cluttonfred
Member
OK, I am thinking about getting some accessories to go with my WWII rifle collection: M1 Garand, M1 Carbine, M1917 Enfield (WWII refurb) & Lee Enfield No. 4 Mk. 1*. I am not planning to be a reenactor or anything, I'd just like to have the right stuff to go with the guns.
For the leather or canvas bits (slings, stock mag pouch for carbine, stripper clip/en bloc clip pouches, etc.) I will probably go with reproduction stuff: most 70-year-old leather and canvas will be pretty grungy and fragile and not really look like it did when issued in any case.
On the other stuff (oilers, cleaning kits, etc.) it's a toss up. If I can find original stuff in good condition and at decent prices, great, but I will probably go with reproductions if I can't.
Bayonets and scabbards are the hardest, as those I would really like to be original. The spike for the No. 4 is easy but the rest are hard to find at good prices and I am leery of being fooled by a reproduction but charged for an original.
What are other folks doing? Thoughts on good sources for authentic WWII accessories at reasonable prices? Please don't say eBay, not my thing and I don't trust what I would get.
Cheers,
Matthew
For the leather or canvas bits (slings, stock mag pouch for carbine, stripper clip/en bloc clip pouches, etc.) I will probably go with reproduction stuff: most 70-year-old leather and canvas will be pretty grungy and fragile and not really look like it did when issued in any case.
On the other stuff (oilers, cleaning kits, etc.) it's a toss up. If I can find original stuff in good condition and at decent prices, great, but I will probably go with reproductions if I can't.
Bayonets and scabbards are the hardest, as those I would really like to be original. The spike for the No. 4 is easy but the rest are hard to find at good prices and I am leery of being fooled by a reproduction but charged for an original.
What are other folks doing? Thoughts on good sources for authentic WWII accessories at reasonable prices? Please don't say eBay, not my thing and I don't trust what I would get.
Cheers,
Matthew