Bandoleer ID

[stray_dog]

Hi all!

This leather bandoleer has turned up recently and has put me to some thoughts...

It looks like the British 1903 leather bandoleer, but it's a clearly different item.

First, the pics and comments...

The pouches are more rectangular than the ones of the 1903 bandoleer.


Then, there is this pouch, with separate cartridge(?) cases...



And finally, the leather strap on the back is quite different than the one on the British bandoleers...


The whole philosophy and the flaps, though, show the real influence IMO...

The item is described as a Greek partisan handmade bandoleer. I treat such items with uttermost suspicion, unless there is rock-solid provenance.

I would do the same with this one, but... I found this photo of a partisan from the areas of Eastern Macedonia-Thrace during the Bulgarian Occupation.


The similarities are quite clear, I think. Could that be a Bulgarian item or could one lean towards the "handmade" theory? Greek partisans did make their own leather field gear, but this one looks like a really well made piece...

Regards, Giorgos

[uscob]

Didn't you knew that the greek Partisans had some Factories for their Production? Partisan International Enterprises Greece, the famous PIEG.
For sure it's to good to be field made. I don't have my bulgarian reference by the Hand, but it makes sense, and the Border wasn't that far away to get the stuff.