Enfield1940

Thanks for the pics, although I'm slightly annoyed that I'm now going to be forced to check the markings on all the black '58 Patt mugs I see.

My 1962 bottle won't fit in my early water bottle carrier with a mug attached. I assume it's shrunk.

A very nice set indeed. I also have a 1962 dated Cascelloid made bottle, but it has a different coloured cap:

http://hmvf.co.uk/forumvb/showthread.php?34176-Early-Olive-Green-1958-Pattern-Water-Bottles&p=347309#post347309

Was it this one?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/vintage-cased-army-water-bottle-1962-/271486422777?pt=UK_Collectables_Militaria_LE&hash=item3f35da0ef9&nma=true&si=jXEBBXGoLS4MhZjWO9CegQnJs98%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

I couldn't quite make out the date on the mug. Very interesting that it's black and pre-1965 dated.

Then what keeps the breech block forward?

A welding torch I expect...

Even further progress...

Many thanks to Steve/wdbikemad of this parish.

The utility and water bottle pouches are almost identical except that the utility has an additional semicircular flap at the top to which the yoke connection loops are stitched.

Contact the eBay seller 'field-craft' as both of the above e-tool pouches came from him and apparently he has a large quantity of them.

No manufacturer's name on the label, at a time when legitimate manufacturers were printing their name. The contract numbers, etc, on the label might fool most people but probably not the stores bean counters at the MoD.

Printing manufacturer names on labels ended circa 1995, so in itself that doesn't denote something is a commercial copy. For example, my 'SAS' windproof smock:

http://hmvf.co.uk/forumvb/showthread.php?38168-SAS-Windproof-Smock-Date-Range

Has there ever been a CS95 version of the Para Smock?, Would it have just been a CS95 jacket but with press studs/jump flap and velcro/press stud/elasticated cuffs?.

No. Production of the DPM Para Smock continued between 1995-2010. (Although IIRC CS-95 was authorised for parachute jumps) You can however spot CS-95 era Para Smocks by such things as the style of the DPM print and the presence of a Union Jack badge on the left arm.

Progress there is

The poncho carrier turned up on eBay last week and I quickly negotiated a BIN with the seller. On to the belt and water bottle pouch...

The Lanchester SMG pouches come in two flavours: unmodified for 50rnd Lanchester magazines and shortened for use with 32rnd Sten magazines.

SOF make repros of the shortened pouches:

http://www.sofmilitary.co.uk/sten-ammo-pouches-x2-product,14158

Contrary to their dodgy sales pitch, (the slightly lengthened MkIII P37 basic pouch was introduced to take Sten magazines) there doesn't seem to be much info on when the conversions were made and for whom so they may be postwar.

Resurrecting an old thread...

It appears there are two variations of the e-tool carrier: one has loops on the rear through which the tabs with C hooks on the belt thread through and one doesn't.

The bandwagon starts rolling...

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321379748806?ssPageName=STRK:MESINDXX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1436.l2649

Oh for heaven's sake... Here's hoping I bump into one in a charity shop or at a car boot sale* for a fiver. Going by their eBay appearance frequency, Denison smocks per se aren't rare.

*Got a '77 type DPM Para Smock at my local one on Sunday for £2:-D

Bingo! It's an SR A41 Radio spare battery carrying pouch:

http://hmvf.co.uk/forumvb/showthread.php?27626-Need-Information-for-SR-A41-radio-carry-frame

Does anyone have any ideas what this is? 1961 dated, so early 1958 Pattern era and presumably some sort of equipment carrier.

I haven't listed it yet. Will probably do so nearer July if there are no offers on a trade for one of the above.

I have a spare 1985 trials PLCE yoke. Before it goes on eBay to raise some W&P Show spending money, would anyone like to trade it for one of the following?

SAS ration pouch

SAS SLR mag pouch

SAS M16 mag pouch

1977 trials nylon '58 Patt belt

1977 trials nylon '58 Patt poncho carrier

1977 trials nylon '58 Patt water bottle pouch

First type butyl SUIT sight pouch

Also open to suggestions on '08, '19 and '25 Patt items. PM me if interested.

James Smith & Co ceased trading in 1987. I have a 1984 type Para Smock made by them with German Prym snaps.

Very nice. I have a similar one made by H.E Textiles. Made circa 1981-84 I believe.

Thanks for the pics. Are there any known examples of the pack out there in collectorland? Presumably there were also nylon utility straps?

I've decided to dip my toes in the world of nylon trials 1958 Pattern webbing and I attach a couple of pics of progress so far. (Yes, I know that's an ordinary belt) This was provoked by Silvermans - briefly - accidentaly listing the ammo pouches for £15 a pair rather than £15 each on eBay. Having snaffled these, I then ordered the yoke and kidney pouches off their website for £15 each. As is well known, Silvermans have a 'Never Knowingly Underpriced' sales strategy and since then the yokes have been raised to £20 and the kidney pouches to £30:

https://www.silvermans.co.uk/tabid/63/MILITARY/WEBBING+1958+PATTERN/SKU/4-456/Default.aspx

I shall now respectfully take my place at the back of the queue of people looking for the matching nylon belt, poncho carrier and waterbottle pouch.

There's a couple here with contract codes on the labels:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Issued-MTP-para-smock-180-104-large-/360891724804?pt=UK_Collectables_Militaria_LE&hash=item5406d2b404

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RARE-GENUINE-BRITISH-ARMY-ISSUE-MTP-CAMO-PARA-SMOCK-LARGE-190-112-UNISSUED-/281301061458?pt=UK_Collectables_Militaria_LE&hash=item417ed98f52

Or are these likely to be spurious?

Somewhat improbably they are still issuing the 'Smock, Parachutists', but in the new MTP camo.

See chap on right:

http://i46.servimg.com/u/f46/16/96/35/07/53541510.jpg

No such thing as "68 Pattern print" or "1966 Patt" either...

I can't see a maker name on the label, so I'd say the Para Smock was post-1995.

Left arm is 5 Airborne, obviously an old sweat as he has the 5AB flash on the collar.

Have you a pic of the front ?

Thanks for that. So can I assume that the left arm badge would likely have been a TRF for one of the units in the 5AB?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5th_Infantry_Brigade_(United_Kingdom)#5th_Airborne_Brigade

I've asked for a picture of the front.

Cheers,

Mark

Hi,

A friend recently picked up this tidy but de-badged 1984 type Para Smock. It once had the usual wings on the right arm, but I wonder if anyone has any ideas what the rectangular badge missing from the left arm might have been? (As DZ patches are usually square)

I was also curious to know if anyone had seen a Pegasus badge on the back of the neck before?

No maker name on the label, so I assume it was made circa 1995-2010 unless anyone has any better ideas?

Thanks,

Mark