Club Obi Wan

I assume the only way to get the web strap of an original MKVII is to cut it?

I got one of the WPG originals and will post pictures when I get my TAG strap for it. (hasn't shipped yet as far as I know so it'll be awhile) I probably should wash the bag first anyway. I squirted some Fabreeze on it because it was musty smelling. I think I should give it a hand washing in the sink though to actually clean some of that out of it. I'm just worried I'll fall appart like Baggers two did. Mine seems pretty sturdy so far though, but his didn't fall apart till he washed them.

If it's gonna fall apart, better to find out right now, so you can get a refund or switch. It's better to wash'em up anyway. I can't imagine this 'falling apart' phenomenon. I've had several and this has NEVER happened. Wierd.



have a nice day.

Yeah let us know what happens if you go to wash it. Also letting it sit outside for an day might help get some of the musty odor out. In terms of the strap, I've always had to cut mine (You might be able to cut the stitch though. On MKVI's though you just have to unhook it from the rings and rehook the strap if you decide to put the original strap back on. That's one of many reasons why I actually like VI's better than VII's.

The stitching is a breeze to cut. Just get a good sharp razor blade and slowly cut the seam.



have a nice day.

Or you can use a: stitch remover... to remove the stitches. Even the scissors on a SAK is what always has worked fine with my bags. You'll figure it out.

As far as washing your bag in a machine, I've never had any trouble, though my first WPG replica shrank a bit. Like you said though, there has been reports with bags being destroyed this way and if you can get it clean enough to your likings by hand, I guess that's good enough.
(Should you try the machine though, I recommend putting it in a pillow case with a couple of old towels, one inside with it and one outside. That lanyard disk is pretty sharp and the other metal fittings are pretty heavy.)

Regards,
Swindiana

IndyDoc wrote:I assume the only way to get the web strap of an original MKVII is to cut it?

I got one of the WPG originals and will post pictures when I get my TAG strap for it. (hasn't shipped yet as far as I know so it'll be awhile) I probably should wash the bag first anyway. I squirted some Fabreeze on it because it was musty smelling. I think I should give it a hand washing in the sink though to actually clean some of that out of it. I'm just worried I'll fall appart like Baggers two did. Mine seems pretty sturdy so far though, but his didn't fall apart till he washed them.

dude, do a forum search on kitty litter. to get rid of musty stenches, get the bag, put on raised point in a cardboard box (like a book or something expendable) and put unscented litter around it. seal the box with tape and wait a few days, air it out and it should be stench free. like i said do a forum search cause this method was discussed in great detail not too long ago.

Vannevar said

get the bag, put on raised point in a cardboard box (like a book or something expendable) and put unscented litter around it. seal the box with tape and wait a few days, air it out and it should be stench free. like i said do a forum search cause this method was discussed in great detail not too long ago.]

Thanks Vannevar, I have a new MK VII also and will try that de-scenting method after I wash mine.

Regards,

Thanks for the tips guys and gals!

Here's a few shots compairing the WPG replica and the WPG original MKVII. My replica is much softer. I think it's been run through the wash at least once before I got it. After hand washing the Original it's still pretty stiff.


*Bottoms
*Disk Side
*Open/Inside



I just pulled the stiches in the strap with a handy dandy stich puller this eveing. Now all I need is TAG to ship my strap.

Yep, when you wash those bags, that canvas gets good and stiff. Right back into new shape!




have a nice day.

Texas Raider wrote:Yep, when you wash those bags, that canvas gets good and stiff. Right back into new shape!




have a nice day.

Naaaaaaaaaaa, use blanco instead far better than washing, plus it keeps you busy

What tha...? Blanco?

Blanco: a paste-like substance, usually a dull green in colour, which had to be applied to the cadet's webbing belt. Once the webbing had been scrubbed clean, the fresh blanco was brushed on and great care was needed to ensure that it was applied evenly so that it dried to a smooth flawless finish acceptable on the parade ground. The newly blancoed surface was easily scuffed or marked, necessitating a repetition of the entire laborious procedure.

Though it was used for most of the webbing, including the bags I've learned, to get a uniform look and some camouflage when khaki was too revealing among shrubbery.

This is what a bar of it looks like -


Regards,
Swindiana

Looks like lie soap or something. What does it do to the webing to color it? Bleach it or stain it or what?

It doesn't bleach. Blanco is more like a dye or paint than a cleaner. Unissued 37 pattern webbing was a dark khaki tan color that was useless as camoflage unless you were in the desert. It was available in two or three shades of green as well as white (RMP and parade use), desert yellow and RAF blue gray. It came in bars, round cakes and in a powder that you could apply with a shaker.

You really don't want to mess with it (pun intended) unless you're a tad masochistic.

Cheers!

Swindiana wrote:

Blanco: a paste-like substance, usually a dull green in colour, which had to be applied to the cadet's webbing belt. Once the webbing had been scrubbed clean, the fresh blanco was brushed on and great care was needed to ensure that it was applied evenly so that it dried to a smooth flawless finish acceptable on the parade ground. The newly blancoed surface was easily scuffed or marked, necessitating a repetition of the entire laborious procedure.

Though it was used for most of the webbing, including the bags I've learned, to get a uniform look and some camouflage when khaki was too revealing among shrubbery.

This is what a bar of it looks like -


Regards,
Swindiana

The blanco you picture here is incorrect for ww2 and is post war, powder cake stuff would be best just to give your mk7 a nice camo look and used adventure look

jack wrote: The blanco you picture here is incorrect for ww2 and is post war, powder cake stuff would be best just to give your mk7 a nice camo look and used adventure look

Thanks for the info, didn't know that. Soldier Of Fortune put it among British WWII gear, and that's where the picture is from.

Regards,
Swindiana

Swindiana wrote:

jack wrote: The blanco you picture here is incorrect for ww2 and is post war, powder cake stuff would be best just to give your mk7 a nice camo look and used adventure look

Thanks for the info, didn't know that. Soldier Of Fortune put it among British WWII gear, and that's where the picture is from.

Regards,
Swindiana

No probs buddy, thats the post war wax stuff and is bloody awful to use, horrid- the ww2 stuff is a round block of compressed powder cake

KGn03 (khaki green designation no3)

Thats the good stuff and the only blanco allowed for respirater haversacks

or mk7 bags


regards

And we want to use this stuff...why? Weren't we talking about washing the bags?



have a nice day.

Well, I see it as bag care, in general.
...and maybe this should be under the "care" topic?

Regards,
Swindiana

Maybe distressing/aging rather than care?

Please, you really don't want to use that stuff. It's a pain to apply correctly and will rub off on your clothing.

Just because back at the turn of the century some staff Ruperts and bored RSMs thought the squaddies needed something to occupy their spare time and to make mismatched webbing look soldierly doesn't mean we have to perpetuate the madness.

Cheers!

Baggers wrote:Please, you really don't want to use that stuff. It's a pain to apply correctly and will rub off on your clothing.

Just because back at the turn of the century some staff Ruperts and bored RSMs thought the squaddies needed something to occupy their spare time and to make mismatched webbing look soldierly doesn't mean we have to perpetuate the madness.

Cheers!

You must have used the wax stuff, blanco is simple to use and is not just to get the webbing all one colour but its a web renovater and protects the webbing, also its camoflage, so your bag won't stick out like a sore thumb when on an indy adventure when members of the afrika corps are after you

Yeah, I never said I wanted to use it. I just wondered what it was.

Jack;
You wouldn't happen to know where I could find the real stuff?

On other pictures on different militaria gear sites, it seems like they are all the same as SOF's.

Regards,
Swindiana

Swindiana wrote:Jack;
You wouldn't happen to know where I could find the real stuff?

On other pictures on different militaria gear sites, it seems like they are all the same as SOF's.

Regards,
Swindiana

Try jerry lee at WPG he should be able to get some



in the uk its drying up big time, going to have to repro it soon :evil: