Early BGS Fieldgear Reference

[Klaus1989]

Gasmask can markings/details

[Guardian 5]

Awesome thread!

I'll have to check and see if any of my gear is a different variation or maker from those posted by Klaus.

Thanks!

TJ

[Collectinsteve]

Mystery of my MP38/40 pouches solved... reproduction WW2 pouches. Once again proving two things. First, the most obvious answer is likely the correct one. Second, if it looks like a Third Reich item, but the details aren't clear, then it is probably a reproduction/fake.

Oddly, the thing that tipped off the TR collectors was not the stamp but the stitching! The originals had their leather bits sewn with two strands of thread for each stitch. Mine only has one. One of the guys who commented did say he found the stamp on mine to be very odd.

So far nobody has narrowed things down more than that, however this must be quite an old set. IMHO the condition of the leather indicates it is maybe 40+ years old.

Off to eBay they go! Fortunately I didn't pay a large amount for them.

Steve

[Collectinsteve]

Thanks for keeping up the documentation, Klaus!

Was Auer the only maker of gasmask cans for the BGS? I'm wondering if that's a good thing to guide collectors when trying to make identifications. Especially with eBay listings that don't show other details well or at all.

Steve

[Klaus1989]

interesting, what i suspected with the pouches. Sometimes reproductions use fantasy maker stamps, so maybe maker chose "BGS" for fake maker abbreviation and not realise was also a postwar organisation?

Thanks for keeping up the documentation, Klaus!

Was Auer the only maker of gasmask cans for the BGS? I'm wondering if that's a good thing to guide collectors when trying to make identifications. Especially with eBay listings that don't show other details well or at all.

Steve

Only maker i have encountered, including examples i have seen for sale and not own. It seem like PSL made all or almost all cans for BW and Auer for BGS. BGS paint will also of course be in Schwarzgrün and BW in olive.

Klaus

[Klaus1989]

Kartentaschen (Unterführer)

Mapcase model not really change over years with BGS. It exist in 2 colours - black for Unterführer (Wachtmeister bzw. Wachtmeister-Anwärter ranks) and brown for Meister/officers. There is also a type of despatch case without the foldout map part.

From l. to r.

- Karl Böcker, Waldbröl 1954
- Franz Brehme, Walsrode 1955
- Wunderlich, Berlin 1958

[Klaus1989]

Mapcase details. Buckles and carbine hooks vary a bit from maker/year

[Klaus1989]

Map/despatch case without the foldout map cover and with different closing system.

Stamped Karl Böcker, Waldbröl 195? (last number not readable). Stamp is photo of above post - it is stamped on the strap instead of the case.

[Klaus1989]

photos show, that above model also produced in brown for Meister and officers, but have not seen example yet.

[Klaus1989]

Kartentaschen (Führer)

standard model exist also in brown for Führer (Meister and officer ranks). Otherwise there is not differences from black version. The exact brown shades vary from different makers.

l. to r.

- F&B 1958
- C. Riese, Berlin 1956 (miss carrying strap)

[Klaus1989]

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[Klaus1989]

Compass Lufft-Bézard

equipment item also related to maps is the Lufft-Bézard compass. Issued to roles, that would need it. The BGS version has a few slight differences from early BW beside the markings. Paint colours are similar with 50s canteen cups - some (earlier?) are grey and others are schwarzgrün. March direction arrows and parts of compass face glow in the dark.

[Klaus1989]

Holsters

like other leather items, holsters produced in black for Grenzjäger/Wachtmeister (einfacher Dienst) and brown for Meister/officers (mittlerer and gehobener Dienst) for all models of holster. In 50s this would be the SIG P210-4 (Pistole "SIG") and Astra 600 (Pistole "Astra") - the P1 was introduced in BGS first in early 60s. SIG holsters are wider than Astra holsters and have a single wide belt loop and pocket flap on the end of the mag pouch.

Officer holsters are hard to find in general, but the brown Astra holster is probably the rarest to find now - have seen only 1 example in a private collection. However Black SIG holsters are also rare.

l to r.

- SIG officer holster - only stamp is "BMdI" stamp with Bundesadler
- Astra other ranks holster (broken belt loop). No maker stamp, but not all holster makers used them.

[Tanker Mike]

Holster

So, what kind of holsters did the BGS use for the P1? A Bundeswehr type?

Mike

[Klaus1989]

So, what kind of holsters did the BGS use for the P1? A Bundeswehr type?

Mike

yes, it is identical with the Bundeswehr model (black leather), but different stamps, at least in earlier production. For Meister and officers in brown leather, which was not used by BW or any other organisations. Not have any P1 holsters, because i focus on 50s-early 60s and P1 was introduced around 1963 in BGS - a bit later than in BW.

Klaus