Unorthodox and rare MP40 pouch

[Jean-Loup]

This use of unaltered US machine gun bands in German equipment is one of the coolest 'technicalities' I have seen!

[clint-magnum]

Hey Xav ,
that is indeed exactly the strap we need for our earlier pouches !
how , damnish , came this strap to this beautiful pouch ???

[Rhodie]

Are there period photos of the 3 cell pouch? Thanks.

[Greif7]

Hi, I found 2 pictured on this forum showing clearly the 3 cell Ersatz pouch.

http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...ht=mp40&page=3

Thread 40 and 41. Maybe somebody can put these photos here as well?

Thanks,

Alex

http://www.mp40.nl

[Rhodie]

Thank you. Proof positive.

[me6_130]

Good morning gents,

Three years later, just let me add another 3 cell pouch by the same maker. Just arrived and pics are seller's ones. No trace of any stamp or WaA, only hand written H. Schmitz. Does anyone have a clue of who the maker was and when they were produced?


Carles

[Greif7]

I recently did some further investigation in these pouches. I traced a pair of pouches that I would consider a missing link between the pictured pouches and the more "regular" manufactured pouches. These "missing link" pouches would categorize as more "textbook" pouches with metal tips at the front straps but still have the ammo belt corner D-ring straps. Manufacturer is in my opinion Friedrich Offerman & Söhne from Bensberg (dkk). A well know MP38 and MP40 pouch manufacturer.

A photo would say more that a 1000 words but I cannot publish any photos for some reason here. If you are interested maybe somebody can do this for me. I'm more than happy to mail the photos to you.

rgrds,

info@mp40.nl
www.mp40.nl

[me6_130]

I guess you mean these:

http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=881227

I was also doing some research on then, and I do think they are the missing link between the early six cell with american ammo belt loops and the later webbing mag pouches.

Carles

[me6_130]

There are some problems with WAF lately... Trying to upload some pics of the three kinds of pouches I believe were made by same maker:

What do they have in common? American cloth ammo belts as straps or for D ring and rivets to hold spacers or leather reinforcements. Seems to be only maker that uses them, and only in early production.

Carles

[Willi Z.]

Interesting updates.

[Fsoq]

Hello,
Reading this thread, I remember having this strap found years ago with other german stuff. Always wondering what it might be. It shows the quite similar square buckle and stitching of the early 6 pockets amo pouch.
Any idea ? Maybe for a MP38/40 ? To hang something ? It is 105 cm long (41 inches)
Thank you

[ton g]

Hi FSOQ,

your belt was used for the british Stengun. I've had a localy found untouched Sten from a barn with the exact same belt.
Should have some photo's of it somewhere...

Grss

[me6_130]

I was going to suggest it looked like some kind of "ersatz" rifle sling. Might have been used with Sten guns...but that Z stitching by the buckle does look like the stitching of the MP belt loops at the back of the pouches.... The buckle doesn't look like that on the MP strap, though.


Carles

[Greif7]

Thanks me6_130 for placing the pictures of the "missin link" pouches. That's the exact pair I meant. Pretty sure they have been manufactured by Friedrich Offerman & Söhne from Bensberg (dkk). Probably in 1938/1939.

[Fsoq]

Originally Posted by ton g

Hi FSOQ,

your belt was used for the british Stengun. I've had a localy found untouched Sten from a barn with the exact same belt.
Should have some photo's of it somewhere...

Grss

Thank you Ton g,
Yes, when you have time, I'd like to see your belt please.
Thanks