Today on Gus’ Gear I present two Italian and two Russian uniforms
This grouping came to me from the Bill Combs collection via another collector. Bill told me that the tunic and trousers were acquired from the Veteran who had worn them to go duck hunting. The hunting license was with the grouping when Bill sold it, but it has been lost since and I, sadly, did not get it with the uniform. The tunic and trousers are M1909 grigio-verdi of wool. The green two tailed mostrini are the collar insignia of the Alpini, the star is the symbol of the house of Savoy, the ruling family of unified Italy. The ribbons on the tunic are the 1915-1918 War medal and the War Cross of Merit. The hat is an Italian M1910 cappello Alpino . This design remains in use at the present time. The insignia on the front has crossed rifles and 7 for the 7th Reggimento Alpini, the red pompom on the side indicates the 1st Battalion. The leather equipment consists of two M1907 two pocket pouches on an M1907 belt and suspended with an M1907 neck strap. The canister slung in front of the left hip is a carrying canister for the Italian Polivolenet maschera, it protected the mask and kept it moist, this example is made of sheet metal, but some were made of cardboard due to shortages of metal. Stenciled on the tin are the words “Chi si leva maschera muora, Tenetela sempri con voi” (whoever takes off the mask dies, keep it with you). The cloth haversack on the left hip is an M1907 with an M1907 Guglielminetti wooden water bottle with steel bands. Under the haversack is an M1891 bayonet for the Carcano rifle. Instead of wrap puttees, this impression has knit wool leggings that go over the boots and breaches.
This impression represents a combat engineer, Geine, designated by the single tailed red bordered black mostrini on his collar. The uniform is an M1909 grigio-verdi example of rough wool. The leather equipment consists of two M1907 two pocket pouches on an M1907 belt and suspended with an M1907 neck strap. The cloth haversack on the left hip is an M1907 with an M1907 Guglielminetti wooden water bottle with steel bands. On the right shoulder is draped a mantella, cape made of wool, commonly used in place of an overcoat. They were simpler to manufacture and could be worn over the top of the equipment without difficulty. Wool wrap puttees cover the bottom of the trousers and the tops of the boots to keep debris out. The rifle is an Italian Carcano Modello 1891 chambered for the 6.5x52mm cartridge and uses a 6 round en-bloc clip. The bayonet is the standard 1891 bayonet. This was the primary battle rifle used by Italian forces during the war. The helmet is an early model 1916 Lippmann helmet, patterned from the French Adrian helmet. His personal identification is in a metal locket on a string around his neck.
This impression of a Russian Artilleryman has the peasant style long shirt, gymnastiorka, that was the standard garment of the Russian soldier. It is made of wool and has the wool shoulder boards of the 50th Artillery Regiment. The cap is a standard issue Russian field cap, Furashka, with a Romanov NCO’s cockade. It is constructed of wool with a pressed fiber visor. The ammunition pouches are of inferior quality due to the need to equip many soldiers after the great losses of the opening battles. The water bottle is an ersatz glass bottle made the same dimensions as the M1894 aluminum water bottle and is carried in the standard wool cover with a shoulder strap. The belt has the belt buckle of the Artillery with crossed cannons with the double headed eagle superimposed. The rifle is a Russian Mosin-Nagant 1891 rifle chambered for 7.62x54R cartridges, the bayonet is affixed to the rifle and there is no scabbard to carry it as it was considered that the rifle was where the bayonet should be at all times.
NASA announced that they were testing the Artemis rocket at Thiokol this Tuesday, so Maggie and I hopped in the car and drove down to see it close up. A sign said that there was no public viewing of the test, so we should have closed our eyes, but did not. We were about two miles from the test area and the view was rather spectacular. The last test we were able to see from home about 150 miles north west of the test site. This is the solid fuel rocket that will take the next mission to the moon and to Mars, This is the closest to a launch that we will get to see.