Canteens

[Colorado]

I think it is late war, probably mid '44. The real late ones that even have 45 dates on them are the squat steel ones with either canvas or wool covers. Different manufacturs had different suppliers. As raw materials dwindled, some were affected later than others. I just saw a 1944 canteen made from aluminum with an aluminum cup and late war cover like yours. Rough as heck, so I did not buy it.

Don't look for a pattern, their ain't one!

Just like in messkits, you see aluminum and steel produced in 1944. I have not seen steel earlier than 1943 though.

[Michael Kuligowski]

hello !! I am posting picture of a blue enamel canteen - this is the only picture I have at the moment - I sold my digital camera .. because I am on the way to buy new one (4mgpix .
Anyway - picture is showing 1944 dated (on the bottle) canteen, cover is thin felt (bad quality) with stell naps, straps - late war thin leather with steel buckle. Canteen and cup are covered with thick blue enamel like late war messkits , or steel pots in 50-70's

will try to post something more in the future..
I agree with Colorado.. looking for patterns.. like in helmet collecting.. has not much sense...
during the war there was so much manufacturers, and refurbished equipment...

Thanks Mike, I like that one!

[Infanteer]

That's a first for me Mike. I have never seen anything other than red or green enamel on German equipment before. You have to have an open mind when you collect WW2 German because an item that goes against the norm always seems to turn up sooner or later. Never a dull moment...

[Gary Wood]

here is a pre war ss canteen the type without the cup, marked ss 46/34 rzm

[Gary Wood]

detail of the cap

[Gary Wood]

here again is a pre war dated ss canteen, everything is stamped the strap, the cover the cap and the neck of the bottle, the cup is the same contact code but a years later

cup marked 196/38 where as everything else is marked 196/37

[Gary Wood]

details of the cup

[Gary Wood]

details of the neck markings

[Gary Wood]

stamps on the inside of the cover

[Gary Wood]

details of the water bottle cap markings

[Gary Wood]

details of the strap markings

[Gary Wood]

here are a couple of ground recovered water bottle caps same contract codes different years,

I have only come across 3 codes for ss water bottles 46 these appear on the cupless type bottles and also ss mess tins (standard type),

196 and 39 are 2 codes found on water bottles with cups

[Gary Wood]

from a water bottle with out a cup

[Gary Wood]

here is a cup from a marker marked water bottle ESB 34 that has also been unit stamped LSSAH