Rare M 42 Bayonet Frog

[djpool]

Here are some pictures of my web/leather bayonet frog. It was originally posted on a thread on field gear where it got buried.I thought I'd resurrect it as a stand alone topic to solicit opinions. As most collectors are aware this is probably the rarest of all bayonet frogs. Originally designed for use by the SS it also saw use with the Army. Recently I've noticed that these frogs are being made for re enactors but their quality isn't good to be mistaken as original.

Anyway I think the one I have could be original but would like to hear what others have to say. On the earlier thread comments were made that it was LW because of the color. I personally think the color in this case had nothing to do with branch of service it was made for.

Here are the pics.

the first one shows my frog in comparison to one in the Bender series on Army uniforms and equipment. The major difference in this shot is the style of rivets at the top. However as you'll see in a later pic my frog also used the same style.



I also compared the webbing used to some known good examples of German webbing and I didn't see a problem.

[djpool]

Some more detailed pics.

[djpool]

Here are the last 2 pictures.

[MGN]

First off Happy Holidays,

I am not very qualified to give an accurate opinion on this frog, but I do like some features of the frog. These are rare and even more rare to find them mint(y) condition.

Here is another variation called the "breadbag" frog:

Michael

[Bill Grist]

Frogs

Guys, Very nice and hard to get frogs. Here is one of mine.. a combination of grey green and yellowish canvas..BILL

[Bill Grist]

#2

[Bill Grist]

#3

[Bill Grist]

#4

[MGN]

Bill, I notice on your frog it has two different threads used, The thicker and more secure one to hold it together in the area where most of the stress would occure. Same technique used on mine. Thank you for posting the photo. I didn't know that these were that popular.

Michael

[Bill Grist]

frogs

Bill, I notice on your frog it has two different threads used, The thicker and more secure one to hold it together in the area where most of the stress would occure. Same technique used on mine. Thank you for posting the photo. I didn't know that these were that popular.

Michael

MIKE, I consider these frogs to be Very RARE.. Even the mod. 42 all leather is hard to find, but not a fraction as rare as the canvas and leather types..... BILL

[derspiess63]

Bill,Mike,DJ,

first of all Happy Holydays indeed!Bill,I like your frog much more than I like DJ's,but there's one thing I still cannot understand after all these years....why the heck writers and such do nearly always label an out-of-the-ordinary item as WSS-issue ?As far as I'm concerned they're 'simply' "ersatz" frogs or,at least, "Different" ones.....albeit ultra-rare and very,very,very,very desirable by all collectors...me for one
DJ...I don't want to "dismiss" your frog out of hand mind you...I just prefer Bill's and to be pefectly honest I've found several"iffy" pictures in those books...one of them being a Swiss boot labeled as "German Mountain Boot"!I'd rather let the guts speak than the books,and I'm sure you'll agree!Even if it ain't the only detail because of which I don't like very much,your frog's webbing looks more tightenly woven than normal imo...it could be the pictures though!
Manny

[MGN]

Hey Manny?
What about my frog?
Michael

I will have a few more photos later today, and I argree with you 3414% on the W-SS idea.

[derspiess63]

Hey Manny?
What about my frog?
Michael

I will have a few more photos later today, and I argree with you 3414% on the W-SS idea.

I did skip it ...........sorry for that Mike !I like it very much
Manny

[djpool]

Bill,Mike,DJ,

first of all Happy Holydays indeed!Bill,I like your frog much more than I like DJ's,but there's one thing I still cannot understand after all these years....why the heck writers and such do nearly always label an out-of-the-ordinary item as WSS-issue ?As far as I'm concerned they're 'simply' "ersatz" frogs or,at least, "Different" ones.....albeit ultra-rare and very,very,very,very desirable by all collectors...me for one
DJ...I don't want to "dismiss" your frog out of hand mind you...I just prefer Bill's and to be pefectly honest I've found several"iffy" pictures in those books...one of them being a Swiss boot labeled as "German Mountain Boot"!I'd rather let the guts speak than the books,and I'm sure you'll agree!Even if it ain't the only detail because of which I don't like very much,your frog's webbing looks more tightenly woven than normal imo...it could be the pictures though!
Manny

hi Manny,

I agree reference books have their share of mistakes. The frog referenced came from George Peterson who is a highly respected collector.That doesn't in itself mean his is original either. But if his was used by an army after the war there would certainly be a lot more of them out there. Certainly if mines a repro somebody would have run into a similar one by now.

As I mentioned earlier these frogs are being made for re enactors now. Heres a pic and as you can see "no contest".



I also agree the weave is tighter than normal but not unheard of.

Here is a direct comparison between the frog webbing [LEFT], some other webbing I have[MIDDLE] and some from an A frame posted by Adrian Stevenson (which was blessed by everyone] RIGHT.Adrians was obviousily not a side by side comparison but you can see the tight weave.



Obviousily I'm not saying mines definately original which is why I'm asking for opinions. Is there anything definitive that would make it a copy-wrong rivets,construction wrong, postwar czech etc?

Regards Jim

[Bill Grist]

frog

Djpool, Yours is most definately REAL.. BILL