Good repro of a very rare piece from french airborne
(2025-01-14)
only the difference from my original is spacing between buckle and first row of grommets . Some adjustements of the buckle and hook are necessary but on the original too...
Augustiniak Peron
-
FR
Speedy Delivery as always.
(2024-05-29)
I purchased two of these belts for a friend and myself. The belts seem to be well made. So far no problems.
Lyndon
-
US
Great belt
(2024-02-26)
For the record, I don't actually own a real TAP 50 belt, as these have become near-unobtainium, but I do have two TAP 53s. The canvas and buckle look and feel very close to the real thing, only new.
To differentiate from a real one (basing myself on pictures I've seen of real TAP 50s and my own TAP 53s), on the genuine thing the grommets weren't painted black like the buckle and wire hooks. Also the grommets' underside shows it's a different model they used, but this is invisible when worn so not a problem.
As for the buckle, the system as copied from the British P-37 belt buckle was not well-received by the troops who complained that it unhooked itself often. This led to the TAP 50/53 revised model with the typical 'RAPCO' buckle that proved superior. This repro seems to have the same issue as the originals, so props for authenticity I suppose! I had to have the buckle hook banged on with a hammer to allow for a better grip. I wouldn't be surprised if I learn one day that French troops did the same. Although I also had to use pliers to bend the wire hooks so they'd properly hang on to the grommets, maybe I got one that wasn't that well finished?
Anyway, it's still a great belt for an Indochina war/early-Algerian war French kit. I hope to see WPG offer a good repro of the 53 as well, as the originals will run out someday!
Some adjustements of the buckle and hook are necessary but on the original too...
Augustiniak Peron - FR