WWII German M1911 K98 Rifle Ammunition Pouch - Premier Gallery
These are the best K98 pouches from my personal collection. These are in excellent nearly unused condition and/or have features that make them exceptional examples of the patronentaschen 98K. The latest pouch to be added to this page is "JOS. POESCHLs SÖHNE A.G. 1939".
1935
LEDERWARENWERK
CURT VOGEL
COTTBUS
1935
Luftwaffe marked inside middle pocket lid in ink. Very early original brown pebbled leather. Hardware is all aluminum as is typical with early pattern pouches. All clip dividers are present. Ink stamp inside middle lide reads "Flg. Staffel 1935" and "I" over "B St 35". Excellent condition. Indirectly acquired from a WWII US Army veteran from the 29th Infantry Division, living in Roanoke, Virginia, USA. (20070201)
Lederwerk
Sedina
Finkenwalde
1935
Unit marked to inside of middle lid is the designation, "2./M.G.31 1 ", 2nd MaschineGewehr Company 31st Regiment. The small "1" could indicate parade use. Also stamped to the right of unit impression is a "K35" in a rectangle. Light brown pebbled leather with all dividers present. Very nice example of an early German Patronentaschen 98K with a sharp, well defined maker stamp and date. Typical of early pouches, all of the hardware is aluminum.
According to Kim's records, the acceptance stamp "K35" stands for "Königsberg" 1935. During the Weimar period, Königsberg was isolated from the rest of mainland Germany by the Polish Corridor. The British Air Force bombed the city during August 1944, destroying a significant part of the historic district. Russian forces engaged the Germans in the Battle of Königsberg from January - April 1945 with the Germans surrendering. The city was renamed Kalingrad, Russia and the German residents expelled.
The city of Finkenwalde is located about 250 kilometers northeast of Berlin, east of the Oder River. It was part of Germany during the Weimar period (1919-1937). Dietrich Bonhoeffer and his followers setup a Christian based Confessing Church in the city during the years 1935-1937 until it was closed by order of the Gestapo and 27 of it's students arrested. After WWII, the city and surrounding area was added to Poland.
This pouch has an interesting history as it was once in the massive K98 pouch collection of Kim Henvig of Denmark in 2006, was sold as part of that collection to Henrik Raske in Germany and made it's way to the Collectors Guild in Canada. Picked up by Rick Diehl in Florida and finally made it in my collection in 2008. Kim comments regarding this pouch are, "Flot taske" (Beautiful bag). (20080129)
1939
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 brown 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)
1941
FRANZ BREHME
WALSRODE
1941
Kriegsmarine marked, black pebbled leather. Clip dividers are missing and all but one steel rivet for same. Peddled leather pocket bottom liners. Aluminum pocket posts. Rivets and reenforcement for top belt strap is aluminum with steel used for bottom strap loops. Equipment ring is steel painted gray. Eagle wing is 10 mm wide and 8.5 mm from the top to the bottom of swastika. The "M" under is 3 mm square. (20070130)
1942
ftq
1942
Light brown pebbled leather, transitional pouch with aluminum and steel fittings. All dividers present. Gray paint remains on steel equipment hook only. Looks to be unissued and is in mint condition, most likely Luftwaffe or Polize. There is the following numbers stamped on the equipment loop; "1" over "33". The maker code "ftq" is for "Landesliefrungsgsgenossenschaft (L.L.G.), Tapezier & Posamentierer-Handwerks, Sachsen-Anhalt eGmbH, Magdeburg". Number's also stamped on lid strap ends. (20070310-02)
1944
0/0676
0039
44
Mint condition pouch, textbook example. All steel fittings with rivets. All rawhide dividers present. Maker mark numbers in straight line. Pouch appears to be unissued. Unknown maker mark. With the exception of the three long pocket strap posts, it matches the one below. (20061216-01)
0/0676
0039
44
Superb mint condition pouch, this is one of the best in my collection. All steel fittings with rivets used throughout including lids and pocket bottom's. All rawhide dividers present. RBNr numbers in straight line. Pouch appears to be unissued. Unknown maker mark. Tooling marks can be seen where the pocket sides were folded. Short pocket strap posts, matches the example above. (20061216-02)