Enfield1940

Thanks. I don't think he'll be going to that so would you be willing to post them + How much did you want for them? Cheers, Mark

Hi, A friend is after a set of instructions (printed on brown card?) for the WWII MkII WS38 wireless set. Real or repro. Any leads gratefully accepted. Thanks, Mark

Thankfully I got my bits from them just before they whacked their prices up. Likewise I wouldn't pay what they're asking now. Bits turn up on eBay now and again. That's how I got my poncho carrier.

Not that I'm aware of. By then the NBC friendly butyl S6 respirator haversack was in use, so presumably there was no need. There was a new respirator haversack with the 1985 trials PLCE set though. Almost the same as the later issue one, but had different rear fittings.

Very nice. I'm after the almost non-existent water bottle pouch (two versions...) and the near-mythical pack. Silvermans still have the kidney pouches, ammo pouches and yokes, but make sure you're sitting down before you look at the prices...:nut:

Posted on behalf of a friend who isn't a forum member: "I'm hoping there are some wireless enthsiasts out there. I recently picked up a WS38. It's basically a shell which has been cleverly converted to CB radio or simillar. It's an OK shell so I've been bankrupting myself accessorising it as a display piece (I've had a few 'wins' too!). As part of the conversion the wire from the set has been wired directly into a makeshift junction box along with a headstet and No.3 Mike. I now have a correct junction box, headset and throat mike with 'jacks'. what I don't have is the jack for the wireless set to plug it in to the junction box. I beleive the piece I'm lookig for is coded ZA3073. Sooooo....any radio oficianados sat on a bucket of spares containing the piece I'm looking for?". Please contact me if you can assist. Thanks, Mark

Hi, Have recently acquired an example of the early butyl rubber SUIT carrying pouch. Not cosmetically the best example, but the price was reasonable. It's 1972 dated. I'm slightly puzzled by the belt loop. I assume the lower wider loop was to fit on a P58 belt, but what about the smaller loop at the top? It occured to me it would be about the right size to fit one of the horizontal connecting straps on the '75 PLCE ('1972 Pattern') trials set. Does anyone know if this was the intention? Cheers, Mark

Repeatedly boiling them in strong detergent *may* work. I did this with a repro khaki WWII Browning HP mag pouch as I wanted to re-colour it into a repro RAF 1925 Pattern Colt 1911 mag pouch. I didn't get every last bit of the khaki dye out, but the end result was successful.

It's already in it's correct colour. It's a postwar Belgian airforce helmet: http://thebrodiehelmet.weebly.com/military---belgium.html

A quick public vote of thanks to Steve / wdbikemad for sending me the missing part. Now restored to full functionality.:laugh: Cheers, Mark

Their website currently appears to be ill, but Numrich has them listed and they'll ship out of the US: https://www.gunpartscorp.com/Products/375280B.htm

Yes I'd noticed that. It may well be one made for private sale. However, there's one here with a pretty much identical label + contract code: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MODIFIED-DPM-WINDPROOF-SMOCK-TANTALUS-/321502269813?pt=UK_Collectables_Militaria_LE&hash=item4adb075175&nma=true&si=YDFsSO8myAQZtxBNh9ix0TmMXA4%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Have just acquired one of the above at quite a good price. A nice bit of kit, but what's the story on these? Are they - as the seller hype would have it - an SF item, or is it more complicated than that? Cheers, Mark

An impressive picture of an explosion, but what exactly is going on? Are there UXO's detonating, or is a collection of probably inert ordnance being destroyed with HE as a precautionary measure because those are the safety protocols followed by the EOD team? (Or both?) Perhaps the 'heritage crimes' mentioned have more to do with Roman coins than live shells?

Thanks for all the input. Following some googling, I'm inclined towards believing it could be a Royal Scots one. for example: http://www.britishempire.co.uk/forces/armyuniforms/britishinfantry/royalscotstam.htm

Hi, Picked up this TOS in a charity shop. I'm guessing it's 1970's to 1990's but I'm rather confused as to what Scottish regiment it is. I've found some pictures online of TOS's with that type of tartan, but with different badges. There are two holes - about 35mm apart - where a badge was on the tartan. The NSN comes up as 'Bonnet, Balmoral'. All help dating and ID'ing it further gratefully accepted. Thanks, Mark

If the oracle of wisdom that is Wikipedia is to be believed: "In 2014, due to lack of adequate protection, hundreds of Mk 6 and Mk 6A helmets were bought in UK and shipped to Ukraine, where they are widely used by soldiers of Ukrainian Army Forces in non-official war with Donbass separatists (along with other types of modern ballistic helmets)". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mk_6_helmet

Try here: http://www.gunsprings.com/index.cfm?page=items&cID=3&mID=58 They'll ship out of the US.

I asked the seller if they knew anything of the smock's history and they replied: "These were actually given to me by a friend for my son - but he didn't wear them,so that's how they ended up on eBay. My friend and her husband were actually based in Germany in 70s/80s. He was a para and this is some of the kit he used at the time. I can't tell you anything else really. But, I do have a very heavy brass plaque/coat of arms measuring 5.5" by 3" and 1/2" thick. It has a shield with a dagger on it with some french writing(maybe)". Would a Para have two smocks: one with wings / DZ patch / etc. and one without? Does the description of the shield ring any bells with anyone? Thanks, Mark

Nice smock. (and Cat) I also spotted it and apologise for bidding against you and driving up the price, but I'm glad it went to a good home.

Aha. Interesting. Why would that explain the lack of other badges? Thanks, Mark

You may recall me mentioning in the past that I'd like an example of a Denison smock for my collection, but not badly enough to pay the increasingly large sums they're fetching. (I should point out that another forum member was kind enough a few months back to offer me one at a good price, but alas I didn't have the money at the time) Well I've finally got lucky and acquired this lightly used example for less than half the current going rate. :-D No badges or any sign it had any, but the sateen DPM Staff Sergeant slides are quite interesting. The only real niggle is that the rear section of the male half of one the chest pocket snaps is missing. Any ideas where I could source a replacement? Cheers, Mark

Interesting... An 'SAS' type windproof smock in MTP and not obviously a commercial item: http://iacmc.forumotion.com/t9656-the-new-but-old-arctic-windproof-in-mtp Another 'resurrected' item like the MTP Para Smock?

My DPM SAS smock regularly gets worn if the weather justifies it - very comfortable and practical. The last outing was last month at the Cambridge Beer Festival as it was 'four seasons in one day' type weather. One of my companions (who'd done a brief stint at Sandhurst in his youth as part of the OTC) was slightly bugged by my having some smock buttons undone and kept reaching over to do them up. Apparently it was drummed into him that buttons should always be done up and presumably the sight of DPM triggered the reflex.

Seeing as nobody else has answered... AFAIK no export permit is required as legally it is no longer a firearm. I would however double check this with HMRC first and also check what carriers will take such an item as I have a suspicion Royal Mail / Parcelforce won't.