Hi, I have been toying with the idea of attempting to replicate American field gear for a while. Are there any specific machines that would be needed for this? (For instance, specific models of sewing machines?)
Thanks
Hi, I have been toying with the idea of attempting to replicate American field gear for a while. Are there any specific machines that would be needed for this? (For instance, specific models of sewing machines?)
Thanks
Blimey. Is it worth all the effort mate?
Sourcing the correct materials and webbing, heavy-duty sewing and bar-tacking machines, rivets, studs, chapes, &c... plus all the necessary dies for fitting them.
There’s really no shortage of original (or reproduction) stuff available.
An interesting project, I’ll grant you, but not a cheap option! Are you planning a little business enterprise?
All the best,
Bob
As Bob has said, You will need some very heavy duty machines to make quality repro web gear.. Perhaps you could reach out to some of the companies that reproduce these types of items and get some ideas from them.. At the Front, What Price Glory and others may let you in on some "trade secrets"
Good luck with this endeavor
Smitty
It wouldn't be anything serious. It would probably take years to make anything good enough to sell anyway. I would probably be using inaccurate canvas or webbing (though some vendors sell accurate webbing, I am not exactly sure where to find appropriate canvas or tape). I was planning to get hardware from AtTheFront or other vendors. This is more of a hobby sort of thing or repairs. I am kind of interested in alternate history sort of equipment (i. e. 1952 Fragmentation vest out of OD #3 canvas)
The Chinese have beaten you to it, although not all of that is necessarily good.
Now if you were thinking of sympathetic restoration of original items then perhaps there is a market for that. You could always do a straw poll to find out.
To reproduce anything costs a lot, in personal Time , money, and research. It depends what kind of things you wish to reproduce, and how of your life you want to commit.
I've £20k of machinery and equipment in my workshop, built up over many years and about half that amount in stock, such as buckles, canvas and custom made US webbing. Trying to make any impact on the market these days is very hard work. As has been said the Chinese have put pay to a lot of the run of the mill items. The repair and more specialised reproductions are really the way to go, or as I do these days do short runs or one off projects for customers, and other none WWII work too.
Nige H.
"Now, I've designed this like a collapsing bag ! "
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