LeeEnfield

Hi John,

Soldier of fortune is a company who sell repro kit, based in north wales.

www.1944airborne.com

british B/d is very similar to khaki devil ones,..........you pays your moneys and takes your choice. (I've a 40 patt blouse of there's and am quite happy with it, for reenacting purposes)

These spare raf uniforms, are they wwii vintage. ??

Glad to have been able to help, etc.

All the best,

Andy

Trust me when I say, not even the Police firearms specialists know what theyre looking at/for. If you do talk to a Police man,its always good to educate them on what to look for. I've shown examples of what to look at on a deac weapon to many Policemen and theyre always happy to learn and even happier when they then realise that your machine gun is just chopped metal. It is amazing how many Police officers think that a deac can be reactivated in only a few minutes.

Sadly, Very True.........

Happy Birthday, Mate.

Will be in touch soon.

All the best,

Andy

Hi Andy,

 

Didn't have much luck with the Greek suff, but have made contact with Khaki Devil regarding a HG uniform fingers crossed they can help.

 

Not sure what you meant by SOF, in the house it means Solider of Fortune, thanks to the kids and the Playstation lol

 

One our team has gone French Resistance (but he speak fulent French!). :cool2:

 

Open question. Back to ARP again, sorry. I got my hands on a copy of an picture of an ARP wearing what looks like a 1930s Policemans uniform? A tunic with a high collar (Mandarin style, no lapels), single breasted, two breast pockets, belt and to hip pockets.

 

You can quiet clearly see the ARP badge and buttons. It is dated on the back by the chemist (Boots) that printed it as may 4th 1941 and shows the wearer sat outside the Customs House at Poole, as if on duty. Do you think this was just a war effort wear what you have, or did they use "old" police uniforms before the Boiler suit came in?

 

Cheers

 

John

Hi John,

SOF = yup soldier of fortune, (sorry)

Can't help you with ARP kit,..........don't know enough about it to answer correctly BUT, if you get yourself along to wwiireenacting.co.uk and join the forum, amoungst the headings is one on civilian life and homefront. I'm more than guessing one of the knowlegable folk on there will be able to answer your enquiries,.........and correctly at that. :-D

All the best,

Andy

Hi Andy,

 

Yeah been around a few fields of honour, dress in everything from Medieval to Victorian. Have fired a few fun things to, even a English Civil War cannon, but something that old, well the old nerves go lol.

 

Funny, I am checking out Khaki Devils right now.. Looks a good option but will also have agander for the Greek BD to

 

Cheers for all the advice, it is good to meet people that know their stuff

 

Cheers

 

John

No worries, John.

these hobbies tend to bring out the best (and at times the worst) in folk.

The folk at Khaki Devil are great,.........very passionate about what they do.

All the best

Andy

Thanks John, for clarifying those points.

I guessed looking at your 'other period', interests you may well hold black powder licence.

Brown Bess,.........Very,very Nice.

If your on the look out for repro uniform, I'd recomend Khaki Devil. 37 patt B/dress @ £190

..and yes, I have got a set myself, (to keep my two canadian 40's dated uniforms unmarked)

Other way to go is SOF,...similar price, I believe. OR have a look on Ebay for GREEK b/dress,......some of which is very 'canadian', in colour.

All the best,

Andy

Cheers for that Paul,..........not just me, then.

Difficult not to appear as a 'party pooper',.........but hey. :-)

All the best, see you in a field somewhere in 2011. (or even xmas leave this year)

Andy

WOW! Thanks everyone..

 

This is really a great site, and I am learning a lot on here.. And I didn't expect so many hints or pointers

 

As for shop brought repro Ration Books and the like, are they really good enough to use? I got given a couple that came from the RM museum in Portsmouth, and though copies of the real thing, look incredibly fake? Recently at RAF Colin Dean's Museum, I saw re-enactors with all the paperwork you can imagine that looked better but were repros. One chap I spoke to said they were copies of the real thing done via an art package on the PC using craft paper to print them on.

 

I have heard a lot of bad things about Replicators and I also hear Sutlers UK have closed down? But think a tailor made cossie will be way out of my pocket money range, as is the real thing when (if) I do find in my size. Last one I found in York was £300 just for the jacket and £140 for the trousers!!! the seller supplies the TV and Film trade, so I guess his prices match their demands.

 

However, just brought today a mint pair of mid 1940s Ammo Boots, for £15 at a local Army Surplus shop . He also has a webbing set, with backpack and ammo pouches, but all needs a dam good clean and also some of it has very rough blanko on, but the set is only £20 ??

 

Someone has mentioned about the pat 37 serge BD that the Canadians wore, and often used by UK Officers, as it was more comfy, but a pale/different green? I am guessing that is what Capt. Mainwaring wore in Dad’s Army?? Or was that just a TV mistake? From real HG pics I have seen, the Officers seem to wear the same as the rest of the unit, just different belt, a proper cap not a side cap and side arm (no webbing or pack accept the gas mask?).

 

Anyway, I think I have been beaten on the PAT37 gear, so I have been trying to source a 1940s bark blue boiler/siren suit, as per the ARP, but can even find a later version to mod or a pattern to make one from scratch, shame as I am handy with a sowing machine lol!

 

Cheer everyone

 

John

 

PS

I have been a historical re-enactor for some years now, doing Mid/Late Medieval, Tudor and Victorian periods.

 

The kit I have for WWII so far is:

MkII Bren (Circa 1942 - ex Canadian Army , based at Blandford)

MkIII Lee Enfield (I think Circa 1940 - ex RAF Hamworthy)

MKII Webbley Officers Side Arm (history unknown)

1944 Ammo Boots

1950s Blacksmiths kit (currently using to play HG member, basically its just a Wool 1940s/1950 suit, collarless shirt, button braces and boots and a homemade/repro Home Guard arm band), but it's OK for now.

All weapons are de-acts but can fire blank rounds (only in single shot form).

Umm, John,..........last line of your reply,.@'all weapons are de-acts but can fire blank rounds (only in single shot form)';.........Sorry, mate, this does not make them De-act, in the true letter of the law..........(a de-act, depending on when it was deactivated whilst on the older ones in some cases can chamber rounds, the later spec ones cannot,......and none of them are able to fire said round, blank or no. It makes them blank firers, and in the case of the lee Enfield, quite poss still live firer...............:shocked: (hope you've got the correct licence to own it)

Not wishing to kurb your enthusiasm, but as a mil vehicle owner involved in living history events, and a re-enactor, as you can inagine, with the various prospective/talked about legislation simmering about, we tend to be careful about such things. :-)

Andy

If I'm reading some of the answers posted regarding De-acts not needing certificates, correctly.............umm, why do they ALL come with said piece of paper, then ??

I seriously would not want to be stopped, whilst carrying said de-act without cert,........at best I'm thinking you'd have a good talking to by the powers that be and don't forget, just because we know our stuff re wwii kit/guns/uniforms, etc, the average policeman doesn't,......and a guns a gun;.........if armed response was called,...a whole deep pile of poo is tipped up.

Also, a lot of events, now are asking to see de-ac certs of those displaying,..and I've even heard of an event organiser refusing to allow those without certs to exhibit.

Regarding Imitation firearms, (RIF's) whilst its true you don't need a certificate to own one, most dealers/sellers will want to know which group you belong to, (MVT and IMPS are recognised groups)and also to know you've public liability insurance, (which, if your showing your kit, off vehicle, makes sense to have anyways.)

Shooters Rights and AFRA are also people to talk to in respect of this.

As you say, its certainly a question that does get asked quite a few times,.......so its best to get it right. :-)

All the best.

Andy

Hi

I would like to know the colour of WW1 British troops uniform as worn between 1914-1918 on the Western Front.

A colour reference number or where I could get/buy a sample of cloth would be very helpful. I need to know the colour so that I can paint/glaze my ceramic portraits of WW1 characters.

Cheers.

Hi Graham.

re sample of cloth, give Tracey an e mail at Khaki Devil. ( they supply most of the ww1 kit you'll have seen on TV)

khakidevil@taffmail.co.uk

tell her lee enfield gave you her details.

hope it helps.

Andy

Yes Lee it would have had considerable psychological effect methinks:-).

err yes, the expression scared shi*less comes to mind. :cool2:

However, I think looking at the way the german forces worked together, these units, along with I suspect most of the pillbox beach defences would have been dealt with by stuka dive bomber, before any attempted landing.

How effective would it have been?

Well I for one wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere near the flame. I think that most flame 'guns', were far more effective as 'frighteners', than 'normal' equipment.

Also, the 'landing craft', the germans had got for opperation sealion, if I remember correctly were converted barges, in guessing of wood construction,.........which could have caused a certain amount of panic if one had been caught within range of this 'bit o kit'.

I think 4 shows (Damyns, Combined ops, Mayhem & Mo) in such a close radius is too much in one month..

Could well be right,......really starting with W&p, there has been an event in kent every w/end really up to next w/end,.........I know I've travelled up in bedford 3 w/ends running. :-)

(not complaining though,..i guess what ever date(s) were booked, its going to if not clash with another event in local, at least make poss attendee's look to their pockets.)

Kas was supposed to sing today but she said she told us she decided to do her charity bit instead :cool2:

 

Good seeing you today.. see you at Chatham

Hi Lee, her mum did check re singing, today, was informed there wasn't a licence for it........

See you at Chatham.

I hope all that did put money in H4h bucket, got the pic they wanted........:-)

I went up as a day visitor, (sun), and whilst it seemed quite quiet, (drizzly rain I guess didn't help with visitor numbers, although there were folks walking about) I did kinda enjoy the day.

(Thanks Kas. )

Mark did tell me that local council were being 'hot' on things,.hence why there was no live music on sun, in the beer tent,......and the reason said beet tent was closed down when it was sat night.

Great to meet, Cripp,Lord Burley,Ian,Lee and Mark, Gritineye.........see some of you at Chatham 40's event.

Andy

Great pic's..........

Have you heard anything re the pillbox on station roof at Bishopstone; If I remember correctly a few years ago there was some talk of opening it to interested parties.

Andy

R.I.P.

Lest we forget.

I'm hoping to attend one day, without vehicle though.

was a great event,......impressive bruise, Mark,..........almost as good as your dance moves, yes, there is photographic evidence,:cool2:

Great to bump into those forum dwellers I bumped into, - thanks for the beers on sat night, Lee and Ian.......the sight of you and Naughty Nurse wandering off, 'love trailer' way, towing half a dozen balloons, same night, Mark, watching Paul Not win the raffle :cool2:, etc, etc etc.

Heres to next year.

Andy

Has anybody really won it:cool2:

good question. :-\

Not going this year,.........going to try a couple of others, where i don't have to pay to get in, when I'm in a mil veh.

Andy

Hi Andy & welcome We need more members from East Sussex :-D

Not A&E-ing then Chris. ??

Will drop in somewhen soon.

All the best,mate.

Andy

Haselbury Mill is a good event,................it happened to be on when I was down that ways on holiday a few years ago. :-)

hi can anyone help me with my dilemma and tell me how high the hoops should be in the rear of the truck as my truck does not have any fitted and i will have to make them to suit a standard canvas.

thanks tracy

Hi Tracy,

I'll have a mesure up when next I'm down at mine, (dunno if mine being origionally mwr makes any difference)

All the best,

Andy

PS have you got the contact details for dealers holding mw bits, if not, PM me.

Hi Andy.

Welcome to the forum, see you about.

All the best,

Andy