German canteen being offered

**chuck303** · 06-05-2023, 02:22 AM

An older gentleman had offered me a canteen. Possibly German. He said it was marked wa hi 38 Looks to be a bit larger than others he had. Is this an m31 ?

**Espenlaub Militaria** · 06-05-2023 02:22 AM

We also buy and trade your items and full collections!

**BodhiEtheridge** · 06-05-2023, 05:37 AM

Hello, this does look like a regular German 1 liter canteen.

I’d recommend getting some pictures of the markings, they will be on the cup, cap, bottle neck, and inside the cover. Also a picture of the backside would help.

But again, just from these images I don’t see any obvious issues.

**Danmark** · 06-05-2023, 10:43 AM

I agree with Bodhi - as they were still making these in the late 40's / early 50's, you need to check the date codes...

**chuck303** · 06-05-2023, 07:02 PM

by Danmark

I agree with Bodhi - as they were still making these in the late 40's / early 50's, you need to check the date codes...

Ok will try and get with the seller and see if I can find a date code

**Edward Lionheart** · 06-06-2023, 12:14 PM

by chuck303

He said it was marked wa hi 38

Hello.
I am afraid that this code doesn't match with any known maker.
If it was to start with W you would have just a few : WWE , W.A.L., WWL, WBL, WBN, WSD.
It might be a faulty reading of a WAL marking or it could be something totally different, so if you can obtain more details or even a good picture that would help.
Regarding the model of this canteen I am ashamed to admit that I don't know it, it has existed since at least WW1, but how was it called except Labeflasche ???

**BodhiEtheridge** · 06-06-2023, 12:37 PM

Hey Edward,

The model is exactly that! Labeflasche, to be specific it is designated “Labeflasche 31”

Also good to see you active here again!

-Bodhi

**Edward Lionheart** · 06-06-2023, 12:47 PM

Thank you, and it's good to know the exact designation. The oldest I have ever seen was dated 1934 and it unfortunately looked like a wreck.

**BodhiEtheridge** · 06-06-2023, 01:24 PM

I’d seen one 1933, fortunately still in good shape.

I also just got my hands on what is believed to be some type of pre-production prototype, it’s marked ESB 29 all over. I’ll share it when it arrives.

**Edward Lionheart** · 06-06-2023, 04:25 PM

A Labeflasche dated 1929 would be most interesting, it would be logical that a type of canteen that existed during WW1 and WW2 was also produced for the Reichswehr, eventhough I suspect that it wasn't at all in great numbers.