USMC field gear.

[canti44]

Hi guys,

I'm considering building a Marine Corps collection around my USMC marked field pack. It's dated BOYT 44 and is in good condition really if a little faded. I've had it since I was a kid. Because it's a lttle 'used' in appearence I'm aiming to buy gear that is also a little 'used' looking rather than un-issued stuff. Could anyone point me in the right direction regarding suspenders and belts etc.

I was looking at these on e-bay, what do people think? Would they work with the pack?

WWII Era US Army M1944 Field Pack Suspenders Complete | eBay

If not, any suggestions?

Many thanks,

Ian.

p.s I would have uploaded a picture of the field pack but my Mrs has took the camera to work!

[Stinkpotpete]

Those are army braces, the marines used a different version. here's a link how the whole system looked in it's various configurations.

USMC M1941 Pack Configuration Guide « M1 Pencil



they were 2 seperate pieces, like the p37 and p44 braces used by the Brits in ww2. Google M1941 pack/pack system and you should find more info. It was a weird way to put the whole system together, but it was designed by Marines to be taken off in one piece should they have to go over the side of the landing craft, so they wouldn't sink like a stone. I thought I took better pictures of mine, but they didn't turn out all that well.

When the system was worn, the straps of the pack went through the rings in the braces, then the top pf the braces went under the pack to support it. When it was worn, all you had to do was unbuckle the carttridge belt and the whole thing came right off.

[canti44]

Hi Paul,

thanks for the excellent link, it definately gives me something to go off. I know that not everything is dated, or sometimes the dates wear off so is there anything to look out for in particular that marks ww2 kit out from post-war kit? Were these patterns continued after the war so-to-speak?

Cheers,

Ian.

[Stinkpotpete]

Hi Ian, the Marines used the M1941 into the vietnam war. They had 4 variants just in ww2, so it comes down to study. I have the 4th variant, it's like a tube, and you roll the top down, earlier war variants had flaps. I looked up as many pictures as I could find and compared them. These guys had a good discussion on them as well

USMC M1941 Pack System - U.S. Militaria Forum
USMC Web Gear and Items (A Pictoral Reference)

take a look around the militaria forum, I know there was a guy who had pics of a vietnem era pack.

Good luck
Paul

[canti44]

Hi there,

just to clarify. This pack is being sold or advertised rather as the lower-half of the M1941 field pack-system. To me, the lower half looks more like the typical musette bag. Now I have seen one of these before, but what type of pack is it and how was it worn?

Many thanks in advance,

Ian.

US Army M1944 Field Pack - SpecialistAuctions.com Rare, vintage and collectables online auctions