Can these pass as WW I figs?

[mikedemana]

Hi everyone,

World War I is not my area of strength. So, I was wondering if anyone knows if the uniforms these figs are wearing can pass as WW I troops? If you they can, if you can give me a clue as to nationality and troop I would greatly appreciate it! Thanks for the help, in advance....!





I apologize for the poor quality of the photos...

Mike Demana

[former user]

I'd PM Dylan if I were You.
the first one is a bit off for WW1, maybe some kind of ANZAC with a strange hat, but he definitely has a martini style rifle - he may be some boer war miniature

the second one looks Russian or sailor type, with a Mannlicher style bolt-action

[Cubs]

Agreed.

I think I can see a cocking lever on that top rifle, which places it firmly in the 1870's and 1880's for British front line troops. Of course, auxiliaries and some Colonial troops used it for longer, as did all sorts of irregulars up to and including WW1. He could well be a Boer, which would be my first guess.

[Plynkes]

Top fellow is a Foundry Darkest Africa explorer type. You could use him as a civilian volunteer for East Africa or something like that. His gun is a British Martini, which was only really used by irregulars by that time. European chap in charge of a unit of native scouts would probably be your best bet. Could be German or British really, the Germans used a lot of captured British gear once their own infrastructure had been overrrun and captured by the entente powers.

Or, as said, perhaps a Boer rebel in South Africa, or a Boer or British volunteer scout or somesuch on the British side in German Southwest Africa.


An alternative to former user's Russian suggestion could be an Austro-Hungarian naval infantryman. With a following wind, and if you squint.  

[former user]

please let me ask a question of my own since we are at it:
puttees
I understand come from Asia, actually India (by the name), and were introduced to European uniform through the british army of India, very much like the khaki?
are there earlier examples of puttees in european uniforms before the British uniform of the 1880ies?

[Cubs]

I've never heard of any 'European' army using puttees before the British adopted them from the Indians (or their neighbours) at around that time. I always assumed the other armies copied the British, who had copied the Indians.

[former user]

Yes, that is in my book too  (apart from the dark age and early medieval leg wraps of course),
I just thought since we are throwing around dates here I might ask if anyone knows better, which would not surprise me...

[pacofeanor]

as long as i know, putees apeared in the french army in the 82's in the "alpine" troops as a mountain equipment and they were genralized in 1905 for african  troops and all the french army (foot only !) in 1914. And it is a brittish fashion at these date!

best regards
paco

[former user]

merci