Original Field Bottle (Canteen)?

[Mauser HSc]

Were the standard Wehrmacht aluminum type field bottles with aluminum cup, leather straps, wool cover and plastic (bakelite) cap produced after 1945?

If so, how is it possible to tell a war-time from a post April 1945 example?

Any tips would be much appreciated!

Danke schon!

[Soldat de Fer]

Hello

Very good question.
Yes ,they were produced after 1945 ,I am not sure about the bakelite cup ,as far as I know ,they did not.
One way to tell them appart ,are the markings. Also ,post-war cup are for the most part unmarked. The wool cover is usualy made of better quality and the snap button are of an other design ,straps will be really shinny ( due to the lacquer at the factory) ,and the metal hook ,will be of a different color.
You can see them for sale on reenactment site ,sometime on ebay.
Post-war canteen are easy to spot amongst original.
Hope this will help you.
Best Regards
Pierre-Yves

[Johnnie]

The "tropical" compressed wood type was also made post war, some for the BGS. Same company, exact same dimensions and markings, however they are dated and easy to tell post war. I have a mint one I bought new in Germany, dated, I believe 63, and the green aluminum cup is exactly like wartime only no markings. The straps are also a bit different with newer metal spaps, however with exact like wartime "Ritter" snaplink.
Great canteens, and with my mint postwar breadbag make a great Volksmarsch kit.
Johnnie

[Mauser HSc]

Thanks for the replies! Merci Beaucoup!

I saw one that looks to be pre April '45 but one of the markings on the aluminum cup is a number "51." I was afraid that it might be the year of manufacture. Any significance to the number.

The hook has "Patent" written on it in German and English. The snaps on the wool cover have daisy-like designs on them and the screw cap is bakelite or plastic.

What do canteens go for in very good to excelent condition with everything including the leather intact?

[Gary Wood]

I am not sure about the bakelite cup ,as far as I know ,they did not.

the Bakelite cups are faked made from a hard plastic they started to appear from the former eastern bloc last year,you see a lot on German ebay, they have used an original for the mould, they did not use a mint example thus there are marks,

The plastic is hard but unlike Bakelite, if you flick it with the back of the finger its a duller sound.
they have a semi matt finish also,
they are produced in black, orange and green as far as I know.

below is one of the fakes

[Gary Wood]

inside

[Johnnie]

Does anyone know if any originals were made WITHOUT markings?
Johnnie

[Soldat de Fer]

Does anyone know if any originals were made WITHOUT markings?
Johnnie

Hello
I have many canteens and handle even more ,I have never seen one without the typical bakelite ,factory marks ,these markings were part of the mould. Some of these cup ,do have also a 3 letters maker code and the full year of manufacture.
When it comes to the fakes ,they are easy to spot right away , they also feel lighter ,not as thick either.
Best Regards
Pierre-Yves

[Gary Wood]

here are pictures of a green one, also as mentioned above they are lighter

[Gary Wood]

2nd photo of fake green cup

[Gary Wood]

green and black

[Mauser HSc]

Thanks for the info on the bakelite CUPs but what about bakelite CAPs on the canteen itself?

[Soldat de Fer]

Thanks for the info on the bakelite CUPs but what about bakelite CAPs on the canteen itself?

Hello
They were also marked with a small factory marking.
Are they being faked ? if this is also your question ,as far as I know ,no ,they are not.
Hope this will help you .
Best Regards
Pierre-Yves

[Colorado]

So does everyone belive this eBay canteen is wartime?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...461895&ssPageN

[CWP]

My guess is that that is a postwar canteen.