Beretta Bandoleer?

[Douglas Kerley]

This guy in Greece seems to think that my bandoleer is a fake. What do you guys think? Doug

[Douglas Kerley]

Here's another shot

The holster attachment area.

[Douglas Kerley]

Over all

full size

[Douglas Kerley]

In use

Love this Superman take off pose.

[Douglas Kerley]

One last shot

better color on this one

[ARDITO]

Hi,
it is a very beautiful and original bandoleer for the Beretta M34
I don't understand because your Greek friend says both a copy, in Italy this bandoleer is common to find.
Regards, Luca

[Raffaello Carola]

Hello,

agree with Luca original and common to find in Italy.
cheers, Raffaello

[Paolo Marzetti]

Doug,ask your Greek friend why this bandoleer should be a fake.By what, I mean....
Ciao PaoloM

[Douglas Kerley]

I refered him to this web sight

I hope he reads this. Thanks Doug

[Sparviero]

Dear all,

I see on these pictures no indication why this Model 1874/1889 bandoleer should be fake, but I can confirm there are reproductions on the market.

Some 2 years ago I saw in Belgium a huge pile of Model 1874/1889 and Model 1891 bandoleers and Beretta Model 1934 holsters. These were marked inside with a text (I can't remember what exactly anymore). The seller told me these were television props.

Greetings,

[Paolo Marzetti]

That's very strange.For what I know we've no news here in Italy that this stuff
has been ever reproduced, considering, except some extra rare colonial bandoleers,it is not hard and quite unexspensive to get the various grey-green leather bandoleers.BTW,it is possible some original bandoleers used for TV or movie props, had been marked inside or on the rear in the far past 'Comp. Rancati' or 'cinecitta' or other printed markings of the owner
of this stuff loaned for the props, however we've not to say'ever' in the militaria field. We'd be however very interested in seeing a 'real' fake, because we all know the 'real' original ones. Ciao PaoloM

[Sparviero]

At the time when I saw the pile (over 50 pieces) I already had a Model 1874/1889 and 1891 bandoleer (which I still have), and in my memory the pieces there where of bad quality, compared to the ones I had.
But you are right, it is too long ago for me to make sure if it were indeed reproductions or originals with owner stamps. However I can imagine when you are a film/television studio and you need 100 pieces it is easier to manufacture them then to try to find original pieces.
I have no information on this, but did they for instance used original gear at the movie “Captain Corelli’s Mandolin”? Seems to me a typical large scale production which could deliver over-stock of gear on the market, after the finishing of the movie.

And even the cheaper products are being reproduced, so the low value of the real thing is no guarantee of a save buy. A fellow collector once pointed out to me a reproduction of a Russian medal. The value of an original of that piece was only 10 euro.

Greetings,

[Douglas Kerley]

1874/1889 Vs. Beretta Bandoleer?

Humm? These would apear to fit the Italian WW2 issue box of eight rounds of 9mm short. What make you think that they are for the Bodeo? I have a Bodeo bandoleer that has individual loops for each round of 10.4 with six per flap. Let me show you a picture of it.

I got these out of Germany about 2 years ago as original for what I considered a very cheap price. The seller put them on German Ebay and there were no buyers at his cheap price so I got them all. They have no markings what so ever. Some few of them have some dried grease on them that would tend to make me think that they were quite old but never used. They are just about stiff as a brick. You know, I don't think that they were made less than 50 years ago. New stuff would certainly be much more flexable. But I'm no expert on these. I only started collecting Italian last couple of years. I am just learining about this stuff. Thanks Doug

[ARDITO]

For me your information are wrong.
The coloration of the leather was chemically made during the tanning,
the leather assumes this characteristic color.
to make the cinema copies the leather simply comes paint.
It is not the case of this bandoleer, the rivets, the cloth, the printed hook, is not
a copy. (you can buy one of this original for 30 $)
The leather is smooth out and hairy inside, the thread of the seams, I repeat, the bandoleer is original.
Regards, Luca.

[Douglas Kerley]

Here's another shot.

What kind of holster goes with this? I only have the holster that has two straps inches apart. Doug