WWII German M1911 K98 Rifle Ammunition Pouch - Early Pattern Gallery
These are 1939 early pattern pouches in my personal collection. This type of pattern has two belt straps that wrap under each pocket and slips over an aluminum post. All of the hardware is aluminum. The latest pouch listed here is "ALBIN SCHOLLE ZEITZ 1939".
1939
ALBIN SCHOLLE
ZEITZ
1939
Natural pebbled leather dyed black except for the back. All aluminum fittings and all dividers are missing. The two vertical belt straps (smooth finish) are under the lower retaining straps. One of the lid straps has been repaired with what appears to post-war type thread. Black paint on hardware indicates this was once a Russian capture pouch. (20071206)
C. Otto Gehrckens
PINNEBERG
1939
Natural pebbled leather dyed black except for the back. Some of the dye has worn off giving it a dark brown appearance. Some paint spots are evident on the leather. All aluminum fittings with all dividers present. The two vertical belt straps (smooth finish) are under the lower retaining straps. Left belt strap is named to "Meuter" and shows two impressions of a belt buckle that would indicate it was primarily worn of the right side. The wing span of the Kriegsmarine eagle is about 11.5 mm with the lower body grasping a circle swastika. The eagle and swastika measures 12mm high. The "M" is courier style and measures 4 mm by 4 mm. (20071206)
C. Otto Gehrckens
PINNEBERG
1939
Black pebbled leather with brown leather used for the inside pockets. The thread on the lid corners appears to have been used to repair the lids. The thread does not glow under UV light. All aluminum fittings with all dividers present. The two vertical belt straps (smooth finish) are under the lower retaining straps. The wing span of the Kriegsmarine eagle is about 11.5 mm with the lower body grasping a circle swastika. The eagle and swastika measures 12mm high. The "M" is courier style and measures 4 mm by 4 mm. (20071219)
C. Otto Gehrckens
PINNEBERG
1939
Brown leather dyed black. The only remaining original brown is the peddled leather in the pockets. All aluminum fittings with all ammunition dividers missing. Metal hardware has been painted black indicating a Russian capture pouch. The two vertical belt straps (smooth finish) are under the lower retaining straps. The wing span of the eagle is about 11 mm with the lower body grasping a circle swastika. The eagle and swastika measures 12mm high. The "M" is courier style and measures 5 mm high by 4 mm wide. (20080116-02)
The town of Pinnberg is located in Schleswig-Holstein in northern Germany.
EUGEN HUBER
1939
MÜNCHEN
Natural leather dyed black. Backside doesn't appear to have been dyed. All hardware is aluminum. All clip dividers are missing. Center strap appears to have a period repair of a reinforcement backing added. (20061130)
München, Germany was the location of the Dachau concentration camp.
G.GENSCHOW & Co. A.-G.
BERLIN
1939
Natural leather dyed black. Backside doesn't appear to have been dyed. All hardware is aluminum. A rivet head is missing on a reinforcement for an upper belt mount. All clip dividers are in the pockets. Double stamp of KM acceptance eagle. (20081221-04)
H. KRUSE
LÜBECK
1939
Natural leather dyed black on the front, top, and sides per 1939 regulations. Backside doesn't appear to have been dyed. All hardware is aluminum. All clip dividers are present. Reinforcement washer is missing from a lower belt strap loop. Maker mark difficult to read except with a magnifying glass. Very nice impression of KM acceptance stamp. (20081221-03)
HANS RÖMER
1939
NEU-ULM
Darkened natural leather dyed black. Backside has not been dyed. The leather in this pouch is a little stiff. All hardware is aluminum. All clip dividers are present but two are broken in the middle. (20070412)
Jean Weipert
Offenbach a.M
1939
Brown leather dyed black. Typical with early pouches, hardware is aluminum. All clip dividers are present in the pockets of this pouch. (20070705)
KURT SEIDEL
BERLIN W35
1939
Original brown leather. All hardware is aluminum. All clip dividers are present. Center lid strap is broken at the post hole. Leather is stiff and worn at edges, but retains original shape. Purchased from HMS Brinmaric Collectables, this is the pouch shown on the Field Gear button. (20070128)
LANDES-LIEFERUNGS
GENOSSENSCHAFT
NIEDERSACHSEN
HANNOVER 1939
Natural pebbled leather dyed black per 1939 regulations. Maker mark text in straight line. All aluminum fittings. All dividers including rivets are missing. The two vertical belt straps (smooth finish) are under the lower retaining straps. Pockets retain nice original shape. Kriegsmarine acceptance stamp in the 12 o'clock position over maker stamp text. (20081221-05)
ROHRBACHER LEDERFABRIK
JOS. POESCHLs SÖHNE A.G.
ROHRBACH / OBERDONAU
1939
This is a rare and superb example of a truly unissued early pattern K98 ammunition pouch in natural / tan leather. All aluminum fittings and all the dividers (of course) are present. The ammunition pocket cover straps have never been pulled down over the bottom mounted securing posts! It seems the SS may have been experimenting with a natural color ammunition pouch (other attributes appear to be the same as with the standard black issue pouches). These may have also been for Police issue. All the straps are in excellent condition although there is some slight shrinkage to the securing straps, since they were never stretched to fit over the bottom posts. There is the letter "B" at the (unfinished side) end of the middle lid strap and another "L" at the (unfinished side) end of the left (when viewed from the front) belt strap.
Attached to the rectangular equipment strap “D” ring, there is a twine rope with a test sample “Probe” card marked “Originalprobe” (“original sample”). The tag backing is a black colored card that is about 1.5 mm thick and made of an unknown material. This unique item is a bit color faded, but the printing is fully legible, and a typed notation reads: “für Patronentasche Leder. Art.Nr.253.". According to Bill Shea, this means "ammunition pouch, leather article number 253". The date stamped in ink on the tag is "1. APR. 1942" which is interesting, since the cartridge pouch was clearly manufactured in 1939. The bottom of the tag indicates the facility as being the “Bekleidungswerk der Waffen-SS Dachau” or "Waffen-SS Clothing Works". Below that is the handwritten text "i.V" meaning "in Vertretung" or "on behalf". The handwritten name that appears to be "Gaube" is also at the bottom of the tag. Thanks to "naxos" of the WAF for the handwritten translation help.
The reverse of the card has a hardened, thick brick red wax seal overlaying the tag string. Portions of the seal’s outer edges have broken off and flaked away, but a large portion remains. Having evidence that it was once inventoried in the store rooms of the infamous Dachau concentration camp makes this a historically significant K98 pouch. (20080112)
SACHS & DEISSELBERG
HAMBURG
1939
Only a few characters at the end of the maker mark can be seen; "ERG and "RG". The maker SACHS & DEISSELBERG HAMBURG is the only name that fits including line spacing distance. Year stamp is clear with "39". Note: More pictures are pending. (20071223-01)
WITTKOP & Co
BIELEFELD
1939
Brown leather dyed black with the backside in original brown. All hardware is aluminum and no clip dividers are present. Smooth leather belt straps are under loops. This pouch has a "been there" look to it with noticeable wear on the aluminum equipment ring.
Founded in 1214, Bielefeld is located in northwestern Germany. The city was bombed by allied aircraft in WWII like many Germany cities. (20070127)