Pre-war FJ gas mask bag.

[Willi Z.]

Here is a very rare piece. A pre-war 1st issue FJ gas mask bag. It exhibits pre-war craftmanship and has some nicely nickeled snaps and zipper. The bag is marked to a FJ and has his LFP number. The number comes back to the Nachschub (supply) Abteilung of the XIth Fliegerkorps in the early years and the number aslo comes back to the Stab of Fallschirm Nachschub Btl. 21......which is part of the 2nd Fallschirm Korps.

Willi

[Willi Z.]

The mask and filter that came with the bag are both 1936 dated. The filter is painted in a nice field gray color, as compared to wartime issue which are more green. The mask is very well made, the rubber is very soft and has leather fittings on the inside. The nose of the mask has bakelite fittings. The filter is also restamped to Jan of 1940. The spare lens tin in aluminum is also maker marked to the same maker as the bag and the mask.

Willi

[John Hodgin]

Super fine! Not many around like that, is this a new addition?

John

[WalterB]

Very cool, Willi, thanks for posting it!!

In the event of a gas attack, would the FJ have to screw the filter to the mask before using it? Is the bag designed to store the mask and filter already assembled?

[SMP]

Fantastic Willi ! a great set.
"A B" is the same maker as my mid-war bag. Do you know what it stands for ?

Regards,
Steve

[DaveJ]

A B stands for AHH>>> BUY it

[werner geier]

mint as mint can be...

[Ben]

A real treasure Willi! Love the multicolored straps.
Just beautiful! I'm still in the market for one!

Cheers,

Ben

[GJR100]

Hi Willi,

Great find ! Is this a special FJ gasmask ? I've never seen one with this 'nose' before. Bakelite this early ? The only different style with an outlet on the side is the special Panzer one. Do you have any additional info on this mask ?

Bart

[Willi Z.]

Thanks guys. I think this thing for FJ specific field gear such as these bags and study them pretty carefully. This early one also has the plastic caps on the snaps, something you don't see on later bags. Same manner as the snaps on other FJ items; smocks, trousers, etc.

Yes Ben, I think those early straps are cool. You see this style on early pre-war badoleers too. Some mid-war bags have black straps too.

Walter, the mask can be stored with the filter screwed in or without. It is primarily set up for the filter to be removed. It has a piece of leather protecting the front of the filter......nice leather on the early bags to a rough fake leather/rubber on the late bags. The back of the filter has a plug fit into it.

Bart, I too have never seen such an early mask and filter before. I have no other information other than this set was always together. The features are all nicely made. Will study the mask and compare with others.

Willi

[Willi Z.]

A quick comparison with some detail sof the latest issue FJ bag. Same style cloth as used on late ammo pouches, MP40 and MP44. Note the steel zipper has not been nickel plated. The Pyrm snaps have a cheap "wash" on them, rather than plating. The hook also has this "wash" instead of being painted. The inside leather piece was replaced by a crude rubber. Otherwise the same features as the earliest one.

Willi

[DRMilitaria]

Dear Willi,

Can you E-Mail some more pictures of your late-war FJ Gasmaskbag. (Karelphi@pi.be)

I'm restoring one , unfortunately the straps have been removed.

Thanks in advance

[Joseph Wu]

Hi guys,
I have some pics of the gas mask bag which is similar like Willi's. I found it from an U.S. dealer about two years ago. A reproduction, Willi said ( fortunately I did not buy it ), but well made IMO. Willi & I think we should share these pics with you to compare the features between original one & reproduction one . Here we go!
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[Joseph Wu]

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[Joseph Wu]

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