Season 1 Episode 2 What to wear for the US uniform of the WWII Army Rifleman for the aspiring Reenactor. This video focuses mostly on the uniform pieces necessary to make a good impression.
On the t-shirts, a full-sleeve olive green version was available, impregnated with anti-gas compound. I had one but never wore it as the compound was horribly greasy. I had the anti-gas hood, underwear, bags, little tent thing, etc., everything apart from the gas masks which I couldn't get.
nice vid! what was also one reason they put their chinstraps on the back of their helmets. is that they were afraid an enemy would pull back their helmet and then slit their throat.
And two other things You could put some small things around the strap forming tension to hold like a bullet, or cig pack, although it’s not as good as the cat eyes And if you didn’t feel like actually wearing em since they can get pretty uncomfortable it’s a nice alternative than dangling and racking around
There's a lot more to be said - colour of trousers (OD3 earlier, OD33 as here in around 1945), and the detail of strap attachment to the helmet which determines if it is WW2 or not. There are at least (from memory), M1937, M1944 and M1945 trouser patterns with different pocket details, just for enlisted men. Then there are the M1944 and M1945 cotton trousers to go with the M1943 jacket (differences mostly being ankle closure). 'ETO' jackets, 'Ike' jackets, M1938/41 jackets (never officially called that), etc., etc. Back when I was collecting you'd also sometimes see field trial stuff (M1941/3 sort of transitional jacket, early general-issue snow suits). I only ever picked up one of those items. Occasionally you'd see privately tailored stuff in the 'wrong' colours for an item, privately tailored fatigue uniforms, etc., or rare colours (light OD fatigues) which I snagged a few of, including a light OD (like an M1941 jacket) windbreaker with no lining, trousers, caps, etc. One-piece fatigue uniforms need a 20 minute video of their own at least.
The Type II service shoes are actually the Russet colored boots not the Roughouts which are the Type III service shoes. The Type I is from WWI and were leather sole shoes.
Back in 'the day' before reproductions, Italian and French army boots were close to the double buckle. I didn't get any as mostly we were using gaiters and I never imagined you could hide the buckles under them. I wish I'd known. Several of us had the double buckle boots (originals and French or Italian). Mostly we had Dutch army boots to substitute for type 1, hidden under gaiters, or as a vague substitute for paratrooper boots (wrong number of holes and shape). They were pretty good subs for type 1 under gaiters.
I have heard about the french ones, one of our older gents uses them. they had me fooled at first! With the leggings, I just decided to try it. I ordered doubles when I just started, and we had an early war event. It worked! A little bulky if you look close, but doable.
@@nadleshistoricmilitaryfoun1618 the French were issued lots of US ones during WW2, so seemed to just copy them. I think Italy got a load of US ones postwar. Back when I was collecting the Italian ones were easier to get, if less similar. I'm no leatherworker so didn't consider getting a pair and trying to modify them. The real ones in wearable condition were almost impossible to find except in absurd sizes like 5 wide or 13 and super narrow. About three of us found real ones which is how we ended up comparing.
I think I'm one of the sick individuals that prefer the leggings and type 2 type three service shoe over the double buckle for me its the usgi WWII look leggings wools shit is my preferred look
