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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

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

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

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

These replica straps were duplicated from original strap dimensions:

viewtopic.php?f=24&t=4804

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.

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.

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.

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.

thanks a lot DARIVS ARCHITECTVS

Anytime fellas!