what markings if any on a three pack k98 ammo pouch

[pitts duncan]

i passed today on an authentic looking three pack k98 ammo pouch at the flea market. stitching correct .leather straps looped up and over the tops. holes in the straps could be forced down over the metal nipples. but no markings of any kind anywhere. did i screw up or what. i waS LOOKING FOR WW2 AUTHENTIC OF COURSEit was done in a correct period pebble blackish leather.. you know i am going to start taking my darn digital camera and getting naMES AND ADDRESS OF SELLERS SO I CAN RECONTACT IF IT IS A TREASURE AND REMEMBER IF IT IS A FAKE. sorry bout the caps . i guess i am handi capped. ?age and appearance was quite good but not to good ,you know.i went back this weekend and bought the ammo pouch. i find it to be unmarked in any way. pebble backish or extremely dark brown. rivets with washers at key points, belt loop straps come under and go through loops on back and snug down over the metal posts on the bottom. asmd the straps for the pouch tops come over the top and snug down around the posts also. i see the posts on the outside pouches are rather pointed and the middle post is rounded? the pouches all have a divider inthe middle of each pouch and a d ring in the back middle. i can email pix if anyone interested but not yet able to post here.

[P08]

Mine has a maker stamp, a year stamp (1941) and an eagle over M.

[Vix Steel]

I have some original German pouches that dont have maker stamps on them. Sometimes the stamps can get rubbed off over time also. I think there was another country (Poland?) that used the same style mauser 3 pocket ammo pouch that was very similar to the German issue.

If it was cheap enough it never hurts to buy something you are not sure about. Like if it was $5 no problem....if the seller wanted $50 thats another story.

Cheers

[pzrwest]

stamp

An eagle over an M would indicate that it is a Kriegsmarine item

[Stinch]

What maker impressions/dates does everyone have?

[P08]

I can hardly read mine. The stamp is well made and the condition of the bag is good, but the stamp itself is rather "open" in the letters floating into eachother so it's hard to read. A magnifier makes it even harder due to the "open design" of the letters.

Something like: Stecher Freiberg or E??berg?

[geopop71]

K98 pouches

I have two three paks, one is all rivet's on the flap and strap very little stitching
probably early? They are marked 0/1032/0002, no date or any thing else. The other's are stitched and are brown on the back and black on the front They are marked---CARL AKVA LEDER FABRIK BAD KREUNACH 1936.
I have a bayonet frog marked Lagesa, Dresden, 1936
Geopop

[P08]

I'm curious to learn about the ones with no marks except these strange numbers like the one mentioned above (0/1032/0002). What do these numbers mean? Are these pouches wartime? Are they German?

At the yearly militaria rally here I see many of these strangely numbered but otherwise anonymous pouches but none or very few marked with eagle over swastica, maker & year?

[Vix Steel]

Arnt the strange #'s like 0/1032/0002 RBnr's code #'s? which would mean the equipment was made after 43?

[Paul G]

Arnt the strange #'s like 0/1032/0002 RBnr's code #'s? which would mean the equipment was made after 43?

Yes! they are makers codes, and as far as named makers, there are way to many to mention. I have seen and handled a bunch of these. There are so many makers, its hard to find two matching makers, and very very hard to put together two makers with the same date

PG-

[Stinch]

I can hardly read mine. The stamp is well made and the condition of the bag is good, but the stamp itself is rather "open" in the letters floating into eachother so it's hard to read. A magnifier makes it even harder due to the "open design" of the letters.

Something like: Stecher Freiberg or E??berg?

I''ll bet it's "STECHER FREIBERG" Check out the 4th picture down at Auction Arms

[Stinch]

I have two three paks, one is all rivet's on the flap and strap very little stitching
probably early? They are marked 0/1032/0002, no date or any thing else. The other's are stitched and are brown on the back and black on the front They are marked---CARL AKVA LEDER FABRIK BAD KREUNACH 1936.
I have a bayonet frog marked Lagesa, Dresden, 1936
Geopop

Your riveted pouches are late war. The RBNr numbers began to show up in 1942/43. I also have two "CARL AKVA LEDERFABRIK BAD KREUZNACH" pouches dated 1937.

Look up this thread (#12) and search on "0/1032/0001", turns out the maker (sister to yours?) may be Carl Clauberg & Co. Solingen. It would be interesting to know what your "0/1032/0002" maker is, but we'll likely never know! It would help put the mystery of the RBNr's together.

[geopop71]

K98 pouches

Stinch:
I would have thought the riveted pouches were early war. I have seen pics of these being used at all stages of the war. Neither of my pouches have a Swaz
or waffenampt. The riveted one is of a thinner leather.
geopop

[P08]

Stinch, thanks


So the strange numbers are really codes for maker and year. I never knew that, thanks! Are there any online lists over these codes?

[Stinch]

Stinch, thanks

So the strange numbers are really codes for maker and year. I never knew that, thanks! Are there any online lists over these codes?

The meaning of the RBNr codes have not been determined. The codes certainly hide the real manufacturers names and the Germans did a good job at that since after 60 years, we are still trying to figure them out. Pouches and other gear that have both the maker name and RBNr numbers help shed some light but they are not common. I don't think the codes hide a year since I have some pouches stamped with the RBNr and year.

I'm working on a list of manufacturer names and RBNr codes on K98 pouches. Check out my K98 manufacturer page. With hundreds of possible manufacturers, I'll be busy for the next thirty years. For now I have a fire for finding names, so whatever you have to add would be great. My RBNr page isn't ready yet, but that will follow.

Rich