British tunic help

[Neeley91592]

Hello there,

Over the past two weeks I have been trying to come up with information on what reproduction items to buy for the Irish Free STate Soldier I am making. Much of the equipment is indeed from Britain example 1908 webbing but I'm having problems finding clothes that match with there clothing. Heres the image for the soldier I'm trying to create. Its the one all the way to yourr left. Please someone identify the items hes wearing the tunic would be the same as the one to the right by the way. Sorry for the terrible quality my scanner is not very good.



if the above image isnt working heres a direct link

http://img264.imageshack.us/my.php?i...ture002wn4.jpg

[Neeley91592]

Anyone?

[Tony Farrell]

I understand that the forces of that time utilised Italian uniforms - with Free State badges, dogs and staff tabs. They were not British khaki, but rather a like green-ish feldgrau. I'm not an expert here, but the above is just from what I can remember from a discussion some time ago.

[DJT]

Well you have a very tough project I'm afraid. The uniforms worn in that period were Irish made not Italian as suggested by Tony. I have never heard of reproductions being available. Originals are ultra rare. I had an original officer ensemble but as I think I already told you in a PM I sold it some time ago. The Irish made uniforms were heavily influenced by British uniform design (rather ironically) so your best bet would probably be to buy a repro British WW1 tunic and heavily modify it. I don't know what else you could do realistically.

[Neeley91592]

I have seen one paticular British Tunic that is like this very much, the pockets, location of buttons, etc. except for the stiching that you can see on the front of the the chest where it goes about ninety degree angle. Byt sadly that was a black color and I would never be able to dye that a color like this unless i washed and bleached it about a hundred times. I'm in talks with a WWI reenactors copany that is trying to findd a british uniform just like that for me. I'm worreid about getting the tuncic as I can easily attain the buttons offline as well as the shouldar boards won't be hard, the hat I will have to find one that is the same and add the Fianna Fail cap badge to it. That is M1908 webbing there wearing but blackened right? Thanks

[teltec01]

Have you thought about contacting a company that makes clothing for the movie industry, you might be able to have that uniform made by a costume company that specialises in military clothing. It might be possible to do an on line search and see if there is someone capable of making your uniform and how much money it would cost

[Neeley91592]

Haha funny you say that, that was my intial plan, I contacted the costume manager for the movie "The Wind That Shakes the Barley" which whas the uniform I'm trying to make in it. She said she didn't have the costumes anymore but nicely showed me to the costume store in London that did. I contacted them and it took about a week or so they emailed a short email saying sorry were not in any posistion to sell these. So he sent me to another costume place which hasn't replied in weeks so I decided I would just buy some repo tunic that looks alot like it, and fix it at some local tailoring place of some sort.