Are these mess kit straps?

[Rick C]

Black, post war straps. measuring 27”. Marked: BUND Vers. Nr.7360-12-182-0080 and: Auftrag 151/85/9-PII3-0626/98002-IVA2

Wildassed guess from the size is for use with a mess kit? Any clue folks?
Thanx, Rick

[Rick C]

2

[Hugh Zillmann old]

Hello Rick,

Utility strap is probably a better description. Generally used in connection with zeltbahns (yes, the BGS had these in the 1950's and 60's) or with blankets.

How many have you got and would they go with BGS Y-straps?

Ciao,

Hugh

[Guardian 5]

Rick - Hard and fast information on BGS leather gear is difficult to come by. We've taken a stab at it (see link to this thread below) but much work remains in this area.

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=374800

I'd feel comfortable in saying that the strap you posted is appropriate for use with the post-war mess kit. At 6.75 inches, they are appreciably taller than the wartime M31 and require a strap at least 24 inches in length to attach it to the breadbag.

This conclusion is supported by extrapolations from my BGS gear collection and photographic evidence posted to the "Early BGS Gear" thread, but I am presently unable to point you to a BGS regulation or definitive reference that states this is so. We'll get there some day.....

All the best - TJ

[Hugh Zillmann old]

Hello Thomas,

I have also used the slightly smaller straps (you know, those which come with the additional length faciliating stud attachment) and they also work in securing the slightly larger post-war mess kit (and they work well with attachment of the kit to the loop-configured breadbag). They are similarly marked with the "Bund" designation.

The conclusion which I've arrived at is that those depicted at the outset of this thread are general utility straps, available for a multitude of uses. I say this, because a tropical mess kit strap I have in my collection (WW2 vintage - a 'leave-over" from my earlier collecting habits) matches in design that which I earlier mentioned (with the additional attachment strap, like the earlier-pattern BGS water bottles). To me, this appears consistent with a particular intended use, ie. attachment of the kit and water bottle to the outside straps of the breadbag (hence the continued use of the wartime-style loops).

Anyway, that's the basis for my thinking.

Cheers,

Hugh