Early Spatentasche

[Joe Sweeney]

I love field gear--I'm in the process of digging through my old storage boxes and turned this up. I actually forgot I had it.

Here is the unit mark?? Rekrut Depot 1 Ersatz Battalion of 76th IR??????

Hope this is of interest

Joe Sweeney

[Chris Boonzaier]

That IS interesting.... I have never seen one like that before. Are they prewar?

[Joe Sweeney]

Chris,

They are pre-war, but I don't know the date when they were introduced. The double strap variety was introduced in 1909.

However, these early ones are seen from time to time in photo of the war(Only I have none saved at the moment or would post.

Joe Sweeney

[Chris Boonzaier]

Thanks,

now I have another item on my "need" list ;-)

[Chip]

This pattern was also issued to naval landing troops. Years ago I got a set of navy gear that came off of a German ship which was interned in an American harbor during the war. Sets of this gear were taken off of the ship and stored at the Philadelphia naval yard. The set consisted of a red/brown navy issue rucksack, six navy pattern, individual, three clip cartridge pouches, a leather over-the-shoulder ammo bandolier and an entrenching shovel with this single strap and ring suspension.

I have an old fieldgear plate that shows this carrier as part of the M87 Tragegerüst. Paul Pietsch's book on the Prussian infantry also shows this pattern as being introduced with the M1887 Tragegerüst, calling it Schanzzeug 1887.

Chip

Edited November 1, 2013 by Chip

[Joe Sweeney]

Chip,

Thanks for the info

Joe Sweeney

[Hoss]

Joe that's pretty cool I look at these as the classic W1 carrier as the regular grunts entered the war. I think there was also a cavalry pattern of this single loop without the ring.... Chip?

Eric

[Chip]

Eric,

You're right. Here are some pictures from a friend's collection.

Chip