German Mess Kit Question.

[ErsatzGrenadier1944]

Hello, I am purchasing this mess kit for my reenacting impression and was wondering if you guys could tell me if this is a original late war mess tin or a postwar Soviet kit. I've heard they were identical so I wanted to get some more opinions. It's the olive green mess kit.

[lebus12]

You have a problem : here we are collecting TR items and not 4 ° Reich.

[douglas2496]

I'm not sure what point Lebus is making here, 4th Reich means fantasy items that never existed in the TR, which does not apply to mess tins which will be genuine military issue, even if postwar.

I am not an expert but do have several original wartime messtins and I don't like the look of this one, the paint does not look wartime and most of the wartime ones I have seen have been clearly marked and dated. They are not very expensive so I would keep looking for a war dated one.

[Jerry B]

There are re-enactors who are members of the forum and the use of post war but nearly identical items seems a sensible way to dress the part without risking original period items. I am sure Ade would have something to say on this matter if he notices this thread.

[ErsatzGrenadier1944]

Yeah, I'm not sure of what "Lebus12" is blabbing about. But I've read of some late war ones being unmarked or very weakly stamped. And I'm gonna use it for reenacting so, if it is postwar I won't feel bad about dinging it up. But I've seen other original late war German mess tins exactly like this.

I'd just like to know for a fact whether it's German and if so, is the paint original or new.

I'm not sure what point Lebus is making here, 4th Reich means fantasy items that never existed in the TR, which does not apply to mess tins which will be genuine military issue, even if postwar.

I am not an expert but do have several original wartime messtins and I don't like the look of this one, the paint does not look wartime and most of the wartime ones I have seen have been clearly marked and dated. They are not very expensive so I would keep looking for a war dated one.

[ErsatzGrenadier1944]

There are re-enactors who are members of the forum and the use of post war but nearly identical items seems a sensible way to dress the part without risking original period items. I am sure Ade would have something to say on this matter if he notices this thread.

I'm currently using a original named all matching ccj41 mess kit in my impression. And, would like to retire it from field use.

[ErsatzGrenadier1944]

You have a problem : here we are collecting TR items and not 4 ° Reich.

what do you mean "4th Reich" ? What does that have to do with my inquiry about this mess tin?

[CBH]

I've used a West German mess kit camping , the paint does not like open fire ! There used to be lots of West German kits on the market years ago , might be worth a look , if it is Soviet it might be collectable in it's own right . Good luck .
Cheers Chris

[JPhilip]

Hello,
According to the poor photos provided, this messkit is not russian, but rather late war german. IMO a MN production...
Thanks

[ErsatzGrenadier1944]

That's what I thought too. It's identical to every MN produced mess kit i've seen. Now, i'm wondering if it was repainted with new paint or is it original as well. If it's new I plan on painting my serial number on it.