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    Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures)

    Wgrenadier
    Wgrenadier
    Moderator


    Posts : 289
    Join date : 2013-02-16

    Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) Empty Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures)

    Post by Wgrenadier Sun Oct 12, 2014 9:44 pm

    In 1938, the ballistite loops were removed from the lids of basic pouches and utility pouches (Canadian, Indian and some South African pouches would continue to include them throughout the war).

    Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 001a_410 > Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 002a_410

    Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 003a_410 > Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 004a_410

    In 1939, a longer thigh strap (32”) was introduced for the RAC holster.

    Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 005a_410

    Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 006a_410 > Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 007a_410

    In 1939, an Extra Long size was introduced for the belt.

    Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 008a_310  Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 008b_310  Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 008c_110

    In 1939, the officer’s haversack was introduced.

    Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 009a_410

    In 1940, braces and shoulder straps made of multiple pieces began to appear from smaller firms that could not replicate the reduction weaving of Mills and Wrights. These were produced simultaneously to the reduction woven examples. Utility pouch yokes and RAC holsters included this modification as well later in the war.

    Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 010a_410 > Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 010b_410

    Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 011a_210 > Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 011b_410

    In 1940, water bottle carriers switched from a framework construction to a sleeve pattern (shorter sleeves were mostly produced by smaller firms from 1940-1941, with full length sleeves that covered the entire bottle manufactured mainly from 1942-1945)

    Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 012a_310 > Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 013a_310 > Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 014a_310

    In 1940, long braces were introduced and sizes began to be included on braces markings (the loop on the left brace also increased in length on the long braces).

    Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 015a_410 > Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 016a_410 + Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 017a_410

    Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 018a_310 > Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 019a_310

    In 1940, the Mk II basic pouch with its belt hooks set 1” lower, replaced the Mk I (making the pouch more comfortable by allowing it to sit higher).

    Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 020a_210 > Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 021a_210

    In 1940, Mills briefly produced braces of a tubular construction.

    Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 022a_410 > Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 022b_410

    In 1940-41, binocular pouches began to include side buckles.

    Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 023a_410 > Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 024a_210

    In 1940 (possibly earlier), belts with attachment loops made from a separate strips of webbing began to appear from smaller firms that could not replicate the integral weaving of Mills and Wrights. These were produced simultaneously to integrally woven belts.

    Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 025a_310 > Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 026a_410

    In 1940 (possibly earlier), frogs made entirely of 1 1/4” webbing appeared (the original pattern called for a 1 1/2” body, 1 1/8” upper scabbard loop & 1 1/2” lower scabbard loop). Although this measure to ease manufacture was adopted by smaller firms, Mills continued to produce frogs according to original pattern dimensions.

    Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 027a_110 > Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 028a_110

    In 1941 (possibly earlier), ammunition and compass pouches made with a stitched box construction began to appear from smaller firms that could not replicate the integrally woven bellows base gussets of Mills and Wrights pouches. These were produced simultaneously to integrally woven pouches.

    Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 029a_310 > Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 030a_310

    From 1941-1942, laminated canvas items began to be produced by some smaller firms. These items included slings, braces, shoulder straps, support straps and the straps on packs.


    Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 031a_410  Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 032a_410  Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 033a_410  Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 034a_410  Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 035a_410  Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 036a_410

    In 1942, the Mk III basic pouch with its 1/2” longer construction, replaced the Mk II (to accommodate Sten gun clips).

    Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 037a_210 > Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 038a_210

    In 1943, a new style of belt was introduced that replaced the brass tabs and keepers with webbing equivalents. This modification was adopted by the smaller and larger firms alike.

    Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 039a_110 > Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 040a_410

    In 1943, a new style of attachment for braces and shoulder straps was introduced. Like the new style of belt, this modification was adopted by the smaller and larger firms alike (although Mills continued to produce shoulder straps of the single piece type for some time).

    Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 041a_410 > Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 042a_410

    In 1943, the rear tabs on large packs and haversacks switched to laminated thin webbing without a 2” brass tip (Mills resumed using the brass tips by the end of the war and some firms, like M, never used this modification at all).

    Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 043a_410 > Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 044a_210

    In 1943 (not certain), shoulder straps without 2” brass tips appeared.

    Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 045a_110

    In 1943, Sheradised steel fittings began to be used intermittently (many items had a mix of brass and steel fittings). These fittings included gate-leg buckles, 2” Twigg buckles, 1” Twigg buckles, 1” closed bar buckles, 3/4" closed bar buckles, 4-bar Mills patent buckles, "hook and loop" belt buckles, sling catches, haversack hooks, 2” tips, 1” tips, 3/4" tips, 2 1/4" double hooks & 2” double hooks.

    Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 046a_410  Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 047a_210  Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 048a_410  Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 049a_310  Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 050a_110  Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 051a_210  Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 052a_310  Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 053a_110  Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 054a_310  Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 055a_210  Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 056a_210  Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 057a_310  Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 058a_410  Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 059a_310

    In 1944, special basic pouches were introduced for motor transport drivers with a simple webbing belt loop.

    Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 060a_110  Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 061a_110

    In 1944, quick-release closures replaced the press-stud closures on Mk III basic pouches and a grommet was added at the bottom of the pouch for drainage (these modifications did not see much use during the war).

    Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 062a_410 > Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 063a_410 + Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 063b_310

    In 1945, button holes began to be woven into the upper scabbard loop of frogs during manufacture (the entire frog continued to be made of 1 1/4" webbing).

    Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 064a_110 > Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 065a_110

    In 1945, a retaining strap for the helve was added to the entrenching tool carrier (this modification did not see much use during the war).

    Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 066a_410 > Field Guide to British P37 Webbing Modifications (with pictures) 067a_310

    *Many of the above pictures came from the excellent reference site Karkee Web - http://karkeeweb.com/1937main.html

    *I do not have any rights to the above pictures, they are used merely for reference purposes.


    Last edited by Wgrenadier on Sun Nov 01, 2015 3:43 pm; edited 3 times in total
    Wgrenadier
    Wgrenadier
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    Posts : 289
    Join date : 2013-02-16

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    Post by Wgrenadier Sun Oct 12, 2014 9:46 pm

    If anyone can add to/modify the list above, I would be happy to update it!
    zekehp
    zekehp
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    Post by zekehp Mon Oct 13, 2014 7:40 am

    Hi Michael. Very informative. Mike.
    2ndAIF
    2ndAIF
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    Post by 2ndAIF Mon Oct 13, 2014 4:49 pm

    Fantastic write up as usual mate!

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