Smitty's Junk

Montana Smith

Active member
Rocket Surgeon said:
I always lurk here, adding to the view count.:hat:

I just don't advertise, if you see my gun(s) it's already too late.

Maybe I'll post a pick of my crossbow...

All contributions gratefully received!

Rocket Surgeon said:
Most interesting to me are the pins, (I have a few myself), and the background. Any originals? Your favorites? Love the Nazi pin, (like Toht's/Donovan's). Would appreciate a thread on those and their history.:hat:

Lots of them are likely to be originals (based on where and who they came from), but I find it hard to tell, since there are so many restrikes in circulation.

I have a list of all the badges that I have, where I've tried to date them to their actual period of use (or the period they represent).

As for a favourite, that's difficult. Most of the badges I didn't go out specifically looking for, and I never intended to collect them. They've just been in my line of sight at the right price, and usually in small collections - at fairs and boot sales.

There's one candidate for favourite: a bronze Royal Flying Corps cap badge. I have an inkling that it's original, and not one of the cheap restrikes. It has the look of age, verdigris on the back, and a broken off pin.

The three Nazi badges are all reproductions:

SS Officer Cap Eagle M1938
SS Officer Cap Skull & Cross Bones M1938 (RZM M1/52)
National Socialist German Workers Party (enameled and nickel plated RZM M1/129)

Toht was a 'Golden Pheasant', one of the first 100,000 party members, and his badge has a gold ring around the edge. I'm waiting to track down a repro of one of those.

:hat:
 
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Stoo

Well-known member
Rocket Surgeon said:
Most interesting to me are the pins, (I have a few myself), and the background. Any originals? Your favorites? Love the Nazi pin, (like Toht's/Donovan's). Would appreciate a thread on those and their history.:hat:
Most interesting to me are Montana's helmet plates. I recognize a whole wack of them but there are a few that I'm curious about. (His collection has appeared before in some of his other photos but I didn't want to take those threads off-topic.) Instead of starting a new thread, maybe this one could be re-named? "Montana Smith's Military Collection" (or simply, "Smiffy's Stuff").:)

@Montana: Last time I was in Barcelona, there was an SS helmet for sale at a street market. The vendor was asking 350 Euros so I passed. (My girlfriend said, "Why the %!*# do you want that?!?":eek:)
 
Stoo said:
Last time I was in Barcelona, there was an SS helmet for sale at a street market. The vendor was asking 350 Euros so I passed. (My girlfriend said, "Why the %!*# do you want that?!?":eek:)
Too bad...wha's the going rate?

I was perusing my Fianna Fáil crest yesterday...

1_356b157b1e250bd578432ebe1b4c6000.jpg


...the outer inscription is Gaelic, “Oglais na hEireann” for IRISH DEFENCE FORCES, as first defined by the Irish Volunteers in 1913.

Mine is on a beret, though they were originally on the the Model 1927 Irish Free State Helmet.

The tin hats of British design were not at the top of the Free State’s list when it came to choosing a helmet. The French Adrian design was tried and found to be unsatisfactory. Finally, the German M16 design was settled upon and the German Counsel approached. However, because of the provisions in the Treaty of Versailles the Germans were forbidden from exporting military materials including helmets. So, it was back to the Brits, who just happened to find themselves in possession of surplus German helmet manufacturing machinery and, who would be willing to contract for manufacture, (through the auspices of Vickers, Ltd.), of the German Model 1916 style helmets for the Irish Free State government. Thus, the circle seemed complete, and as we shall see in the following evaluation with some interesting results. A total of 10,021 helmets were made for an Irish Free State standing army of 10,000. Intentionally or otherwise, the helmets were made with an inferior quality material.
 

Montana Smith

Active member
Stoo said:
Most interesting to me are Montana's helmet plates. I recognize a whole wack of them but there are a few that I'm curious about. (His collection has appeared before in some of his other photos but I didn't want to take those threads off-topic.) Instead of starting a new thread, maybe this one could be re-named?

I'm all for renaming it, Stoo. This has been a very self-indulgent thread for me, so I'm glad that it has at least something to interest others.

They're mostly cap badges, but there is one definite helmet plate: Royal Marines Light Infantry (from the 1905-1953 period).

And a 53rd Regiment of Foot (Shropshire) shako plate (pre-1881 period).

Both these are probable restrikes.

Stoo said:
@Montana: Last time I was in Barcelona, there was an SS helmet for sale at a street market. The vendor was asking 350 Euros so I passed. (My girlfriend said, "Why the %!*# do you want that?!?":eek:)

:D

Well, you do like your helmets! I understand both the attraction, and also your girlfriend's reaction. It sounded like a lot of money.

I'm drawn to all sorts of curios, and not being able to confine myself to collecting just one thing (as you know I never grew out of buying toys!) I'm not inclined to spend too much on any one item. I'm also not confident about spotting fakes and repros.

There's a big demand for German wartime militaria, and especially the Nazi items, so the market is flooded with reproductions. So much so that I always expect them to be repro.

As with the badges I've never paid more than the value of a repro - so if they're genuine that's a bonus.

Rocket Surgeon said:
I was perusing my Fianna Fáil crest yesterday...



...the outer inscription is Gaelic, “Oglais na hEireann” for IRISH DEFENCE FORCES, as first defined by the Irish Volunteers in 1913.

Mine is on a beret, though they were originally on the the Model 1927 Irish Free State Helmet.

I only have two badges from the Emerald Isle:

Inniskilling Dragoon Guards 6th Battalion (1914-1922)

Royal Irish Rifles (Angel Harp, King’s Crown, Quis Separabit, 1913-1952)


And with Stoo in mind, two from Canada:

North Nova Scotia Highlanders (NNS. 1936-1954)

Royal Tank Corps (‘Canada’, King’s Crown 1924-1953)
 
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Montana Smith

Active member
Lonsome_Drifter said:
I love your collection of medals, Montana.
How long did it take for you to accumulate so many of them?

Maybe over the last 8-10 years I've hoarded most of them. It started with a small collection I bought with the idea of selling, but then couldn't part with them. I haven't been actively seeking out badges, and I've limited my budget, so additions are sporadic.

DiscoLad said:
I know man, I'm facinated by these things.

It was the fascination with the first batch (and then identifying them) that got me hooked on keeping the badges.

In amongst them are some coins:

1919 British West Africa One Penny
1940 British West Africa One Shilling

and some 1925 and 1936 Deutches Reich Reichspfennigs.

Nothing valuable, but just historical curios.

Elsewhere I have a little collection of Hitler-era stamps, with inflationary price increases stamped on them, which for me is a very telling everyday object of its time.

And Disco, I know you like shiny things. Well this next object isn't too shiny, but it is very sharp on the pointy end. A Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife with blackened blade:

DSCN3915.jpg
 

Montana Smith

Active member
Okay, so I asked Finn if it was possible to give this thread a more fitting title...

'Smiffy's Stuff' was the suggested option.

I didn't count on Finn's inimitable sense of humour! (a.k.a. 'Finnisms')

I suppose 'Smitty's Junk' is at least more fitting! :D

Thanks, Finn. (I think!)

:hat:
 
Montana Smith said:
I suppose 'Smitty's Junk' is at least more fitting! :D
Consider it a bait and switch, but in the opposite direction, :confused: (what would one call that?)

I like it.

Though better than the alliterative Schmitty's Sh!t?
 

Montana Smith

Active member
Rocket Surgeon said:
Consider it a bait and switch, but in the opposite direction, :confused: (what would one call that?)

I like it.

Though better than the alliterative Schmitty's Sh!t?

gah1.gif



Don't give Finn any ideas!


lol1.gif
 

DiscoLad

New member
Rocket Surgeon said:
Sorry, just one more:

schmitty's schitty schitty bang bang?


HA.... I like the new name, more fitting.

Especially since I've only posted one picture of my own.
 

Indy's brother

New member
Montana Smith said:
And Disco, I know you like shiny things. Well this next object isn't too shiny, but it is very sharp on the pointy end. A Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife with blackened blade:

DSCN3915.jpg

Nice, a very fitting piece to your collection. The Fairbairn Sykes is instantly recognizable. I considered getting one, as I am kind of in the market for a quality field knife (you know, with all the combat operations I find myself involved in:p ), but I ended up passing on it. Too impractical for much of anything other than slicing and stabbing flesh. I'm eventually going to get myself one of these much more practical numbers:

pt_653.jpeg


I would rather go with something more vintage, but the "ASEK? Survival Knife System" simply won me over in the end with it's awesome features.

At any rate, yours has an interesting legacy. ;)
 

The Drifter

New member
Love the knives. I would love to find a WW2 or Vietnam War era K-BAR. A buddy of mine still has the one he used in Vietnam. It still holds a wonderful edge after all these years, and he uses it regularly.

(Nice name-change BTW Finn. It reminds me of Nurch's "beat the heat" thread from awhile back!)
 
Very nice blades. I have a nice Balisong, some knuckles...still have to get that Indy stag horn knife though.

Smitty, what you gonna do? Put all your junk inside a trunk?
 

Montana Smith

Active member
Indy's brother said:
Nice, a very fitting piece to your collection. The Fairbairn Sykes is instantly recognizable. I considered getting one, as I am kind of in the market for a quality field knife (you know, with all the combat operations I find myself involved in:p ), but I ended up passing on it. Too impractical for much of anything other than slicing and stabbing flesh.

No, the Fairbairn-Sykes wouldn't make for a very useful field knife, unless you were fishing...for sharks. It really had one purpose, according to Fairbairn:

In close-quarters fighting there is no more deadly weapon than the knife. In choosing a knife there are two important factors to bear in mind: balance and keenness. The hilt should fit easily in your hand, and the blade should not be so heavy that it tends to drag the hilt from your fingers in a loose grip. It is essential that the blade have a sharp stabbing point and good cutting edges, because an artery torn through (as against a clean cut) tends to contract and stop the bleeding. If a main artery is cleanly severed, the wounded man will quickly lose consciousness and die. (William Ewart Fairbairn, Get Tough, 1942)

It was designed to slip easily into a ribcage. :eek: So, an elegant weapon with a nasty function.

Indy's brother said:
I'm eventually going to get myself one of these much more practical numbers:

pt_653.jpeg


I would rather go with something more vintage, but the "ASEK™ Survival Knife System" simply won me over in the end with it's awesome features.

At any rate, yours has an interesting legacy. ;)

Your's does look a lot more useful. Rambo would be proud as well!

:hat:

EDIT:
Lonsome Drifter said:
Nice name-change BTW Finn. It reminds me of Nurch's "beat the heat" thread from awhile back!)

Haha! I'd overlooked that meaning of junk!

Rocket Surgeon said:
Very nice blades. I have a nice Balisong, some knuckles...still have to get that Indy stag horn knife though.

Smitty, what you gonna do? Put all your junk inside a trunk?

In the UK we put our loot in the boot. :p
 

Indy's brother

New member
Montana Smith said:
In the UK we put our loot in the boot. :p

What a great expression! Being an uncultured statesider, I'm not versed in as many double entendres as I'd like. However, this commercial immediately came to mind. I can only assume that the reference is as seedy as my filthy mind would suggest. Ok, I'm done derailing your thread now.
 

Montana Smith

Active member
Indy's brother said:
What a great expression! Being an uncultured statesider, I'm not versed in as many double entendres as I'd like. However, this commercial immediately came to mind. I can only assume that the reference is as seedy as my filthy mind would suggest. Ok, I'm done derailing your thread now.

I intended a literal transaltion of junk and trunk (one man's junk is another's loot + US car trunk = UK car boot). I've since consulted the urbandictionary.com ! :eek:

Back on track, I have more junk, er curios, to show.

These turned up in a pile of postcards.

These are four original photographs taken at some German rally, each processed slightly differently. You can just make out Hitler standing on the podium. I have no idea of the date or who took them:

IMG_0002.jpg


IMG_0001.jpg


And in the same pile, an original Hitler-Mussolini propaganda postcard:

IMG.jpg


IMG_0003.jpg


There were also a couple of original photos of British WWII troops in a desert, but I haven't scanned them yet.
 

Finn

Moderator
Staff member
Lonsome_Drifter said:
Nice name-change BTW Finn. It reminds me of Nurch's "beat the heat" thread from awhile back!
Well, the thread is full of weapons...
 
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