Dracul
Master sergeant
Posts: 1,341
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Post by Dracul on Nov 2, 2016 20:25:14 GMT -5
Since it is the centennial of the Great War and the release of Battlefield 1 is getting people interested in WWI, I created this thread for anyone who is willing enough to go out of the way and make a WWI impression, despite the chances of a WWI airsoft event happening being pretty low, and only really using it for walk-ons. So, post what you got, what you are working on, any questions you got. Goal is for this to be an overall thread for WWI. I'll start with what I got going! Standard Prussian soldier. I'm not going to put too much effort into this, unless WWI airsoft happens to really pick up. Until then, I'll be using some WWII stand-ins: Jack boots, tornister pack, and Kar98. I also got a WWI Scot that I'm piecing together that will actually be more accurate!
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
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Post by 2nd Bat on Nov 2, 2016 20:48:34 GMT -5
Wow! Very cool Drac. Obviously for WW2 the webbing was brown. Are those some of your homemade pouches? I have gotten lots of compliments on the ones you made for me. Did you also make the e-tool cover? The "BAR 98" looks great as well!
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Dracul
Master sergeant
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Post by Dracul on Nov 3, 2016 5:08:16 GMT -5
Good to see that my pouches were worth the effort.
No, outside the uniform, helm/cover, and shovel carrier, everything here was just pieced together from onesies and twosies of WWI gear that got grouped into WWII lots I've gotten over time. Even then, only thing I paid full priced for was the base uniform. I found some pretty good deals the helm and such, in the end, this wasn't a costly impression.
The BAR98 is an old one from Brownien.
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Post by jared21 on Nov 14, 2016 20:31:18 GMT -5
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Dracul
Master sergeant
Posts: 1,341
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Post by Dracul on Nov 16, 2016 8:54:52 GMT -5
That's really cool. BTW, is that WWI webbing you are wearing? A lot of the info I found was that there wasn't a lot of difference between WWI and WWII US webbing, at least differences that wouldn't really be noticed when worn.
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Post by jared21 on Nov 17, 2016 20:03:38 GMT -5
There are some minor differences... In the picture the WWII is on the right and the WWI is on the left. Starting at the haversack, the meat can pouch uses a button instead of a strap closure, and the hardware and coloring is a little different. The cartridge belt weave and coloring is different, it may be hard to tell in the photo though. The biggest difference is probably the first aid pouch that I have on my rig, the WWI pouch uses two snaps instead of the single closure of the WWII. Other than that they are pretty much the same, in a pinch one could pass for the other quite easily.
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
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Post by 2nd Bat on Nov 17, 2016 20:53:38 GMT -5
Quite a bit of the WW1 issue web gear remained and was issued out and used in WW2. WW1 web gear often mixed in with WW2 items. Haversacks, canteens and covers, mess kits,wire cutters, shovels ammo belts, pouches. It is indeed a discriminating eye that could readily spot the difference.
I've noticed that web gear pouches were often gathered at the bottom on WW1 items. I have a bizarre bandoleer that I initially thought was a Garand 10 pocket belt then realized it had a slip through buckle (not hook and twist). It also has no ring hook slots for suspenders or added pouches. Someone suggested it might be pre WW1. No dates or markings on it. Got it at an estate sale with a mix of WW1 and WW2 items.
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Dracul
Master sergeant
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Post by Dracul on Nov 21, 2016 10:58:47 GMT -5
It might also be another country's version. A few other countries adapted the cartridge belt.
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
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Post by 2nd Bat on Nov 21, 2016 19:33:06 GMT -5
A lot of US GI issue web gear was produced in England and Australia. There are noticeable differences in the canvas weave and some of the hardware.
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Dracul
Master sergeant
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Post by Dracul on Nov 22, 2016 10:38:43 GMT -5
Only other thing I can think of is maybe they were made to fit a specific job. Maybe for type of soldier who didn't need suspenders and a full pack and such, but need to carry rifles. Some sort of guard or vehicle duty maybe?
Either way, the similarities between WWI and WWII gear would be helpful to get those who are interested in WWI a pretty decent start with a US impression.
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
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Post by 2nd Bat on Nov 22, 2016 13:45:11 GMT -5
I have an item of web gear (absolutely no idea where I acquired it). It is a belt with 9 pouches that look to be identical to the pouches on a GI issue Springfield/ Garand ammo belt but has a slip through buckle instead of the hook and clasp buckle. There are no attachment grommets either above or below so if I had to guess I'd say it's a 30.06 bandoleer. No markings or date on it at all. I suspect it is WW1 or perhaps older? Any experts out there have a guess? An enblock clips slides in but only with great effort will the pocket close. I think they were intended for five round stripper clips which fit perfectly. Another reason I think It's pre WW2.
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Dracul
Master sergeant
Posts: 1,341
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Post by Dracul on Nov 22, 2016 15:51:15 GMT -5
9 pouches, now thats pretty damned odd. My WWI Scot is mostly finished, and near "stitch nazi" level. I had an earlier version of it, with a khaki drill tunic that was tight in the sleeves and the collar hooks didn't want to clip on. It was terrible, and honestly I didn't like how it looked as a whole, so I went ahead and splurged for a proper wool tunic, kilt apron, and a few other items. And the look drastically improved!!! Was also too lazy to dig out my e-tool head.... I got proper foot wear and Scottish spats, I didn't want to bother putting them on today.
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
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Post by 2nd Bat on Dec 13, 2016 18:27:24 GMT -5
Looks glate laddie! And a proper Smelly to reach out and be touching Gerry with!
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Post by stosstrupp on Jun 11, 2017 12:22:58 GMT -5
I am working on a WW1 Stosstrupp uniform right now. It is coming together nicely, it is just time consuming and expensive. I have wanted to make realistic WW1 airsoft a thing for a long time, and with games like Battlefield 1, Verdun, and Supremacy 1914, I really think some people would be up for it.
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Dracul
Master sergeant
Posts: 1,341
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Post by Dracul on Jun 14, 2017 6:35:46 GMT -5
If people thought WWII impressions were expensive, haven't looked at WWI stuff, haha.
Unfortunately though, the realism for airsoft drops even more from WWII to WWI. WWI was much more up close and personal and melees with knives and shovels and bayonets were extremely common.
But don't get me wrong, I think it could still be fun and something maybe worth trying one day.
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Post by volkssturm on Jun 14, 2017 21:06:55 GMT -5
It seems to me that some time ago I saw a picture of a pre-WWI cavalry/mounted cartridge belt that was short a pocket on the left side to make room for a .45 mag pouch, but it had the usual buckle and grommets. I've search around for pics but haven't found anything like you describe. Interesting piece.
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Post by slick63 on Nov 14, 2017 13:43:20 GMT -5
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stuka
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Post by stuka on Nov 14, 2017 14:38:25 GMT -5
that's pretty neat, are the rifles from and shoot and scoot or custom made or what?
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Post by slick63 on Nov 21, 2017 6:35:10 GMT -5
that's pretty neat, are the rifles from and shoot and scoot or custom made or what? I think they are a mix of allsorts really. The SMLE`s are probably S+S, the K98 are a mix of PPS and G+G, there`s also also a few rental VSR`s floating about there. Because its a fairly new period to airsoft I don`t think the organisers are too anal about authenticity at the moment. Generally if it 'looks like' from a few metres then thats good enough.
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