Original Item: Only One Available. This is a wonderful bandolier as worn by French Foreign Legion troops before and during WWI. This set of Brown Leather equipment was issued mostly for French Colonial use by the “Foreign Legion” beginning in the 1880s. The Waist Belt, which is unfortunately no longer present, would buckle around the wearer’s back, had 4 lidded compartments with brass studs on each side designed to carry stripper clips containing 8mm lebel Rifle Ammunition.
This Bandoleer, worn in a “V” design from the small of the back over the shoulders to the navel where it secures to the waist belt has five more lidded compartments for further 8 mm Ammunition storage. The bayonet frog and buckle attachment secure the “Epee” bayonet in place. Used both with the 8mm 1886 Lebel magazine Rifles and the 8mm Mannlicher Berthier Rifles throughout the First World War and second world wars. The condition is close to excellent with the only wear appearing to be from storage.
This is the ultimate French leather Set; Remember Gary Cooper in “Beau Geste”?
Comes more than ready for further research and display.