Australian Canteens and Mess Kits

**christek** · 03-24-2019, 10:40 AM

by reneblacky

A cover from my pic archive!

Nice one mate. I don't recall seeing one without the normal front stitching.

**Espenlaub Militaria** · 03-24-2019 10:40 AM

We also buy and trade your items and full collections!

**christek** · 03-24-2019, 10:42 AM

by Ubique

That 69 cup and water bottle are practically mint christek!
And the cover is not too shabby either.

Its nice to have a date on the cover. Most seem to fade from rubbing where they stamp them!

**lithgow** · 03-24-2019, 10:33 PM

Plain front without stitching usually means more recent production-70s/early 80s.
As to having 3 cups, well you had to buy one from a camping/disposal store-I had a bodgey aluminium one for shaving-always lots to get to have the actually needed stuff-that never changes...

**reneblacky** · 03-25-2019, 04:39 AM

This one is dated '71

**reneblacky** · 03-27-2019, 06:25 AM

Ahh crap, I do have a complete set & a spare large pan!!! was just fossicking around the junk room and found these in a forgotten about pack!
All made by AECO 7/69

**christek** · 03-27-2019, 07:48 AM

Very nice set René! Thanks for posting them. Cheers

**Stephan** · 04-06-2019, 09:51 PM

I thought the NSN country code 71 and 50 that was on Australian gear during the 60s was contract made.
Australia started using the NSN from 61 I believe with 66. Once we started making our own gear (100% Aust made) in 68.

**Ubique** · 04-07-2019, 11:49 AM

Contract made would make sense but I cant figure out why Stokes were going overseas when they were stamping badges and the like in Melbourne? Aussie helmets from the 1980's were 50 stamped. Its an area I need to learn more about.

**Recon 3690** · 02-16-2024, 11:33 AM

1960s P'62

1st issue US Army Stock
8465-191-0366 Canteen Aluminum M1951 (1962)
8465-242-7843 Cup, Water Canteen, CRS M1942 (1962)
8465-577-4926 Cover, Water Canteen M1956 (1962)

2nd issue
50 is the US foreign sales country code for Australia - US made
8465-50-191-0366 Canteen Aluminum M1951 (1963-64)
8465-50-242-7843 Cup, Water Canteen, CRS M1942 (1963-67) (1968-73 AUS made)
8465-50-577-4926 Cover, Water Canteen Type 1 P'62 (1963-64 has ALICE clips & M1910 hanger)

71 is the Canadian foreign sales country code for Australia
8465-71-108-8703 Canteen, Water 1qt (1965-74) - Canadian suppled (Canadian NSN is 8465-21-108-8703)

66 Aust Made
8465-50-577-4926 Cover, Water Canteen Type 2 P'62 AUS made (1965-72 has ALICE clips & M1910 hanger low hang like P'44)
8465-66-058-5567 Cup, Water Canteen, CRS AUS made (7 Jan 1974)
8465-66-063-9664 Cover, Water Canteen Type 1 AUS made (30 Sep 1973 OD plain front ALICE clips, belt loops, & M1910 hanger low hang like P'44)
8465-66-086-8349 Canteen, Water 1 qt AUS made (18 Dec 1975)
8465-66-063-9664 Cover, Water Canteen Type 2 AUS made (? OD with ALICE clip slot on the front ALICE clips, belt loops, & M1910 hanger low hang like P'44)