_valerian

Chinese Army machine gun strap

A Chinese Army type 56 machine gun strap is a perfect way to keep your Pentax 67 close to you at all times. It is made of three things- metal, leather, and cloth (I don’t know what kind of material, I never took a textiles class). The leather parts connect to the cloth part via a metal part, and the leather is just wide enough to fit through standard Pentax 67 strap lug adapters. For a while it was difficult to figure out the best way to put a strap on my 67- the one it came with was too short, and when hung horizontally it sat comically high on my chest. Mario Testino would not have approved.

Things changed after a chance visit to a military surplus store in Ueno’s Ameyokocho district, where they had dozens of Chinese military gun straps hanging from a chain. 1000 yen later I got it together, the strap is connected to the two lugs on the back of the cherry wood grip (on the left side of the camera) which means it hangs vertically.

And then when you want to use it just raise your left hand to near your eye and you are set to go. Be sure not to raise it too fast and not stop soon enough or you will end up with a bruise, a cracked eye socket, or a busted eyeball. This is a meaty massive camera with edges.

Intrestingly enough, there is a Chinese type 67 “general purpose” machine gun, whose strap (with the designation printed on it) would be particularly fitting for my Pentax. And by “fitting” I mean Awesome.