Max's Belt tools

Post by **max2** » Fri Jun 14, 2002 3:56 am

Hi out there .For those intrested in the tools on max's belt they are australian firemans tools.The large pouch on the back holds a fire axe (shortened for sitting in the seat)and next to it in the smaller pouch is a fire hydrant spanner.There are a few variations (pouch flap shape,spanner & axe shape also) throughout australia but max's is the New South Wales type from the very late 70's(black with a pointy type flaps).They sometimes come up on ebay australia under the firefighting section where I was able to get one.The belt is not the fire one they have square brass buckles and max's is a double pronged silver one similar to a police belt but plain black leather (not basketweave) with another belt attached over the left shoulder.Hope this clears up the mystery of these tools.

Post by **MFP1** » Wed Jun 19, 2002 12:59 am

Wow!!! I have been searching for this info.... Do you have any pics of the tools in question? How much would someone be expected to pay for such a thing? Oh, and is there a "Firemans Surplus" type place anywhere? It might be a good place to get those tools.

Post by **max2** » Sat Jun 22, 2002 2:31 am

I'll try to get some photos in the near future and put them on.I may put some similar types (very close to the original one) for sale soon ,they are around the $500 au mark what I paid for them,i'll post it on this site when I do.Thats the full belt with axe and spanner.The only other place is like I said on ebay or if you have the luck to come across one on your travels.Hope this helps you out a bit.

Post by **THE PUNISHER** » Sun Jun 23, 2002 5:33 pm

The belt with the two rows of holes is almost exactly like a german military belt (except dyed black). I can get them from a surplus magazine if anyone's interested. Oh and thanks for that info! It took long enough. Here in the states we have hatchets called lathing hatchets with a two-inch blade and a hammer on the back. It forms the basic shape of a rectangle so I figured that's what it was. Who knew what the heck that spanner was for. I make a bunch of max replicas and I was going to start on one of those spanners with a metal arm set in a rubber pouch. I can't find any pouches like that so I plan on just making a plaster mold and forming the hard rubber around the metal piece. just paint it black and glue on a snaphead and VOILA! you won't have to cough up $500 Au for it. I hope to get some pics up at peter's site soon down in the costumes section. I can email the individual pages with description to anyone who asks.

Slayers_r_us8428 @ hotmail.com

Post by **MFP1** » Mon Jun 24, 2002 1:52 am

I got all the leather I needed to replicate max's outfit at a "Goodwill" type store. Just fistfulls of leather belts, I looked for the widths and buckle styles, and eventually found everything very similar (ok my main belt has 3 tangs on the buckle but Im still looking). I am going to make contact with the local US fire dept. and see if they have any Aus. contacts.

Thanks very much again for this valuable info....

Post by **Deaths Head** » Mon Jun 24, 2002 4:59 am

Ok Maxs Belt is a police duty belt. They have been used on almost all police deparments for the last 100 years. It has a double prong buckle and smooth black leather. (Some belts were braided Max's is NOT) The shoulder strap was used on security guards and parade outfit for some police. It is attached on the left but worn across to the right should then back down to the left rear of the belt. Max wears his staright over the left shoulder and back down though. The knife has already been identified and the wrench is an 8" cresent wrench. The pocket with the wierd spanner wrench on the back right is a leather police handcuff case with a hole cut in the bottom. so the wrench can hang out. The double headed axe and pouch may be fireman or some type of camping pouch. This would be easily made at any leather shop to fit your axe with handle shortened. The police stuff is available in alot of surplus stores in the US and Canada, as well as online. Feal free to ask me for any other help. You also might want to look up Karol Bartozsynski on this sites costume sector and ask him. He is probably the #1 guy other than Norma Moriceau on this subject. (She did the costuming for MM2, MM3).

Post by **THE PUNISHER** » Mon Jun 24, 2002 2:09 pm

Just what kind of knife did he have? I found one that was very close at a local surplus store, it was a military fighting knife with a leather washer handle and silver pointed butt-cap. The leather grip stuck out too far so I figured it was put in a lathe or something and cut down. if I was wrong at least that's what I could do to it to get it like the original.

Post by **Deaths Head** » Tue Jun 25, 2002 12:09 am

The belt knife has been explained on this site but the boot knife is most likely a Gerber Mark II Tactical. They have been making these dagger like knives since the late 60's and have only recently discontinued them. I have one in all black coating and they were available in several different finishes. They can still be found in stores around the globe new and used. The handle is usually all steel. If I get a pick of mine maybe I can post it.

Post by **max2** » Wed Jun 26, 2002 10:57 am

I've noticed deaths head has said what he thinks the pouchs and tools are but I can assure 100% you they are australian firemans belt tools.They are now discontinued (new uniforms and no belt equipment are used here now) and are classed here in australia as vintage.I have done heaps of reseach into these tools and have tracked them down .I do have photos which I'm trying to get posted.The axe has a wooden handle going into a metal head with a blade on one side and a point on the other.The hydrant spanner( whats a cresent wrench?)has a hole at the end with a bend leading up to a approx spanner head size of 2 inchs(used to open hydrant valves).The pouchs are all leather and are made specificaly for these tools(not a handcuff pouch with a hole cut in),mine have NSW (new south wales) stamped on the back..Ebay australia like I said is the best source and when I see one (every so often) on there again i'll post the item number so you can take a look.The belt like I said is different to the film one only the pouchs and tools were used on another style belt whichI don't know..A friend of mine me max has seen them and can also confirm it.So thats it ,so theres no confusion about this subject.

Post by **Deaths Head** » Thu Jun 27, 2002 1:59 am

The cresent (adjustable) wrench is the one that is snapped onto the front of the shoulder strap. I know what you mean by spanner wrench. I imagine the pouchs are just as you described, but the belt and shoulder strap have been used everywhere for years on different types of uniforms. It would be hard to find those disontinued fireman issue ones but the police belt and strap are the same type. I think you are correct about all the pouches and such. The pick axe would be a neat thing to find. Did you get the tools with the belts etc. Or just the leather???