Expensive Bear Skins

So the guards big hats that come in at around 2K each and are made from actual Canada Bears fur.
To reduce costs and save bears the pressure group PETA (People Eating Tasty Animals) would like them to use faux fur in future. However MOD "sources" say that such a replacement material has yet to be properly developed.

"The MoD said: “We are open to exploring faux fur alternatives if they pass the necessary requirements." However, the ministry spokesman said a fake fur version would have to satisfy "safety and durability considerations" and that "no alternative has met all those criteria to date".

Soaring cost of King’s Guards' real fur bearskin caps revealed

Bearskin caps worn by soldiers outside Buckingham Palace cost more than £2,000 each, says MOD.

www.bbc.co.uk

So do we maintain tradition or use something else and will the general public who only watch the trooping of the colour on their TV's even notice that a change of material has been used?

 

[mullah lite]

Is there a cost for the static generating version?
What happens when a balloon is rubbed on it?

There are things we need to know, although the bears aren't killed for the fur. I'm sure it's not given away, but it's from a culled overpopulation.

 

[busby1971]

Doesn’t this topic come around on regular basis, and never goes anywhere, probably won’t again.

 

[Barch]

I remember that they did trials with fake fur about 20 years ago; they rejected most of the samples because they looked bedraggled when they got wet and others because they got Alopecia when washed and brushed.

 

[Cornish_Pikey]

Remember no one inherits their grandmothers pleather jacket or handbag. How long does a fake leather belt last before it looks like crap and you throw it away.

People do however inherit (and purchase) vintage leather goods as they are sustainable and can last multiple lifetimes.

 

[Talk Wrench]

It's only a matter of time before Starmer begins axing everything that's symbolic of Great Britain, you know, the best armed forces in the world etc etc, so Bearskins and the people who wear them are probably some of the first to go.

 

[Tin basher]

It's only a matter of time before Starmer begins axing everything that's symbolic of Great Britain, you know, the best armed forces in the world etc etc, so Bearskins and the people who wear them are probably some of the first to go.

In a twist of logic. If you abolish/re-name/ amalgamate the guards with other regiments there will be no need for bearskin hats.

(You saw it here first)

 

[Flumpdaddy]

Probably better things to spend the money on but that can be said for a lot of things the forces do

 

[Rocket_Ronster]

It's only a matter of time before Starmer begins axing everything that's symbolic of Great Britain, you know, the best armed forces in the world etc etc, so Bearskins and the people who wear them are probably some of the first to go.

Get a grip TW.

Best armed forces in the world, FFS.
2 carriers that are fooked. Bugger all planes to go on em. Not anywhere enough escorts. Renting our tankers and transports. Army that could fit in Wembley stadium.

Still, I bet it's all Kiers fault, 3 months in and hasn't fixed 14 years of theft and incompetence.

 

[Barch]

Get a grip TW.

Best armed forces in the world, FFS.
2 carriers that are fooked. Bugger all planes to go on em. Not anywhere enough escorts. Renting our tankers and transports. Army that could fit in Wembley stadium.

Still, I bet it's all Kiers fault, 3 months in and hasn't fixed 14 years of theft and incompetence.

True, he hasn't fixed anything, but he is undoubtedly adding to the discontentment.

 

[busby1971]

wouldn’t think bear skins and clip cloppy shoes were on the oppositions radar or to do list, I’ve always have been luke warm on any military spending significant effort, time and money on ceremonial activities, but the army uppers always seemed to enjoy doing this type of thing.

Was chatting to a couple of RE lads the other day, they were saying that now that there’s nothing serious going on life is no longer fun, OC pens and pencils are gaining importance and starting to spoil the general sense of military fun and games.

 

[muttywhitedog]

Its one of those "nice to have" things. We dont need people in furry hats marching around London in them.

The military are in place to defend King and country, and no war was ever won by being good at marching around in a furry hat.

 

[UlsterExile]

As usual its all about the headlines, the MOD bought 23 in 2023 which is less than 50K. The bearskins are re-issued when an individual leaves so they are actually being green and not just buying new ones when a new person joins. Any one with any decent information about the MOD will de-bunk 50k straight away. We waste that on pointless travel, hire cars, fuel, paper,pens etc every year. Must be a slow day in the news is all I can say.

 

[Oldstacker]

As usual its all about the headlines, the MOD bought 23 in 2023 which is less than 50K. The bearskins are re-issued when an individual leaves so they are actually being green and not just buying new ones when a new person joins. Any one with any decent information about the MOD will de-bunk 50k straight away. We waste that on pointless travel, hire cars, fuel, paper,pens etc every year. Must be a slow day in the news is all I can say.

Off the top of my head, I would suggest that an attrition rate of 23 per year is probably pretty good considering the numbers that are probably held and in use - how many Guardsmen are on trooping the colour - 500? Then assume that for sizing purposes there are the equivalent of 2 - 3 per man? That gives probably in excess of 1500 bearskins held or in use. At 25 (rounded up) per year, that gives 60 years to replace them at 'normal' attrition rates or you have to spend a fortune replacing the whole lot at once (what do you do with the real ones - sell them?) and have to factor in the replacement rate of the new ones if they are not as durable as real fur. How many bears does it take to make one bearskin?

 

[dctyke]

Off the top of my head, I would suggest that an attrition rate of 23 per year is probably pretty good considering the numbers that are probably held and in use - how many Guardsmen are on trooping the colour - 500? Then assume that for sizing purposes there are the equivalent of 2 - 3 per man? That gives probably in excess of 1500 bearskins held or in use. At 25 (rounded up) per year, that gives 60 years to replace them at 'normal' attrition rates or you have to spend a fortune replacing the whole lot at once (what do you do with the real ones - sell them?) and have to factor in the replacement rate of the new ones if they are not as durable as real fur. How many bears does it take to make one bearskin?

How many bears to make a bearskin? Yeah right, they can catch salmon but never tailor a bearskin……..

 

[Deltaitem]

I'm not so sure that bears have to die in order to make a ceremonial uniform look good.
Back in the day, actually not that far back in the day, military drummers wore tiger skin and leopard skin aprons. It wouldn't happen now, and personally, I think it's long past time to call time on killing bears for the same reason.
Unless of course the bears agree to it.

 

[Oldstacker]

I'm not so sure that bears have to die in order to make a ceremonial uniform look good.
Back in the day, actually not that far back in the day, military drummers wore tiger skin and leopard skin aprons. It wouldn't happen now, and personally, I think it's long past time to call time on killing bears for the same reason.
Unless of course the bears agree to it.

But... as has been reported every time this subject rears its head, the bears don't die to make bearskins. The bears are culled in order to keep the numbers down and the population healthy. Having killed the bears the skins and the rest of the carcass are then sold/used for whatever they can be. The guards bearskins, therefore, simply recycle a waste product in a useful way.

 

[Talk Wrench]

Could they not use badger skins instead?
I saw three dead ones on the way to work last week.

 

[GD on Wheels]

How about this?

 

[Barch]

Could they not use badger skins instead?
I saw three dead ones on the way to work last week.

And the gubment is paying to have badgers culled - win, win.