fallschirmjager

The world is full of dishonest people out there and this cap will not always be in my posession so if i can help to ensure that my hat does not get passed on as genuine then thats my reason for posting. This is common practice in WW2 items but if its an issue I'll just keep my repro items to myself in future!

Stuart that is correct - the troopers also had the leather bands!

Well got to own up - its a total reproduction! Cheers Mike

I thought some of you may like my latest Slouch hat:

thats as firm as I can be I'm afraid! some of the digits are extremely difficult to read!

The numbers appear to be 78936 - anyone any idea of unit/owner? Cheers Mike

Many thanks on this chaps, I'm glad they are Boer War period, I'll see if I can work out the number on the side and then its possibly traceable to an individual which would be nice! The smaller knife to me is possibly not military issue - light horn handles and no WD marking - were unmarked light horn handled knives ever issued? Somone mentioned a book that the smaller variant may be in but can't remember the books name - anyone any ideas!? Mike

Thats interesting, how do you know it is a navy knife as i was under the impression there was a standard british knife issued to all troops including mounted troops who also had uses for the spike? Indeed there is a number impressed into the wood, its a bit difficult to read however! Mike

I think chequred black handles is post boer war! Mike

the top one is approx 10.5cm long and has ivory handles the bottom one is approx 12.5cm long and has a wooden handle with a number stampped into the handle. From what I can see they both appear to be Boer war or earlier design. The top one is made by SHARP LIVERPOOL and has no WD marking. The bottom one is made by HG LONG and CO SHEFFIELD and has a W D and WD Crows foot marking and a '4'.

Interesting article, many thanks! Some of this could easily be misinterpreted such as the bit about mainly australians in the second regiment and the volunteers white flash - this is a post Boer war description, there were several badge versions during the Boer War and the flash was tartan! But good to read so any more would be helpful! What is the full title of the book I think it will be useful to have! All good stuff! Many thanks! I think I may start a Scottish Horse thread, do you think there would be appetite for this? mike

Dear All Does anyone have any pictures of british issue folding knives from the Boer War period. I picked up two at the weekend. One is a dark ivory colour and the other seems to be black wood. But the ivory one is smaller than the dark wood one. The dard wood one has WD and arrow and the No 4. The other only has manufacturers mark? Cheers Mike

Mervyn Just plain old fashioned photoshop that is about 10 years old now!!! But I think pretty much any photo editing software will do but I know photoshop is the dogs bits! A professional would do what I've done but they would retake the initial photograph better and spend more time on each picture and remeber my were optimised for the web so more detail is lost but for print you dont need to do this! Look forward to aything on the SH, I want to put a website together on them! Just picked up a QSA for Scottish Horse today, so quite excited!! Mike

Leigh That would be great! Do you want to kick it off!? Heres one of the paras just to get you excited!! Notice the proper Helmets not that plastic stuff!! LOL

OK this is the best I can do the original photo is just not sharp enought! I've posted some other pics, hope you like them!