DAK tropical set of signals unteroffizier shoulder straps ? or are they ??

[OSS]

It is not always a simple matter to distinguish subtle variations of Waffenfarbe due to the variety of dye lots and weathering. Also digital photography doesn't always capture the true color of Waffenfarbe.

[drempfer]

This has been a nice informative thread; great collections out there! As to the original mismatched straps shown: I’m going with signals. They certainly could’ve been worn together but no definitive way of knowing of course, but I would pair them up on a tropenbluse in a heartbeat.

[Tim O'Keefe]

That's a very nice selection covering a number of branches Tim. The early flak straps are exceptional but they paid for a pair of 1940 dated 1st pattern short boots; I had to do it.

Regards

Mark

Thanks Mark

Well in the end i helped pay for your Boots & got a unique set of DAK straps. I like to think of them as early MG Bn

with kind regards

Tim

[Tim O'Keefe]

It is not always a simple matter to distinguish subtle variations of Waffenfarbe due to the variety of dye lots and weathering. Also digital photography doesn't always capture the true color of Waffenfarbe.

Thank you sir for the wise words and support. It is always good to hear from you and appreciate your time

Will have to acquire a set of signals yellow to compare with. Anybody ?

[Tim O'Keefe]

This has been a nice informative thread; great collections out there! As to the original mismatched straps shown: I’m going with signals. They certainly could’ve been worn together but no definitive way of knowing of course, but I would pair them up on a tropenbluse in a heartbeat.

Hi Dan

Always good to hear from you. Yes there are a few excellent collections of AK straps that are still sleeping. Perhaps someday we will see them ? Thanks for your contribution as to the waffenfarbe and if a match used set or not ?
Here is a hasty set up outside and indoors just for you

[Tim O'Keefe]

Would like to expand on an aspect of one of these two straps. The heavy wear to the tresse on one one them. What has caused this ?
Have seen this a few times with AK/tropical straps but not to often. In this case it's just on the one strap which of the two could possibly be signals yellow piped. Also notice where the button would have been on the strap. It protected the tresse from the wear in that area compared to the rest of the tresse including above the button where it curves around which shows heavy wear as well.
The other gold piped strap does not show this wear to the tresse. Usually with the sets of two, both straps have this phenomenon ?

Anyone have a set of AK straps with this trait ? Or an idea as to the cause of the wear ? a strap worn over the shoulder, rifle maybe ?

[pauke]

For comparison signals

[pauke]

Worn Tresse for comparison

[jacquesf]

Wow nice examples. J

[Tim O'Keefe]

For comparison signals

Very nice set and they do show the different and similar traits to the single worn tresse strap.
Maybe you should send them on over for a better comparison

[Tim O'Keefe]

Worn Tresse for comparison

This is exactly what i mentioned. Same worn look to the tresse.
Have also seen green PzGr NCO straps with this trait, so not just one branch of service.

Since the wear is on both straps that would imply that a rifle or MP40 was not the cause. Perhaps Binoculars ? or ??

Incredible set of straps by the way. Don't see orange waffenfarbe in the desert to often

[eubank]

It is not always a simple matter to distinguish subtle variations of Waffenfarbe due to the variety of dye lots and weathering. Also digital photography doesn't always capture the true color of Waffenfarbe.

Yes this must lead to notable inconsistency and variety. To what extent did the troops themselves in the field at the time wear the "wrong" waffenfarbe, given the difficulties with supplies even getting to Africa ? Wouldn't signals troops sometimes wear what was to hand ( recon gold, and vice versa ...) because it was close enough ?

Very nice collection there Tim !

[Tim O'Keefe]

Wow nice examples. J

Agree pauke does have some special AK straps and hopefully we will see more sometime. Always good to hear from You

[Tim O'Keefe]

Yes this must lead to notable inconsistency and variety. To what extent did the troops themselves in the field at the time wear the "wrong" waffenfarbe, given the difficulties with supplies even getting to Africa ? Wouldn't signals troops sometimes wear what was to hand ( recon gold, and vice versa ...) because it was close enough ?

Very nice collection there Tim !

You make an excellent point not really mentioned yet
There are photos of Officer's wearing the standard tropical tunic with unmatched European officer's tab's and boards or soutache on their M40. So if officer's had this problem certainly the enlisted did as well. Signals would wear yellow or gold if not available. Same for the PzGr using various shades of green and so on.

Thanks for the compliment on the collection. Am fortunate to have some good friend's here on the WAF help me out with some nice additions.

Here is the set of Schutzen/PzGr straps that i mentioned formerly from my collection. They too have the intense wear to the tresse like the signals single and the orange piped pair. Am curious as to the cause of this ?

[pauke]

Tim, I often thought the tropical Tresse is made of a finer thread. That aside, the extremes of the direct tropical sun must be the reason. If the cloth on straps bleaches in the sun then surely the Tresse suffers as well. Heck, I start to degrade in sunlight after a few minutes myself and my hair has lost most of its color!