Search:

More details on those markings, here.

Correction

The IJA was more advanced in the use of aluminum than the German army

As I wrote in post 8, I had long mistakenly thought that Japan’s introduction of aluminum canteens and mess kits...

Water Bottle Repairs



I added a section to the helmet thread on repairs done at the field depots (野戦貨物廠 or 野戦被服廠), who specialized in repairing gear as well as well as producing theatre-made...

I'll put this logo here as a reminder to find the maker ID, when I can. They do not seem to be active in postwar years, which makes it a bit difficult to come up with a name.

Here are two photos of the 1895 EM leather-clad glass canteen, as well as what is purported to be an officer's version of a glass canteen covered in leather with tin cup on bottom.

Clearly shown...

"Ro" in the square was the "B" specification launched in 1939, which I discussed in post 20. At that time I was not aware why this was being proposed as a substitute spec, but I realize now in...

Example of above marking on canteen bottom.

For future reference, I will also add here, the manufacturer's logo information I recently figured out.

A logo on the body of canteens and mess-kits, combining the character サ, within a diamond...

Here are a few more detailed photos of a mint canteen I used in post 25 with the all canvass straps introduced in November 1942. Note that the canteen body is also made in 1942.

That so-called cavalry officer's model confirms my theory that they were produced in the 1920s. In this case, the cover design is basically identical to the 1927 style army officer's canteen I showed...

The Army Cavalry Canteen Myth


The photo below is a canteen that is often identified as an army cavalry canteen. However, the truth is that such a design specific for cavalry never officially...

To me a canteen and water bottle are the same thing, but in British English canteen also broadly refers to eating utensils and a place for eating, so by stretching that interpretation I tend to think...

Just to keep things consolidated under one title, here are officer canteen specs, explaining how post 44 features post 1930 versions.

No, not for sale, but used probably by a child in the family, as all kids had canteens after the war for school outings.

That tag would have been affixed in connection with the post war reuse of the canteen in civilian life.

The name under the family crest reads Itoh, and that crest was indeed used by the Itoh...

Since writing this canteen story, I have continued to make many discoveries about the Army, as I researched other topics. Among those new insights, one thing that dawned on me recently when writing...

I took a quick look for you in the officer's canteen documents I ran into and had set aside. The earliest one is Army Ordinance 9 dated 9th September 1912 from the time they set up a back pack, mess...

Sorry to be late in responding. I was busy finishing my war medal story. Those are all good questions, as I have wondered the same. However, officer and non-infantry gear have been placed outside my...

If you enjoyed this thread be sure to read also the companion piece to this about the evolution of the bread bags here ...

Thank you for letting me know.

Classic Revival

There is still a lot more in the spec book on things like how to check the quality of a canteen by conducting acid tests, etc, but that sort of detail is outside the attention span...

Canteen Wear Practices in WW2

Earlier you read that the infantrymen were to carry the canteen slung from the left shoulder to have the canteen...

1943 If it holds water anything goes

Anything was better than not having water at all, as Army Ordinance 99 decreed on 10th December, 1943 that all specifications in aluminum may, for the time...

1943 Rubber Stopper D

2nd May, 1943 saw the introduction of yet another stopper, a D model (仁号) which was an all rubber stopper.

1942 November Shoulder Strap Change

The next year in November, this time the adjustment buckle hardware on the “Sho 5 B type” strap arrangement was deleted and replaced by a cloth loop adjustment....