ebay trader Panzerfaust 1943

[tailspin]

Hello there,

I was wondering if anyone has dealt with the eBay trader Panzerfaust1943-Depot75 regarding repro French Indochina TAP Para 47/51 lizard uniforms?

Here's the link: stores.ebay.co.uk/panzerfaust1943-Depot75

Thanks,

Paul

[lemaitre]

Not had anything from him personally, but I think Danny (6ebccp) and Cookie might have. Think that was for his survetement 42 stuff though.

[lt13demi]

I believe several here (Texas) in our unit, have dealt with him and were satisfied with his products.

I believe there might be some old threads on the subject somewhere in this sub-forum.

Renault

[Turner]

Hi, I've bought a Denison Smock and WW2 British Khaki Drill KD battledress trousers from Panzerfaust 1943 and never had a problem with these or the transactions. The trousers are very good, the Smock could have been a little longer. But I think that's the usual problem with the repros from Far East. They just won't believe that people might be 6'5'' tall.
I've also thought about ordering a repro French Indochina TAP Para 47/51 lizard suit from them.
Here the trousers (I'm the one with the kepi blanc):


and here a pic of the smock.(which will be aged soon):


With best regards, Turner

[Legion Etrangere]

Turner:

You probably know this (as do all the Brits) ---- but tea is excellent for aging the smock. Or, even better, is to have 2 mates grab you by the arms and pull you across a grassy field (front and back) to 'age' the smock. I did Brit Para for several years but was lucky to have an original (this was back in 1985-86) Denison that was torn and VERY well worn; I am *not* into collecting - original or not, I use it, abuse it and sell it. I then bought a repro from a friend that had been aged in tea / coffee / the field and it looked great. There was a HUGE rip in the back that had been sewn up and looked serviceable but had aged properly even though the Texas sun will overage uniforms and burn the colors out, esp during the summer months.

/martini/

[Turner]

Hi, Martini!
I know both methods. ;D
Found this: www.4commando.org.uk/gallery/events/2005/jun/twinwoods/video/dirtying_small.wmv
I think I'll stick with the tea-method. Usually I didn't want to have one of these over-aged smocks that some reenactors like (because every repro has to look like a 60y.o. original, which has been washed for 598 times). I don't think that repros have to be aged that much, but mine is still too bright.
I'm a collector and many people will cry if you say that you used original Denisons for reenactment. But I think back then there were no repros available, so everybody used originals.
With best regards, Turner

[Legion Etrangere]

Turner:

I agree with you there.

Before King and Country, WPG, and everyone else there was only originals to wear. After two years down here in the heat, sand, dirt, clay, wait-a-minute vines and the usual creatures that find a ride home in your smock, it lasted about three years before it was so ridiculously faded and worn. An SS reenactor I knew wore his original leopard dot before it too had seen too many days in the field (also before LB, WWII Repro or anyone else had appeared).

/martini/

[6ebcp]

Turner you found the old 4 Commando website excellent

I was a member back in the day before it folded in 2006



Me in the middle

Danny

[Turner]

Apr 6, 2009 8:29:33 GMT -5 6ebcp said:

Turner you found the old 4 Commando website excellent

I was a member back in the day before it folded in 2006
Me in the middle

Danny

Hi Danny,

it seems that it was a nice group!
Found the page by searching for 'aging smocks' and I was very surprised when I saw the clip. ;D
Do you still portray Commando?
Regards, Turner

[Legion Etrangere]

Hey Danny,

What a great unit that was ... why did it fold? I had traded emails with the commander for several years and even contemplated making a trip over to do the Commando March at Spean Bridge. The pics from the events were superb and to be able to yomp the original route from the beaches to Pegasus Bridge must have been 'da shyte.'

/martini/

[6ebcp]

I still have a 2 and 4 Commando BD hidden away for the rebirth

It got to the point were most of the members were coming to the age were they didn't want to play soliders at the weekend anymore, also the wives were getting fed up of looking after the family

Danny

[Kenneth]

If I could reply to an old thread here, I'm getting ready to order a "lightened" HBT OD shirt/jacket from Hong Kong. The label that is clearly illustrated in the photos on eBay says Panzerfaust-1943, so I suppose it is the same vendor. Anyway, we've exchanged e-mails and he signs his "Cary." He describes the garment as "French Indochina Vietnam TAP Para TTA HBT Shirt." He went overboard on the name and description but it looks correct. I'm still pondering what size to order.

For those of you who may have acquired one of these before, do they shrink much upon washing? My guess is they do and on me, it's going to seem short to begin with. I'm 6'1" and even when I was in the army, things were short on me, at least the fatigues were. I've always been a tall but now I'm a "large," too.

Anyhow, I assume no one has had issues with their orders from him.

On the subject of appearances, in old black and white photos, everything always looks old, faded and worn. In fact, to see a color photo of anything from the fifties and earlier, everything looks "wrong," which of course is totally illogical.

[craigtx]

Kenneth,

I haven't ordered that item from Panzerfaust. I have ordered the windproofs. I'm 6'4" 225lbs. I got the XL jacket and I almost wish that I had gone to an XXL for a bit more room. I've washed the jacket a coupla times and it seems not to have shrunk appreciably. That being said I washed it in cold water and hung it to dry. I hang dry all my kit. That way I avoid shrinkage and havin' to replace kit as often.

[Kenneth]

Thanks for the quick reply. I have a set of the windproofs that I got from What Price Glory but they probably were made by the same people. Who knows?

I had inquired of the sizing, since none was indicated on the eBay listing and they come in the usual S-M-L-XL-etc. I don't know how the originals were sized but I suspect they came in short-medium-and long. But judging from the original OD Vestes from La Tranchee (new and unwashed) as well as others (old and washed), they'll all be short on me no matter what. I've examined a lot of original French jump jackets (Algerian war period) and they're all short, too, though plenty big enough otherwise. One local vendor, who no longer has a walk-in shop, even had an OD jump smock but it was very pricey.

For what it's worth, I've seen several locally (Vietnamese) produced (for Vietnamese consumption) camouflage uniforms, usually just the jacket, in several variations of the old French jump jacket, but all sized for fourteen year old boys.

I'm also tending to hand wash more and more things, too, but not always to avoid shrinkage. Some things made of canvas come out with strange wear markings after machine washing. I've also had some washable things dry cleaned to be on the safe side. Ultimately I worry so much about some things that I end up not wearing them.

[lew]

Cary (Chan) is a good dude to deal with. I've bought 2.5 sets of British Windproofs, and had the trousers tailored to fit. The sizes listed have been accurate in my experience. When in doubt, shoot him a message with your actual measurements and he'll get you squared away. He's been making repro uniforms for over a decade, and I don't think there's anyone out there that does a better job.

Craig, myself, and some others are actually working with Cary to do a run of camouflage Mle. 47/52 tenue de saut TAP. Let me know if you want to get in on it as we're leaving the window open for another week or two.

[Kenneth]

Thanks for the good things you just said about Cary (Chan)(!!). I already have two pair of original trousers from the airborne outfit (the final version I think) and I wouldn't be surprised if the vendor I bought them from didn't still have some original jackets. He had probably a dozen on hand when I bought the trousers but they were all used and seemed to all be extra-large short. But I have three reproduction jackets anyway, so I'm good. I have wish-lists as long as my arm and I don't want to push the issue. I'm equally interested in contemporary things, too. But as often as not, they become outdated before I've even acquired samples. The days are hastening by!

[lew]

Which model trousers? Mle. 47/56, Mle. 64?

Cool. If yer all set, excellent. If not, you still have a week or so to hop on.

[Kenneth]

I'm pretty sure they're the last version and they're the airborne version, not the all arms version.

[craigtx]

I've got a set of the windproofs and I couldn't be happier. The trousers compare very favorably to my originals and the quality is top notch!

I'm really lookin' forward to seein' what he does with the 47/52s.

[lew]

May 20, 2015 7:48:03 GMT -5 Kenneth said:

I'm pretty sure they're the last version and they're the airborne version, not the all arms version.

Post a picture so we can sort it out. The 47/56 trousers are easy to identify.

[Kenneth]

I have no way to take photos. It's a wonder I can even do this.

[lew]

Lulz. Well, we're delighted you made it this far.

The Mle. 47/56 trousers are easy to identify: cargo pockets with snaps, and the front slant pockets close with a flap that is secured with three snaps. The legs should have elastic at the cuff. Search Google for "pantalons TAP Mle. 47/56" and see if that matches what you have. If you need further clarification, I can take pictures of my original and repros.

[Kenneth]

That describes what I have, except they had drawstrings and not elastics at the cuffs. I have two original pair and one reproduction. The color is a little off on the reproduction pair and the fabric is a tad lighter but the snaps work better. The two originals I have were unissued or at least unused. I've never seen a new jacket/smock/veste. I have seen a new plain OG set, though.

If I can get my wife to help me (she has a camera), perhaps I can post a couple of photos.

[lew]

No need, but I won't stop ya. . I am well acquainted with the 47/56 pattern. I have five sets- one original, four repros from Doursoux. Also, issued versions can be encountered with either the drawstring or elastic, and adding elastic was a common tailoring job. There are about six different shades encountered with the 47/56, from very dark to almost red/brown-dominant. Chances are the repro you have fits one of those color schemes. My collection of casquettes Bigeard display four different shades. Two are original non-faded and those are different shades.

[Kenneth]

I finally placed an order for an HBT shirt from Panzerfaust 1943. Reasonable price. Now we'll see how long it takes to get here, not that I'm in any kind of hurry. After all, it has been two weeks since my first inquiry to him.

I also have a bid in on a pair of French rough-out two buckle boots, which will probably go for more than I'm willing to pay. The funny thing is, the seller is a shop I somewhat regularly visit and have been visiting for years. Obviously I don't visit often enough. Anyway, now I have to decide just how much I'm willing to spend. "NCHS," which I mention below, had several pairs when he had his shop but they were all too small. Someone on eBay is offering them for twice the price La Tranchee has them for.

Another eBay seller, "NCHS," is someone I have known for probably 40 years and was one of the first people I became acquainted with when I moved to Northern Virginia. He's the one I bought the two pair of new French camo trousers from a few years ago. He's about 70 now and no longer has a walk-in shop but he still does things on-line. He never had much French stuff.

As regards washing repro stuff, I finally washed a pair of reproduction French camo pants over the weekend. They came from Sportsman's Guide. I washed them in cold water by hand and there was zero shrinkage. But I had machine washed the matching jacket in cold water and it did shrink a little, at least in the sleeves, the only place I would notice. So that pair is reserved for rolled up sleeve duty only. I have another XL and also an XXL that I will be more careful with. The elasticated cuff tends to ride up anyway.

[lew]

I've done lots of business with NCHS. His repro French headgear is outstanding.

I've washed all my uniforms- repro and original- with Woolite on a regular cold wash cycle followed by a normal dryer experience. Never had a problem with shrinkage.

All the sellers offering Mle. 52 boots in the US and UK think they're made of gold. They made millions of pairs, so don't pay an arm and a leg.

[Kenneth]

I don't want a pair of those boots all that badly because the ones I've examined seemed to be made of iron. I suppose a generous application of your favorite boot oil might help.

[lew]

I have two pairs that I wear regularly. I find them as comfortable as my hiking boots that I normally wear. Lace them up tight and wear foot powder. Oil them before you intend to wear them and they'll break in nicely. [Note: do not use Neatsfoot compound/oil. It will deposit salt within the leather. Some of it will migrate to the surface leaving a white crust and the rest will stay inside and tear at the leather fibers.]

[Kenneth]

Well, I won the boots. I'll be picking them up this weekend. I've been using Obernauf's boot oil and wax (two different things) on some of my boots. Do you suppose that's okay to use? Or should I try to find some genuine French issue something or other?

[lew]

Obernauf's, Pecard's, and Sno-Seal are all top end leather products. Use the oil.