Leaderboard

Happy New Year all! Recovering from Cervical spine surgery, in my Bunker in Sunol Cal. Wishing you all, the best for the New Year! Happy collecting! (smiling through the pain! lol)

I picked up this can for cheap awhile back, had a split seam in the front and an ugly coat of "baby jobby" green (only way I can describe it. ) So I decided to try my had at Brazing/welding. After a little work I got a satisfactory bond, I smoothed it out with a grinding wheel on my Dremel tool. And repainted can in German Field grey .

Guys, as stated above.

Guys, This short engagement was recorded in the Ulrich Saft book Kriege in der heimat. These photos were taken post war by a young boy that used to play on the wrecked tanks, what a play ground he had! He is now in his 80s and has recently rediscovered these pictures taken before 1949 but after the war. It shows two of the tanks from the battle although he tells me there were 3 British tanks in a row in column of march and they were destroyed on the North South road that goes past the Hotel Kroepke which is still there today. those tanks were on the road circa 3 to 400m South of the hotel just before the slight bend in the road. The Tiger was further South and I will confirm the locations later. The flak was to the North East of the road described above. The old boy (Albert) has offered to walk the locations with me but he is not in the best of health. I will do it as soon as I and he can. Rich

It's gone quiet on The forum again! Where is everyone?? Well, I will be the 1st to wish everyone a Happy Christmas and Holiday season! Cheers all!!

Guys, been a bit busy and a lot drunk. back to work now! Hope to post more this year, got a few leads to chase down but time is always flying by unfortunately. Best Rich

Hi Does anyone know of a collection of the 8th Army News? My Grandfather appeared in an edition once when, as part of Operation Market Garden. Was photographed handing out chocolate to children from his Bren Carrier. I would be really interested in seeking out if there is a collection of photos that were taken at the same time in case there are any others with my Grandfather in them. I have looked on-line but only come across the same one each time. Any help or advice would be very much appreciated. I have attached the photo below for those interested. My Grandfather is the one sitting in the middle at the back with his goggles pulled up. I love this photo. Regards Ben

I love rock and roll! Let's jam! R.

Hi, I have already learnt something. So the "turtle" helmet shape, of which this of that style isn't it? Was issued as early as WWII. I never knew that. Looking at the elastic version of the chinstrap compared to the later webbing type it does make sense. I have never owned one as the ones I usually come across are shells only and dated quite late. Now I know a little more about their history though they are more interesting. Great job on cleaning the paint off. Truly good work. thank you for sharing.

Only just joined and failed to see this string before asking a similarly related question concerning the state of health of the network. Having been collecting for many years now and, only just finding out about your network by accident. I would be absolutely devastated to find that I have been too late. Been reading some of the posts on the forums and this site definitely is required. Forums with like minded people; are for collectors like the AA are for alcoholics. Collecting is purely for the obsessive and no level of detail or breadth of knowledge can ever be too much. Military collecting is incredibly personal and there needs to be a plethora of sources available like yours. I am so excited that I cannot work out where to start with questions for anyone who is a collector of WW1 items. I was at the recent Detling Military Odyssey show and it certainly looked like collectors are still out there. I think that the Covid time drove a lot of collectors underground to internet only purchasing. I have certainly seen more people out and about in terms of meetings, fairs etc. So chin up and keep up the great work. Regards Camelspank aka Ben

Guys, as stated above.

Thank you for the explanation!

Guys, this was what I salvaged, 2 more jackets and trousers that were too far gone with moth. The denim work jacket survived the collar is a bit eaten but ok. He was an officer in Stalag 9a which you can easily find online. Rich

Sorry for his passing Rich. Thanks for sharing the story and the great photos!

I recently picked up an SA dagger blade for quite cheap price. Got a piece together scabbard through trade(SS/SA/NSKK pieces), Have an SA grip and cross guards coming. It is a "Frankenstein's Monster" but will be nice for display and cheaply acquired ! I figure I am saving all these parts from a junk pile, lol Plus its fun to see the finished result.

I just have the 3 remaining patches. The top right is early theater made. These are 3 variations. I had quite a few at one time, including a MK II helmet with the flash.

Are you keeping them or are you up for a swap? You know that is my old Bde, back then Div. Best Rich

Some more photos of the WW2 P2 Beaded and ribbed handle British Fairbairn–Sykes Commando knife I picked up in Utah. Did some research. I dont believe this one is a Wilkinson made piece, may be a J. Clarke & Son. About 1941. It is a "Bring back" piece, not an import.

He is a tight fit now on the window sill, only a year later, they grow so quick... He likes to swim, I don't hence Army not Navy... He is mental with water, no fear at all... Rich shaggy1.mp4 shaggy2.mp4

Possibly 9th Company. Rich

Gorgeous dog…

Not surprised to be honest.

These items are in a plastic bag with a lot of Raid bug killer. When I get time I will use packing tape to remove the moth cocoon's. I think the one wool jaket with the collar will be ok. The rest is only good as perhaps teaching items to observe the construction techniques?

Here he is, he is a little bugger but now a big bugger! That is him from 12 weeks until now, Liz had just done the cleaning when he came in looking like that and jumped on the bed, had to take him into work and that is him as a watch dog with P8A1 Included Daphne at the end looking like a dead chicken.

TENO, Technische Nothilfe. Rich

They are preparing the next one......

Cool family history, UK is the best place to find any history. Can't help, I'm in Germany.... Best Rich

Cheers @lach470, appreciated. It's hard work getting people back onto forums sadly.... Thanks @Camelspank, really appreciate the donation... thanks for the offer of creativity, are you a graphic designer?

I am a great believer and advocate of "preservation".

I can say for certain, $40 was a good deal. Im thinking Korean or vietnam era due to web color and fittings but I am no expert either. There should be a maker/date stamp on the liner, under the crown webbing. Hope that helps. I am sure some of our US helmet collectors will chime in. At any rate the price was good.

Thanks! I try not to mess with stuff, but if its already altered I will try to make it right for Preservation sake.

I also miss the forums. There used to be TONS! Life is busy between my day job and music gigs at night - but I have started checking in when I can. I'm still here gentlemen - and I'm happy to spead the MCN work to get more 'recruits' on board. Cheers! Rob

Looking good @Afrikakorpsrat64 and as you say, if no original paint then why not?

It's amazing how good camera phones are these days... and I say that as a Professional Photographer.

I was a "Roadie" years back. Also good in a fight, I'm in!

I took these with my Samsung Galaxy S22 phone. has a great camera.

It’s an expensive business running a web forum and we’re still behind in raising money for the web hosting and forum licence costs. I've just paid the software licences for the forum again and pushing content on the website so I'm really trying to kick start the MCN again. If you’ve benefitted from the MCN, please consider donating… https://www.militariacollectors.network/donations/donate-to-the-mcn-2023/

Hi, I am an American living on the North end of Lake Konstanz and about 14 Kilometers from the nearest border crossing to Switzerland. I retired twice (military and civilian) and decided to stay here since I had really no roots in the States. I am a hunter and fisher with a big interest in military knives. My most recent acquisition is a Bulgarian combat knife I was able to purchase in Bulgaria. It is one of the blued ones, not the chrome parade version. I have attached a photo of 4 consecutively numbered E. German KM66's I picked up a few years back SS

Ok, I know I've not been on and I'm the boss... but anyone still here?

Ive been AWOL for ages! i do apologies. Hope all well?

It's quite disheartening, I don't know what the solution is.... I suppose it just needs a few dedicated individuals to make it work...

if you are careful and I mean you have to be really careful. There are some really good glues that you can apply these days that are used in museums for repairing and stopping stuff falling apart. The other option is find a local cobbler who usually do a lot of renovating or know master leather-workers. It is such a great item to own. I have a very worse for wear Rum bottle holder that has the owners name and regiment on the front, as well as brass plate with "RUM" stamped into it. It is completely unrepairable due to it having been sat on its side in water for a long time and then dried out causing the leather to dry to a crisp on the lid and one side of the flask. So I have applied the TRG to it and left it alone other than that. It is a very interesting item that is so obviously personal. I have struggled to find the owner so far though. Just an example of when something cannot be reversed so you just want to stop the rot as it were.

I've been building and painting again This time I present you with two aircraft, both 1:48th scale. B17 Flying Fortress and a B25 Mitchell. Both were made by Revell and, as hinted at by their price tag (less than £30 each), were pretty bloody awful to make. The B25 wasn't too bad, but the B17 required lots of modification and the model didn't include parts to build the aircraft with wheels up, hence there was a lot of cursing, application of filler, swearing, re-application of filler, and general mayhem until I was happy with the result. Oh, and the instructions for the B17 were also terrible, and a lot of parts had to be guessed at as to how they fitted together!! After painting they have turned out pretty good Only problem I now have is I have no ceiling space left !!!

By the way.....this is what it looked like when I got it. Someone had painted this on the rear (probably thinking it was the front). Using acetone, cotton swabs and water, I was able to get this writing off. Happy with the end result. I think it's safe to assume that this was not related in any way to the military? Rob

THE HELMET ITSELF IS GOOD, HOWEVER I DON'T WANT TO SAT OK ON THE DECAL. NOT SAYING IT IS REPRO BUT, IN TODAY MARKET THERE ARE WAY TO MANY FAKES PASSED AROUND. BEST TO WAIT FOR OTHER COMMENTS TO CHIME IN. IF I MAY ASK- WHERE WAS IT FOUND?

Well just signed up to this forum, have been a collector since a kid, interested in all aspects of collecting main areas are post 1945 - 1960 Malaya etc. Allan

Shown the pics to the German EOD types and none have seen anything of that construction. One even suggested due the material (copper and brass) used in construction that it may be some sort of nautical measuring device? Something towed behind a boat? Dependent on the function of the screw of course? Also if a bomb it would split at the join of the copper and steel? Best Rich

Is this a WW1 bomb that was dropped from a plane???

Nice pictures, I need a better camera, I have 2 und both are rubbish. Rich