My research was turned into drawings with measurements, patterns, and mock-ups. These were sent to India where Ashok works his magic. The details seen here are of his creative work. These items are available through What Price Glory at this link :
Here is the overall impression of the Oliver Pattern gear.
I have discussed this in my blogs leathersatchels.blogspot.ca and greatwarartifacts.blogspot.ca
In this blog I will give closer details of the reproduction. The artifacts I studied were dark, twisted, and fragile. They looked like they were 100 years old! What I love about reproductions is that they are as new as the originals were when first worn. As such they are authentic in their suppleness and clean, light tones. And then starts the slow transformation of time. Light from the sun and air begin to enrich the colours, and usage adds appropriate knocks and scratches.
Here is the ammunition pouch with the snake belt. An original belt is seen too.
This picture gives a clear impression of the shaping in the yoke. The "wave" in the strap hooks around
the shoulders.
The backward leading strap is curiously stitched onto itself.
By this the strap can flex without cutting in at the shoulder. This could be one of the alterations made in the production of the Oliver Pattern after complaints as to its comfort filtered through, but I'm not sure of this. At any rate it helps, but doesn't solve the real problem which is the binding nature of the equipment under the arm pits. As a reproduction, however, the issue is to reproduce the equipment, not improve it, and by reproducing it we see it with all its problems as they were.
These details, below, show some of the exquisite complexity of the strapping system. This gear is Victorian at heart. The reproduction copies my research superbly and as such is more of a valid record than my written observations. This is like an original work by Aristotle known only through a medieval transcription. The reproduction has effectively preserved the memory of the past for the future.
What Price Glory has also made a reproduction of the Lee Metford bayonet frog from the Boer War period. Here it is. Below that is an original Great War Ross bayonet and scabbard. I'm working on a pattern for it.
This next image shows my new attempt at the Oliver Pattern water bottle carrier next to an original from the 1890s. I have put forth a challenge to those of you handy with leather to make one based on my photos and measurements in my blog . http://greatwarartifacts.blogspot.ca. There are also additional details in the blog http://leathersatchels.blogspot.ca/ with measurements and patterns. I will post the photos I receive as an on-going gallery.
WPG is intending to produce one of these now from my records. Perhaps I should put forth a Ross scabbard challenge too? Patterns to follow!
The correct water bottle for 1914 is this version, below, showing my reproduction beside my original. WPG has produced one of these.
My own Oliver haversack, made long ago, has deficiencies when seen beside an original. I have sent full, new patterns and mock-ups to WPG. I hope they get a chance to reproduce one of these, especially as the body was reworked for the 1915 pattern.
Lastly, and soon to be on sale, is the Oliver Pattern Valise. This, also, is the best single reference encompassing all the photographs and measurements I took of an original from 1899.
Check this link to see the progress of availability for these reproductions,
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