Lafette carry straps

[Artie in Miami]

Can anyone tell me how to determine if a pair of leather carry straps for the lafette tripod are original ww2, or post war made ?? I bought a pair and cannot see any markings on either the leather or the metal parts ??

Artie in miami

[drooling idiot]

the suggestion was made recently of checking the stitching with a black light . If it glows - its postwar. But I'm no expert.

[Blanksguy]

Artie,
Take a look at the photos that I have posted below....these are original. Check the end-catches/"Hard-Ware".

As far as markings....most are so old and really used to where you can't see the markings any more.

But for your uses/displays..."if" you can find someone that will make reproductions to this degree.....I would say go for it.
If the sling-set that you are looking at is "Post-War".......I would pass unless all that you neeed is to carry the Tripod to the range from the vehicle.

Regards, RichardS in MI.
Blanksguy2001@chartermi.net

[Robert]

Hi, does somebody have this dimensions of original lafette slings, please?
Thx

[DARIVS ARCHITECTVS]

These replica straps were duplicated from original strap dimensions:

viewtopic.php?f=24&t=4804

[JBaum]

I thought the black light test only worked to see if fabric or thread was made with synthetics. I don't think it works on leather.

[longhorn109]

It's the stitching that glows. Although I am no expert on whether post war cows glow more or less than war time cows. Now I think about it a bit more post war cows probably do glow more due to all the BOMB testing that went on. If you have a glowing sling it's bad and probably in more ways than one.

[DARIVS ARCHITECTVS]

The black light test for textiles is not 100% reliable. Textiles used phosphorous for brightening starting in 1948. Some authentic collectables which have been exposed to soap after 1948 will have stitching that glows under a black light. And many postwar items were made without thread containing phosphorous and appear "genuine". Caveat Emptor.

[MG34Biker]

And, an application of Coppertone Sunblock will prevent the UV light from flourescing the brighteners in the thread/cloth.

MFer at a flea market in Berlin got me on an "original" Kreta sleeveband back in 94. It took it back the next day and was able to get my money back. I bet some other suckah got bent over the table, though.

[Robert]

thanks a lot DARIVS ARCHITECTVS

[DARIVS ARCHITECTVS]

Anytime fellas!