same. If anything the two sided one seems to roll up slightly more easily perhaps it's slightly more pliable? but it's been untouched in the loft for a while so it might just be because it's been rolled up a long time. Like other reversable items I wonder if the white seen at the side here is enough white to give away a position? A platoon's worth of these white blobs marching along on bergens would be pretty visible against a dark background such as forest paths or heather, or grassy plain. When you remember(or know) how OCD you have to be about camouflaging yourself and kit, hiding shiny plastic buttons, face paint on the backs of ears and hands, blacking up a beret metal badge with a sharpie, this amount of white viewed from the side just seems crazy, even setting up a bivi in wind could flap the mat around and that be seen from a long way! perhaps it was only issued in areas known to have of patchy or deep snow rather than other temperate uses.
  3. webkitlover
    Cool, thanks for that, just going to get it down, I'm meeting at a Remeniscence meeting this week, so getting some of my CEFO and CEMO out.
  4. webkitlover
    WOW, always a bit of a lucky dip with suplus stuff! I bought an East German "raindrop" camo jacket, rolled up neatly in the pocket, a Parachute Regt tie! Weird what you find sometimes.
  5. webkitlover
    Hi I've came across a Green/white reversible roll mat. in good condition bought it for £2 from a furniture shop. Identical in design to the well known Brit version same thickness and feel, same brass grommits, the same green cotton feeling fabric tape you tie in a bow when the mat is stored. It's possibly 2 thinner (olive/white)mats joined (welded rather than glued) during factory construction. there does not seem to be any sort of coating. Being reversible it can be stored rolled olive out or white side out to provide snow camo, The simple fact it has White on one side suggests a temperate if not Northern european user. I've never seen another one, I've Tried to research it, tried Google, but can't find anything about it, I don't even know if it's Brit, US, or foreign issue? Sadly I can't find any markings on it at all (apart from the users scrawled name in marker pen), and I have no idea how old it is, it could well be decades old and there is very little wear on it. My first thought was that it might be something to do with the "Royal Marine Arctic warfare Cadre" but I've nothing to back it up. Is it possible it's another rare trial piece of kit? I'll do a photo in the morning.
  6. webkitlover
    lol I was going to mention it, I saw one on E-bay once but couldn' say if it was brit issue, funny thing though, perhaps the square one was desined for the 75 issue kit? I used to have a set, and I couldn't find an Army bottle that fitted the large pouches well. but the Mess tins seemd to fit well, make of that what you want, because I'm pretty sure the pouches would have been really designed for ammo! check out the photo, I was just out on a winter adventurous hike with a friend here, (I wish I'd kept the "over-white" jacket!) I used a collection of mixed ALICE gear middle of picture, and I'd given my 75" set to my friend (on the bottom right) you can see that both main side pouches are open with american style clips to the lower right note it has non 75" pouches added. bytl 58 Gas mask pouch and a civilian made US copy waterbottle pouch. goodness knows how they were attatched, probably a fair amount of paracord and bungees, lol
  7. webkitlover
    Hi some years ago when Combat and Survival was still paper, they used to run a series about historical kit. I lost interest in the magazine in the 90's but remember they did one later on perhaps after 2000 that I missed, and now isn't available. I think there may have been covered over a few issues it was titled something like: "British late cold war web kit". Does anyone have a copy they could photocopy for me to look at? I realise It's pretty much identical to kit I would have used, I.e. a mishmash of issue and non issue kit held together with bungees, tank tape, and luck. Just interested to see if theres anything I forgot, that I can add to my collection. Cheers
  8. webkitlover
    Thats interesting, I wonder why they only made black, and why the MoD didn't just continue with an updated 44" cup?
  9. webkitlover
    Hi I found several photos, of the reversable jacket being used in anger, (some photos are clearer than others) all of the photos were taken during the Falklands war. All of the jacket users shown are Royal Marines. The photos were copied from the publications as mentioned before: "War in the Falklands,The campaign in pictures, By the Sunday express Magazine team" and "The Falklands war, Marshall Cavendish Magazine" On the colour photos the jacket is obvious but the black and white ones you can see the stark white inside of the collar. The white is clearly visible even on the poor quality photos with the green side outer, and I'm assuming that on occasion the flash of white on rainy days was found to be too visible and gave away positions in a mostly green brown temperate background, and the reversable jacket idea was eventually binned in favour of DPM and overwhites. also Breathable materials were just becoming available which trump PU coated nylon.
  10. webkitlover
    Hi, I have a large Fire engine red metal box about 2ft x2ft x18" with a partly removed see through sticky back plastic sticker, it says: (in bold black print) "ANTI POYS BEATHING A"........the rest has been ripped off (The "A" I assume was APPARATUS) "ANTI POYS" to me seems a very odd word, it would seem to be English, it's most likly an abreviation of "poison", by why the "Y" ? (no pun intended) So Who works with Poison and breathing Apparatus? Farmers? Chemists? Fire dept? Police? It has a large suitcase style handle and metal clips on the lid, Because of it's bulky size and weight (more so if full), I can't think it would be carried far so perhaps something normally stored on a vehicle? I asked a Friend that was in the London fire service for decades he has never seen a box like it, or with that spelling, perhaps it came from Civil defence or some sort of NBC group? any thoughts, Cheers
  11. webkitlover
    Sorry just edided my oprevious answer which now mentions dying. Basically No! it wouldn't look right. unless all the pouches are the same colour you'll never get the right shade or colour, also the canvas pouches came with a basic waterproofing coating, which would stop dye working in some cases. The other thing is this, When I was in the Army, no one was issued (or had) a completely matching set of webbing, the set I was issued was so knackered I had to sew parts of it before I could use it. Very few soldiers had "Green pouches" most were that sort of earthy grey colour but mixed with pouches like the resipouch that were much darker the only pouches that were always green were the large pack because it had such little use!
  12. webkitlover
    Hi Robin, after a little testing as to how thick it was I gently prized most of the flaky stuff off off with a blunt penknife blade, i then tried dabs of methalated spirits, and petrol (seperately) which removed some other stains, possibly paint stained with marker pen, and the really nasty black grease or oil that was present. (white spirit would also work) IMPORTANT: Meths and petrol can leave stains, so it's importand to wash thoroughly after using them. After that I removed the petrol smell and a fair amount of further residual paint and dirt with a standard washing up brush and liquid. Lots of wrinsing later, there was still quite alot of solid pink paint deep in the fibres some of which i picked out with tweezers I think but I couldn't get it all. The patch of light pink that I just couldn't shift and was embedded so far I would have had to cut the material. so I used a sharpie (light grey and dark green I think) firstly in tiny dots then larger dots to camouflage the pink, you have to use a bit of artistic descernment here, too little and you get a spotty pouch, too much and you get a dark green blob, you have to know when to stop. You can see the darker blobs of green around the stitching at the top front of the pouch, but from a short distance you can't tell. If you zoom in on the photo (between the rivets top front) you can still see the pinky and grey paint between the threads that are still coated in paint. the sharpie gave just enough of a blend that the paint dissapeard a bit. I've done the same with many pouches and even some clothes it always seems to turn out fairly well. Wish I'd done a before and after piccy now, I will next time! I guess If I wasn't collecting it, there is always the option to re-dye a canvas item, but you'd never get the perfect colour and theres so much residual S*** in army surplus gear from engine and gun oil, spilled paint, mud, food grease to various chemicals (even CS gas) the fabric you never quite know how much would soak in. I wouldn't.
  13. webkitlover
    Hi thanks for commenting, I have seen photos online of matching sets, but as you'd know the cups are more breakable, so I guess they died and were replaced with standard black cups. Just as likely thrown away in favour of the alloy 44" pat cup which was the trend for decades before the crusader cup came along. I had a chat with someone else some years back and they said, the reason they didn't stick with Green was because light could just about get through the plastic and bacteria could grow more easily, so they went with black, same as all the much larger vehicle water containers.I think there is a definite taste difference in water from the green bottles too perhaps it's an early rejected "taste bad" plastic?. When I picked up the bottles, years ago now, it was from one of those huge 2ft x2ft boxes of surplus just full of mostly black 58" water bottles, I remember them being 50p sadly many had holes, splits, melted areas or were covered in tank tape which I assumed was probably a quick field repair. i picked out a couple of good bottles and the 2 green ones, all had the new S10 lid. I can only think the company QM or soldier they were last issued to added the S10 lids, as any one else wouldn't have needed the adapter, and the surplus store just wanted the job-lot gone, a shame to think the original lids probably collectable now, just went in a bin!
  14. webkitlover
    I think for actual military use I too would question night vision effectiveness, but that aside as an overall effect it a really nice, effect, and if you wanted a " less Military" looking kit that is still an effective camo for camping or nature watching then you've done a fantastic job! well done. Can I ask how you did it?
  15. webkitlover
    Hi an interesting collection, I have 2 green ones myself, I didn't realsie there were so many of the black version! Nice
  16. webkitlover
    Finally my "uber rare" Green 58" water bottles, yes they are genuine! I don't have the origonal lids they both came with the S10 adapter. Sadly I don't have the even rarer green cups that went with them. cool thing is they are different shades of green and even 2 manufacturers! on the right a standard Osprey bottle. They all have the familiar warning "KEEP AWAY FROM HEAT OR FLAME" and they all have the "crowsfoot arrow" center the lighter shaded "olive" coloured bottle markings are: CAT. No. 973-6665 1965 F & G (on the base F&G) The darker "forest green" markings are: CAT. No. 0035 1962 (on the base are 2 words in tiny lettering "Casealloid" and also possibly "Caseaflex") here you can see the subtle difference in the shape and design the darker left has a curved bac like the modern black version, the other is totally flat. hope you like the kit, as far as I know it's all genuine please feel free to ask anything.
  17. webkitlover
    A 58" machette cover, I pretty much rescued this, when I bought it it was covered in sveral layers of various colours of gloss paint including pink, red and blue, it was also ingrained with oil and dirt. You might still be able to see the faint colours towards the top of the front, I wanted to remove it all but I would have damaged the fabric. The colour was not from any haphazard army marking, i.e. coloured squares to write on or identify it, from the state of it, it was almost certainly stored in a shed and had paint spilled on it. You can see like the 44"water bottle it has a wire belt hanger, as well as a belt loop just below it The pouch didn't come with a Machette so I made a fake one, (alluminium and blunt but as close to the shape and size as I could) so I can take it to shows more leagally, the tape was added simply because when I researched army machettes to copy, most seemed to have tank tape on the handle! I didn't have long enough rivets to fit the handle so filed down hex head bolts were used one side, and washers glued on the other
  18. webkitlover
    Some mystery nylon 58" style pouches both have been and identified on other threads The fixtures are obviously closely based on 58" ammo type pouches and the over complex Kidney pouch attatchment.
  19. webkitlover
    Next 58" Handgun pouch, notice the fasteners are similar to "SAS" pouches, the other Black Handgun pouch, I was given this from an EX RAF Military Policeman aparently everyone got fed up with the canvas versions, as you couldn't get to the gun fast enough, and you couldn't leave the pouch open "ready for use" this was later issued. the odd this is the black version has some metal parts that would be familiar to 58" users it is a simple pull down to unclip the tab from a square ring like all the 58" pouches, on the elasticated web tab a hook that is identical to the hook used to attatch the 58" large pack to the yoke! The 58" version has 2 belt attachments, a yoke and leg loop. The black version has 3 hanging heights! on the Black pouch the lable says: "Holster Pistol R/H 2001 NSN 8465-99-869-2072 ST 1A / 1371 "
  20. webkitlover
    Next a twin SMG ammo pouch a very simplistic design as you can see they are very much like the SAS Drop pouches, in style and fixtures, the lid is a simple flap and it has no waterproof lining, the front clips are identical. The rear of the pouch you can see it is very simple, unlike "SAS" drop pouches there is only one belt height option. (damn white dog hair gets everywhere!)
  21. webkitlover
    Next a quite faded 58" issue Compass pouch, and a "SAS" Drop altimeter pouch. If you are thinking of purchasing one to protect a compass, buy the 58" version, it has a thick felt padding. there is no padding at all on the other, also you have to press the popper to close it the 58" version is a much kinder twist closure Next the rear, the alti pouch only the 2 drop belt loops so it will swing/bump around, but it has a massive grommet to attach a cord. the 58" has none. The 58" has 2 atachment poins the C hook for the belt and the strap for fitting on a vertical strap and opened nothing much to say here but the 58" has stiffners in the flaps unlike the alti version which can be totally crushed in the hand.
  22. webkitlover
    By unusual I mean not part of standard squaddie CEFO including drop pouch web set, aka"SAS pouches". Firstly standard 58" belt with rollpin buckle from an ALICE rucksack, nylon seat belt. on the belt left to right: Knife pouch, Armalite/M16 pouches, 44" waterbottle, Escape pouch, 44" waterbottle, and SLR pouches. On the rear nothing special, but you can see the new belt loop and repairs I made on the 44" bottles, I carefully stitched the bottles to the ammo pouches (easily removed) to reduce the amount of movement on the belt, I use a 58" yoke (not shown) which helps to stop the rear pouches slipping around, on the front of the yoke I added 44" style C clip like the rear to attatch to the front.
  23. webkitlover
    I should probably mention as well that there was a huge amount of modifying webbing pouches, and non issue kit, it was basically totally accepted as long as it worked and didn't look too different. Even MK 1 OG PLCE haddn't reached the TA in 1992, and we'd only just been issued SA80's (the bad first one!), so I guess that's we were allowed a bit of freedom with carrying kit. Many people stitched DPM fabric onto pouches I used a US buttpack covered in DPM, some guy managed to fit US plastic fasteners on his 58 ammo pouches. several people used Arktis rear pouches or US clip on pouches, extra waterbottles. the only thing that was standard was the ammo pouches, belt, yoke, a waterbottle, and the resipouch. We were only ever issued the 58 large pack so you just got the best surplus rucksack you could, or the greenest civy one which obviously weren't IRR coated. The best I could find was a knackered Para bergen without the frame, or straps. I somehow put up with 44 patern webbing cross straps which must have been horrible to carry.
  24. webkitlover
    🤣 a genuine laugh out loud! I was just showing my wife that the first post was about a beer towel, well spotted! ! (for those that didn't spot it it's on the first picture below the left kidney pouch)it's " Green king IPA". To be honest I never used one, I tried to pinch one at the time but all the green ones had already been nicked from local pubs by other local squaddies! I think the local publicans eventually cottoned onto the theivery and started only used bright colours. seem to remember Carlsberg was a favourite because of the green and gold colours. At the time I used some nasty green Pertex towels to save space, they were horrible to use, a bit like drying yourself with a shower curtain. I also the issue 1x1m scrim scarf as a "stand in" fluffy towel, I didn't use it as a scarf, most of the time it was bungee'd to my belt as padding. funny thing though, I've been looking and asking for one in charity shops for about a year, with no luck, I know E-bay sell them for silly money (because they are now collectable). I eventually asked in a Salvation Army Shop, they said they do get them but can't sell them (they don't sell anything related to alcohol/smoking etc), eventually I gave up, but weeks later i went to the same shop resigned that I'd never get hold of one for less than £10. A shop assistant recognised me and said they had 3 beer towels did i want them? Of course I said yes, and gave them the £1 donation they suggested rather than buying it. So..the Green king ipa is the greenest of the 3, I now have 2 colourful beer towels that I can probably sell for silly cash!
  25. webkitlover
    Hi this is a re-creation of the CEFO kit I was issued and used as a TA soldier in the early 1990's. (Some has been added that I didn't use but I saw others using around the time, like the PLCE bergen, Kevlar Helmet, and the IPK kit). It's taken several years to find all the bits, and pieces from charity shops and surplus shops. Also shown a complete set of the clothing The carrying and sleeping gear can be seen on the top row of the wider shot. I collected it for my own fun, but after a while I realised I had enough that I could use it for good so I now use it for remeniscence meetings with ex forces guys and recently I displayed it for a Rememberance day service. The ghillie suit far right on the wide shot was given to me (no I wasn't a sniper) but I thought I may as well add it to the rest of the kit for interest. The only thing I haven't included is any weapon, so no SLR/SMG/SA80 or Bayonet, and everything else is inert. I'd be very happy to explain any part of it why I was or wasn't issued certain bits
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