Brian Wolfe

Excellent group and a fine job of mounting and display. Regards Brian

Jon, now you're starting to make me envious. Very nice pair of medals and as mentioned it's great to see a photo of the recipient as well. Whitechaple is a name that must be known around the world. If I mention to anyone here that I collect British Police memorabilia the first thing they mention is Whitechaple, too bad that H Division is still not represented in my collection. But perhaps there's still time left to correct that. Regards Brian

Another interesting post Jon, it's always good to see WWII groups that can be traced to the recipient. Regards Brian

Hi Jon, Excellent post, thank you very much. Regards Brian

A couple of very nice examples indeed. Just the thing to encourage the youth of the day to join up and in. Thanks for posting them. Regards Brian

Good to see we have a long history of "getting it wrong", I'd hate to think that we were the first. Thanks for posting this interesting bit of history, accuracy notwithstanding. Regards Brian

Very nice, Mike. Thanks for posting this. Regards Brian

Hello Rod. I saw your post on the New Content list and started with post #1 and enjoyed a nostalgic review of your room from years back. An enjoyable tour with my morning coffee. I see that Mervyn has read my mind once again so I'll simply echo his statment in welcoming you back and looking forward to seeing more of your collection Regards Brian

Hi Mike, I would say you secured a great piece of history, whether military or not. Very nice artifact, well done and you didn't make commit the collector's sin of keeping money in your pocket: God bless you my son. Regards Brian

Too often these financial driven moves prove to be both ineffective and inefficient. it has happened here as well throughout Ontario and now many are regretting such decisions. Sorry to hear about the loss of your constabulary, Robin. Regards Brian

Condolences on your loss. Regards Brian

A simple question yet not so simple to pick just one. Here's one from my collection I like, not the biggest or the most colourful, I just like it. Regards Brian

Hello David, Allow me to echo Mervyn's welcome to the forum. You have obviously put in a lot of time and thought into your post and because it is an important subject I have "pinned" the topic in this section. This will allow as many members to read your post and perhaps make their comments and suggestions. Again, welcome to the forum and thank you for your post. Regards Brian

Proof positive that there is more to life (collecting life) than guns and medals that are worth while. Very nice, and I would think rare, find Mike; well done. Regards Brian

Hi Tony, Interesting specimen shown in the link. I have never run onto the MANGROVITE spamping on the scabbard before, though I was aware they were maked this way. Of course here in Canada we saw mostly Canadian and British examples for sale. Back in the 1960's there were going for .99 cents each and you had the pick of the "crop". Regards Brian

That's the in depth information we like to see in our posts. Many thanks Douglas. Regards Brian

Here a little more information which may be verified in the book "Australian Service Bayonets" by Ian D. Skennerton. The earlier specimens had no cleaning hole in the pommel while all the ones made later had them. MA is a mark indicating that it was manufactured in Australia. The markings on the ricasso look to be "9 42" which would indicate a manifacturing date of September (the number 9) 1942, or are my old eyes failing me? There is mention of 1912, which is why I am asking this question regarding the manufacturing date. These were used throughout WWII by the Australian troops with the S.M.L.E. rifle. Regards Brian

Fantastic, well done. Regards Brian

I am always astounded at the information that comes back about Japanese swords. Let me explain. The leather covering is a field cover which simply means it was used to protect the scabbard when the officer was in the field. Whether he was a officer of a landing force or a post clerk is not known by the leather covering on a scabbard. The postal clerk remark was simply an example just so no one from another forum comes back with a long and drawn out reason why this could not have been a postal clerk. I know that. Sorry if I sound a bit "short" it is not intential. I remember the NCO swords being sold that had wooden handles a number of years ago. Everyone said that they were Japanese Marine NCO Landing forces. Which was a load of nonsence as the wooden handle was used instead of the aluminum ones due to lack of aluminum for the purpose later in the war. It's a lot like back in the day when every Japanese sword was taken off a dead Japanese Major by someone's uncle and brought back with blood still caked onto the blade. If every sword brought back belonged to a Japanese Major then their army must have been filled to the gills with Majors. Not to mention the stench of dried blood. These are basically urabn myths. The sword you have posted is a great pirce of history and one I would indeed like to hear more about, Landing Forces Officer notwithstanding. Regards Brian

What a great find! Like finding the lost Dutchman gold mine, (I have maps and will negotiate a price). Regards Brian

Yep, Kai gunto alright, the T'suba (hand guard) is a dead give away, it greatly differs from the army version which I think is the Shun gunto. Good luck on the translation, please do post what you find out when the information arrives. Regards Brian

Hi Irish, I would have suggested that perhaps you were suffering from blunt force trauma to the brain caused by artillery concussion but you have posted some very good examples to back up your opinions. The decoration on the PPK is spectacular to say the least. This post was bound to generate a lot of differences in opinion due to personal preferences. Not everyone in the world would recognize frearms as some of the best examples of enginerring genius as we would. I find the 1897 "Broom Handle" Mauser to be a rather chunky and awkward firearm, as an example, and feels awkward in the hand and is not very nice to fire. However, the engineering is wonderful and add the wooden holster/shoulder stock and you have a deadly weapon that is very accurate. I miss mine (sold it...I'm an idiot!). So, no argument from me on your choice I only wish I could afford all of them for the collection. By the way, so far everyone has posted iconic weapons without question, well done fellows. Regards Brian

This is an Australian bayonet. XOA = a bend test (X) by the manufacturer at Orange (OA) SLAZ = Slazenger and is only found on the wooden grips. The "C" marking is, I believe, only an accountability number (production run numbering) but I stand to be corrected on that. I have never run onto any indication that the bayonet number corrisponds with a rifle number as in Japanese swords and their scabbards of the WWII period. Again I stand to be corrected as my information is dated and my memory is for from infallible. Regards Brian

When you are right you are right, Douglas. Was there ever a more beautiful pistol? . Regards Brian

What can be said? This is a wonderful post and well worth pinning so that is is not shuffled down the list of posts too soon. Many thanks for taking the time to post this interesting material. Regards Brian