Question about protective leather on MG42 ammo boxes handles

[BrunoH]

Hi,

At the beginning of the conflict, the leather protections for the ammunition boxes of MG34 / 42 were in brown leather.
My question is about this type of protection (here below): A kind of leather ersatz or very fine black leather. When was is it made ? After the war ? end of the war ?
An example on this ammunition box marked ada 1944, which does not seem to have been repainted (or very well done !!)

Many thanks in advance.

Best regards

[Nigromontanus]

ada 44 had black leather also. But from what I see of the very little you present of this Patronenkasten it does not appear to me as a one looker, but rather as a repaint job. But I might be false.

[phil337]

i have just had a look at my untouched Field grey Patronenkasten 41 marked "brc42" it still has the leather coverings on the handles and ends and is also some kind of artificial leather,doesnt appear to be proper leather. il post pics when i can

[BrunoH]

Many thanks for your comment, I'll try to make better picture of the box itself to get a better idea.
Have a nice week end.
Regards

[kiler]

It looks like pig skin leather. It was used late war e.g. for canteen straps, but I have same worries as Nigromontanus concerning MG box itself.

[BrunoH]

Thanks for your comment kiler

[Ir 143]

Patronenkasten.

As the other members; actual paint (the handle is not completely painted here), with actual leather.
I have one with artificial leather from 1942. The 1944 ones i have seen or have in my collection do not shows traces og this leathers. Maybe some manufacturers don't use them in later stages of the war.

[maksiusta]

BrunoH, your ammo box is repainted and the leather is not original.
When i have some free time I will send you fotos of good teather protection.

[BrunoH]

Hi,
Many thanks for the additional comments..
After some delay, some pictures of the discussed box.
It's clear that it's not the 'usual' Sandgelb I'm used to see on more aged ammunition boxes. On this one, the inside is painted in red (rustproof red) and the outside in this more light yellow. My only comment is that the painting is quite well done (not rust under the paint or any 'done quickly in your garage job).
Maybe re-packaging by a dealer or surplus shop or company:

Best regards

[timg]

Interesting thread going over some ground that has been touched on before.

I personally would not get too ground up about the colour on that box.

Even within the thread we have 2 sets of pictures showing the same item in essentially 2 colour renditions due to camera, I.T. settings, lighting etc.

Red lead on the inside?? Loads of kit had red lead internally towards the end of the war and that can IS the final pressing type. Infact at the very end as we know kit came out painted entirely red. Corrosion shown on the box looks typical of the areas it might develop.

Dunkelgelb came out in more shades than you can shake a stick at.

Thread below covering the subject is quite good

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru....php?p=6770739

As for the leather.......couldn't say

Just my two pennies worth.

Regards

Tim

[SMP]

Black leather very tightly bound on my can.

[BrunoH]

Thanks SMP for the pictures. I've some boxes with such kind of sewing.. which looks more 'usual'
And thanks Tim for the link (I remember this very interesting thread).
Well... anyway, it was just a question about 'do am I the only one with this kind of finishing ?' (if yes, pretty sure, that I shouldn't be)
Thanks again
Regards
Bruno

[Nigromontanus]

1. leather protection ended in 1943, with some makers ending in 1944

2. sometimes leather original, sometimes ersatzmaterial

3. the Patronenkasten shown is the late simplified variant, which never had leather protectors. Apart from the metal totally fabricated, I bought a likewise once, it now belongs to my little son. I would not even dare to offer to sell it, since one can only ruin his reputation with such

4. the brc 43 is nice

[kiler]

One additional question about this MG can: was this extra rivet common for "ada" Kasten? I have "brc" can of this "last ditch" type and it lacks this rivets just like in SMP`s photos.

[Nigromontanus]

this is typical only for ada