Man the Line Quality

Niederlander · July 08, 2019, 04:29:00 PM

Gentlemen, Have any of you used uniforms or any other items from Man the Line? If so, what was the quality like? I really like WPG stuff, but unfortunately he doesn't offer what I'm looking for.

smoke · July 08, 2019, 04:58:55 PM

I have a couple of items. I think they use different vendors. The leather sling I have is not as good as WPG but it is still ok. The wool caps are pretty decent.

What are you looking at?

Niederlander · July 08, 2019, 09:59:23 PM

The 1904 USMC shirt.

smoke · July 08, 2019, 10:35:38 PM

How different is that from the 1916 shirt from WPG?

Niederlander · July 09, 2019, 05:52:51 AM

The Marine shirt, as usual, is totally different than the Army shirt. Marines used a lot of the Army shirts in France, but only because of supply difficulties. Incidentally, the same thing happened in the Philippines with the earlier blue shirt. I e-mailed WPG about making the 1904 shirt (as well as some other stuff) and they replied the Marine stuff doesn't sell well enough to make any more of it. Bummer!

smoke · July 09, 2019, 06:18:56 AM

Too bad! BTW, what do you use for references for USMC pre WW2? I have both Alec Tulkoff's books. However it does not look like he will be doing vol. 2 of Equipping the Corps about uniforms.

The stuff I have from Man the Line is pretty good. IIRC some was from Schippenfabrik but I think they are out of it now. Other stuff was from Europe. I bought what I have cheap on ebay from them.

smoke · July 09, 2019, 06:24:08 AM

Ebay is cheaper than the store front. If this fits you...smaller ones are even cheaper.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/WWI-US-USMC-MARINE-M1904-WOOL-COMBAT-FIELD-SHIRT-LARGE-XLARGE-46R/263073879463?hash=item3d406cd5a7:g:wfYAAOSw~HBaLAFs

Niederlander · July 09, 2019, 08:03:39 AM

I saw that. Unfortunately, I need the size bigger, which they don't have on e-Bay. As far as references, I use a multiplicity of sources, but mostly the original uniform regulations. I also go to a militaria forum, where members often have original items and photos of the real thing. The Museum of the Marine Corps has been helpful as well. By the way, I'm pretty sure Schippenfabrik went belly up several years ago, which is too bad.