RAF Beadon Suit Snakebite Lancet

These ingenious tools were developed by the Air Ministry to be carried by aircrew serving in the Far East theatre as part of the tropical survival kit 27P/19, in conjunction with the Flying Overalls, Lightweight, Tropical, stores reference 22C/1047-1053 and the supplementary Bag, stores reference 22C/1070. The suit, often referred to as 'The Beadon Suit' entered service in 1945 for primary use in South East Asia and was also used in the early post war years. It contained 12 pockets for a variety of escape aids and if the worst should happen could be transferred to the Beadon bag and carried like a ruck sack.

This small but essential bit of kit was one of the associated items issued with the suit. The container is made from chrome plated brass and is embossed with the makers name Gardner Co. London as well as a Kings Crown and an A. M (Air Ministry) property mark. One end unscrews to reveal a small chromed lancet blade used to cut out the venom from a snake bite. The other end unscrews to reveal a cavity that would have originally contained a potassium permanganate capsule for use on the bite. As is nearly always the case this is now absent but we have replaced with a very convincing replica that is fine for display purposes. The chrome finish shows minor surface wear and scratches but generally an excellent original example and better than average condition and like so much else getting much harder to find now. Measures c.2" (6 cm)