WWII British Commando Skeleton Assault Vest (Bren Bandolier 1st Pattern) This is our reproduction of the 1st pattern supplementary bandolier used by commando troops and other units on and around D-day. This item which is also sometimes known as the skeleton assault vest was produced for the sole purpose of carrying extra Bren gun magazines. Our latest reproduction version of this garment is base on the first pattern model produced by the Mills equipment Company (MECo) which was first introduced around about 1942. Our reproduction is made of 15 oz mid-chocolate brown cotton canvas, with original webbing straps and buckles, our new version also has the wider 1 inch cotton binding as used by Mills, in a nice Khaki shade, the jacket is stitched using the original weight thread on the correct period Heavy Duty Singer Industrial Sewing Machine. Also all new production will be marked Harrison Equipment company (HECo 1942) so that marking are more in keeping with the original. We have also resized our replica from an original one to allow for the size and shape of modern re-enactors, and the Bandolier is available in 3 different sizes, and as of late 2011 the two most popular sizes of Large and Extra large are will be available form stock when work commitments allow, with the Medium sized jacket being made to special order ONLY. The manufacture these in the following SIZES; Medium(*) 32 - 36 inches Large 36- 38 inches Extra Large 38- 42 inches (*)Our Medium sized vest is equivalent to the original WW2 large size, All Bren Skeleton Assault Vest are currently made to Order due to other production commitments, plus I normally hold a reserve stock for show orders and sales. £50.00 (All Sizes) WWII 1942 Pattern Commando Battle Jerkin (D-Day Assault Vest) This is a reproduction of the now famous British Battle jerkin invented Colonel Rivers McPherson. The garment was based upon an idea of making a jacket to carry the soldier’s equipment instead of having to have a set of webbing to perform this job. The jacket was based upon the type used by poachers and game keepers in Scotland before WWII. Our reproduction is based on an original example which I had in my own private collection. Our early pattern Battle jerkin is made form 15 oz mid chocolate brown duck cotton canvas, and has the same finished weight as the original. All the toggles are made specially to match the original design and all webbing straps, and buckles used are of genuine wartime manufacture, When available. Since taking these pictures, we've now started to use a larger 2-½ inch size wooden toggle, as these are closer to the originals. LARGE 38- 42 inches (*) PLEASE ALSO NOTE: this item will be made as a special order for you on receipt of payment, so please allow 3-6 weeks for delivery (depending on World location, and our other current production commitments) and there is no refunds on this item! (*) As to resizing please bare in mind that this items has over forty templates and patterns which are required to make this in exactly the same way every time, and thus making it a little bigger due to your waist size is not just a simple as adding in a bit of extra canvas here and there as all the pockets etc have to be readjusted so as there positions remain correct! £230.00 (Made to Order) NB New pictures coming soon WWII British Sten Canvas Hand Guard (Second Pattern) This is a reproduction of the canvas protective hand guard (Second pattern) used with the Mk2S and later Mk5S (Mk VI) Sten guns. These's models were fitted with a silencer for special operations, and were supplied with a protective canvas cover to prevent the operators hand being burnt during the use of the weapon, this cover was produce both in Khaki and later Brown 14-16oz canvas, of the same type as used in the manufacture of the Battle jerkin. The original cover was placed over a Asbestos cord wrapping which was bound around the silencers outer jacket. We supply these in ether Dark Chocolate Brown or a Sandy Khaki shade. Please note this is designed to be used with the army pattern silencer unit which is the same diameter as the rest of the gun, the S.O.E. model is quite a lot larger in size. Khaki(1942-1944) Most MkIIS Sten Guns Chocolate Brown (1943-1958) Some Mk IIS Sten Guns all Mk VS and MK VI Models £8.50 (Each) WWII Pattern VS "Commando Soles"(Repair, Replace or Recreate) I’ve now found a company on mainland Europe that can reproduce the much sort after rubber soles as used by British Army and Royal Marines Commandos during WWII. The Soles are of the correct SV pattern screw and clue type, with the correct style Commando tread pattern but unfortunately they don’t state “Commando” and “Itshide” . They are also large enough to fit big sized ammo boots such as a 12 or 13 etc, all you have to do is clue and screw them on and cut them down to size, or if you'd prefer pay a cobbler to do it for you. The heal shown in the picture above is the Itshide pattern so you can see that the tread is the correct type. Please NOTE these soles are special order only as its not worth me stocking these, the idea is to do one or two orders a year, if you want the heels then I’d need to know the size, this can be found out by measuring the conventional leather heels on the ammo boots that you intend to convert, finally I’m not a cobbler so the Evo-stik and brass screws you’ll have to do yourselves. £15.00 (Per Set)