Repro BEF Webbing Gaiters - Soldier of Fortune
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Repro BEF Webbing Gaiters - Soldier of Fortune
Lads - As you will know, the webbing anklets / gaiters used by the BEF Tommy were different to the ones which started to come into use after Dunkirk...
The early gaiters had webbing tabs which had brass fittings at the ends of the tabs... There was also no leather reinforcement...
Anyway, originals are not easy to find. The good news is the SOF Repro ones are excellent. I got a pair through today. At £25 they're expensive but well worth it and better than inaccurate Canadian types or leather strapped variants.
They're in the uniform guide...
Regards,
Pete
The early gaiters had webbing tabs which had brass fittings at the ends of the tabs... There was also no leather reinforcement...
Anyway, originals are not easy to find. The good news is the SOF Repro ones are excellent. I got a pair through today. At £25 they're expensive but well worth it and better than inaccurate Canadian types or leather strapped variants.
They're in the uniform guide...
Regards,
Pete
TubbyBinns- Posts : 118
Join date : 2014-02-18
Location : Brighton, East Sussex, UK
Re: Repro BEF Webbing Gaiters - Soldier of Fortune
I used them on the last march, they do need some mods to the tabs, see my post on status of the March
UKJustin- Posts : 6
Join date : 2014-04-01
Re: Repro BEF Webbing Gaiters - Soldier of Fortune
What mods did they need mate and why?
TubbyBinns- Posts : 118
Join date : 2014-02-18
Location : Brighton, East Sussex, UK
Re: Repro BEF Webbing Gaiters - Soldier of Fortune
These are SOF anklets in size 3 and their pea green 'blanco'.
Unless you have fat calves, the top strap runs out of adjustment and the lower only just engages over the boot. Mine are wearable though.
Apologies by the way for the dodgy barnet. An almost terminal trailer problem before I left to France made me miss a trip to the barbers and it's p*ssed me off ever since...A proper pair of boots from Lennons are on their way this week as well - and I'm only a vehicle chap...I'm hoping to get everything sorted before I drop in to see you at Warhem.
By the way, are you the same 'Tubby' who is posting on HMVF ? (I'm '79x100')
Unless you have fat calves, the top strap runs out of adjustment and the lower only just engages over the boot. Mine are wearable though.
Apologies by the way for the dodgy barnet. An almost terminal trailer problem before I left to France made me miss a trip to the barbers and it's p*ssed me off ever since...A proper pair of boots from Lennons are on their way this week as well - and I'm only a vehicle chap...I'm hoping to get everything sorted before I drop in to see you at Warhem.
By the way, are you the same 'Tubby' who is posting on HMVF ? (I'm '79x100')
Rich- Posts : 9
Join date : 2014-11-08
Re: Repro BEF Webbing Gaiters - Soldier of Fortune
I am indeed the same Tibby Binns... You taking a Bedford over? I'm meeting John Rippo at Stoneleigh today.
Top effort on the uniform by the way. Is that Panther BD?
Hummm that's bloody annoying about the anklets. I'll give mine a try and report back...
Top effort on the uniform by the way. Is that Panther BD?
Hummm that's bloody annoying about the anklets. I'll give mine a try and report back...
TubbyBinns- Posts : 118
Join date : 2014-02-18
Location : Brighton, East Sussex, UK
Re: Repro BEF Webbing Gaiters - Soldier of Fortune
The SOF anklets are or where almost square, so as mentioned, the bottom tags aren't long enough while to top are to long. I had a size 4 and moved both the top and bottom tags to get the fit I was happy with. The webbing is softer than originals so it should be able to use a normal sewing machine with a denim needle, also they gave an worn look straight away and don't rub.
UKJustin- Posts : 6
Join date : 2014-04-01
Re: Repro BEF Webbing Gaiters - Soldier of Fortune
How do you buggers know that it's a Panther BD ? It is indeed. In defence of the SOF anklets, the genuine set (with leather straps) that I have don't fit right either.
I'm strictly a motorcyclist so no Bedford but I have an obsessional interest in BEF vehicles and markings (and vehicle toolkits...). I posted that picture on HMVF with the rather odd markings.....3 Corps Formation sign but a GHQ AoS showing '139' with GHQ bar under. They did a stint as 3 Corps troops and presumably didn't alter the markings, despite applying the 3 Corps sign.
I'm strictly a motorcyclist so no Bedford but I have an obsessional interest in BEF vehicles and markings (and vehicle toolkits...). I posted that picture on HMVF with the rather odd markings.....3 Corps Formation sign but a GHQ AoS showing '139' with GHQ bar under. They did a stint as 3 Corps troops and presumably didn't alter the markings, despite applying the 3 Corps sign.
Rich- Posts : 9
Join date : 2014-11-08
Re: Repro BEF Webbing Gaiters - Soldier of Fortune
They blew the photo up 10000% and counted how many threads in a square inch of the fabric. Easy.
vjenkin1- Posts : 35
Join date : 2014-03-16
Age : 67
Location : Florida USA
Re: Repro BEF Webbing Gaiters - Soldier of Fortune
Panther is decent stuff... And it makes all the difference... And quality stands out.
TubbyBinns- Posts : 118
Join date : 2014-02-18
Location : Brighton, East Sussex, UK
Re: Repro BEF Webbing Gaiters - Soldier of Fortune
My Sof pair of gaiters are exactly the same as my original pairs, so surely this is how they should be, wouldn't adapting them then be wrong as I'm not sure every member of the bef would of taken them down to there battalion tailor.
Blitzkrieg- Posts : 15
Join date : 2014-02-15
Re: Repro BEF Webbing Gaiters - Soldier of Fortune
If you're able to compare the anklets with originals and they have the same form then I'm in complete agreement. I had a similar decision to make when Panther Store asked for my measurements for a BD. It seemed only right to have it made to original sizes so that it would fit as per original. A made-to-measure BD would not be at all correct for other ranks so a standard size 11 is what I've got.
Rich- Posts : 9
Join date : 2014-11-08
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