I asked this question before and never got a response. With all the enthusiasts out there who have to have every accessory somebody must have run across a Leather Tripod Tool Case. I am looking to make a replica of the leather tool case used on the 1918, 1928 and M1917A1 tripod. I have never even seen a good photo of one. My guess is they were dropped from issue prior to WWII. I ran accross one in an ad by BMGParts.com some time ago but it was an old ad and a small photo. I'm looking for approximate dimensions, a drawing or photos if possible. Maybe other members would also be interested in this information.
Tripod Leather Tool Case?
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To partly answer my own question I found a picture on the "lberator.crew", Browning machine gun site of a tripod with the leather tool case attached to a tripod. It is on an M1928 tripod and this may have been the only tripod to use the case. If anyone knows for sure let me know. The case has two straps that go around the rear leg and a longer strap that goes through the fork in the front of the leg. From the photo I may be able to estimate the size. I also found that BMGparts.com still advertises the case so I enlarged their photo to get better details. I do a little leather work from time to time so I may try to fit this project in.
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Here is a photo of the Gunner's Pouch/Tool Bag
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Link to Pouch gallery
Link to new page on my website
The general dimensions of the pouch are.
6 3/8"--Long
4"------Tall
10"-----Around
16"-----Long strap
8"------2ea.Tripod leg straps (does not include buckle)
3 1/4"--2ea. Front cover straps
Craig
Link to Pouch gallery
Link to new page on my website
The general dimensions of the pouch are.
6 3/8"--Long
4"------Tall
10"-----Around
16"-----Long strap
8"------2ea.Tripod leg straps (does not include buckle)
3 1/4"--2ea. Front cover straps
Craig
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1,359 Posts
Gunner's pouc
The pouch is different for the 1928. I will see if I can dig up a picture. Pretty much the same just a different look/design
Look for smanz-boy auctions. He doesnt have one listed now, but periodicaly does. He sells the 1928 and the 1917. Im not sure if he knows the difference as he advertises the 28 as a 17. One thing to consider. The leather on these pouches did not hold up very well over the years. Most of these you find will be brittle and only good for carefull handling. I was able to get a couple of nice ones(not from smaz-boy). I gave one to my Dad . I suspect the ones he is selling fall into the brittle will be disapointed catagory if you pay $65. He starts the auctions out at $9.99 so thats not bad. Ask to get a detailed description if you buy one. Most of the one you see the some of the straps will be close to breaking off.
Military Marketplace link
The pouch is different for the 1928. I will see if I can dig up a picture. Pretty much the same just a different look/design
Look for smanz-boy auctions. He doesnt have one listed now, but periodicaly does. He sells the 1928 and the 1917. Im not sure if he knows the difference as he advertises the 28 as a 17. One thing to consider. The leather on these pouches did not hold up very well over the years. Most of these you find will be brittle and only good for carefull handling. I was able to get a couple of nice ones(not from smaz-boy). I gave one to my Dad . I suspect the ones he is selling fall into the brittle will be disapointed catagory if you pay $65. He starts the auctions out at $9.99 so thats not bad. Ask to get a detailed description if you buy one. Most of the one you see the some of the straps will be close to breaking off.
Military Marketplace link
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I've sent you a PM and e-mail requesting an addy and offered to send you pics but you haven't responded.
Thanks Craig. I guess I was pretty close in my estimate of the size of the pouch My guess was 6-1/8 inches long or slightly longer and four inches high. I was only off by about 1/4 inch. The picture from BMGparts shows a model only slightly different. It is more square looking whereas the one you show is more round. They don't look like they would be too hard to reproduce. My main problem will be to find buckles of the proper size. I imagine the rivets are copper with washers as that was the style back then. The rest is just cutting and stitching the leather. For some reason I pictured them being black leather but of course they were using brown or just buff leather back then. They kind of remind me of the tool pouch motor cycle riders sometimes use.
The information you provided is also of interest as it is the only reference I have run across on this item. Apparently some thought went into the devolopement of the pouch. I looks like this is an area of collecting that has been somewhat ignored. Even though the pouch was listed in a WWII publication I am surprized that so few pictures from WWII show the pouch in use. In fact I haven't found any so far. Maybe the M13 canvas case was supposed to take its place.
The information you provided is also of interest as it is the only reference I have run across on this item. Apparently some thought went into the devolopement of the pouch. I looks like this is an area of collecting that has been somewhat ignored. Even though the pouch was listed in a WWII publication I am surprized that so few pictures from WWII show the pouch in use. In fact I haven't found any so far. Maybe the M13 canvas case was supposed to take its place.
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753 Posts
I have a original out getting made also, He had to take it apart to do so. I was getting about 10 made. The buckles are the hard part. Most come in chrome, or a gold plate, best i could tell they may have been parked. at least they looked that way on mine. in order to get a good pattern all the stitching had to be removed. the top, or flap has a groove in it to make the hinge on the rear. From what he could tell it had the date of 1917 on it, and SW, maybe Smith and Wesson? The buckles and the brass rivets cost as much as the whole job. I will probably take the hardware and have to blast the chrome off, so far we cant find any without the chrome. I will ask him if I can get the patterns he made. I don't really know what it will sell for yet. He has been working on and off with it for about a month or so. I really hated to cut it apart, but it is the only way to get a good pattern. I have pictures of it before I took it apart. If anyone wants the pictures you can Email me, and I will be glad to send them. I don't have the extra time to post them right now. I will also have some of the straps to. I needed a couple, so I had a few extra made. my email is [email protected]
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Oh, I really had no intensions On making many, I like you wanted a couple for myself, maybe a couple buddies. If you want want one, I can let him know. It is a local leather guy I use. his link to his web site is www.franksniche.com , maybe he can help. He has mine using it for a pattern. If I can help, let me know. I doubt I will sell Them. ... Jeff
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I may be able to get those buckles uncromed, my harness maker has literally hundreds and hundreds if not thousands of new old stock buckles. I have contrmeplated cutting mine apart for a pattern but I just couldn't make myself do it. The box part is in really good shape but the straps are bad where the neatsfoot oil reacted with the brass and the green gunk ate up the leather. Hotch
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well if nothing else he is restoring the one I donated for a pattern. I talked with him and told him I posted it, I figure instead of anyone else cutting one apart, maybe this will help. I couldnt cut it myself. I just dropped it off and said call me when its done. He said it looked to be hand stitched to. the ones he is making will also be hand stitched. I will let him know about the buckles.
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leather
I was going to get a mess of these made up but ran into problems as none of the leather makers here could figgure out the square corners. the stiching looks like it goes in diagnally through both pieces. the leather is going to have to be trimmed at an angle as well.
I was going to get a mess of these made up but ran into problems as none of the leather makers here could figgure out the square corners. the stiching looks like it goes in diagnally through both pieces. the leather is going to have to be trimmed at an angle as well.
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I was going to make some to, but since I only know how to work with metal, I didnt think a steel box would fly very well. I know nothing about leather, other than when he said he would hand stitch them, I thought that sounded painful.I was going to get a mess of these made up but ran into problems as none of the leather makers here could figgure out the square corners. the stiching looks like it goes in diagnally through both pieces. the leather is going to have to be trimmed at an angle as well.
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