Tropical Rucksack – Web Straps or Leather?

[Brad Posey]

I picked up several tropical rucksacks that have straps that are made from leather Y-straps. Here is one next to another that has web straps. Did they all originally come with web straps or were these leather straps put on later after the web straps broke? Or, were they issued with both?

While on the subject of tropical rucks, here is one with aluminum buckles.

Any opinions or comments on these would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Brad

[Brad Posey]

Back - Web strap and other with leather Y-straps

[Brad Posey]

Here is one with aluminium buckles.

[Brad Posey]

close up

[Michael Kuligowski]

Brad !!

very nice pack with alu buckles- hard to find them !!!

about these with straps - this model of pack never had straps sewn on... web straps are either some civilian ad or maybe some transport straps adopted to pack...
leather straps are regular Y-straps cut down and added to pack...

anyway - seems like You have a big collection of packs !! cool

[Brad Posey]

I have a pretty big collection of rucks, right now my living room floor is covered with them. I really like them along with most other field gear since there are not too many fakes....yet anyway.

So, these rucks were originaly designed to be used with the (tropical) Y-straps?

Then what is the big ring on top for?

Thanks,

Brad

[Michael Kuligowski]

I have a pretty big collection of rucks, right now my living room floor is covered with them. I really like them along with most other field gear since there are not too many fakes....yet anyway.

So, these rucks were originaly designed to be used with the (tropical) Y-straps?

Then what is the big ring on top for?

Thanks,

Brad

Brad !! - these packs vere made to be used with Y-straps - or speciall web lightweight staps (maybe someone has a picture of a straps like that - I dont have it in my collection)

big D-Ring on the top is a utility ring - can be used as a handle, or like in Your case to attach some other straps etc...

[hcliffe]

Brad, does it look like there were small straps with rings attached to these where the rivets are on the back? those would have been used to hook to Y straps. Perhaps these were removed and the Y strap, straps added.

[Brad Posey]

You are right, the web straps with clips to attach to the Y-straps were removed. I have bought these with all the web straps and clips in place and with leather straps also on the big ring in the center. From my view point most are found with leather Y-straps or pieces of them fixed to the big ring in the center. I guess I need to start studying pics of DAK and others with tropical uniform and see if I can find some wearing these packs.

Thanks for all of your replies.

Brad

[Soldat de Fer]

Hello
I don't think that the ring were made to carry the pack by hand ,I can only imagine the soldiers hand after carrying the pack for few hours !!!.
These were isued with straps ,I don't see how you could attach the Y-strap to that ring !. Does the straps on the back pack shows resewing ?
If they do ,then they were replaced .
What are the dates on your backpacks ? that might explain the "get whatever you have available" straps.
Best Regards
Pierre-Yves

[Soldat 11]

The rings are also for hanging the pack on a hook. That is why they are also found on many packs meant to be used with Y straps only. Many were used to add straps as shown. Most rings were just opened up and the straps slid on and in some cases the weld if there was one was cut first with large wire cutters. I found this out from vets I have met.

[Brad Posey]

The straps do not appear to have resewn, but I will need to take some closer photos of this and post in the next couple days for eveyone else to look at. I personally think that these leather straps were made from Y-straps so that would mean they were resewn even though it does not look that way - of course I could be wrong. On several I have seen the D-rings on the top part of the Y-strap look like they were removed and put on at an angle similar to the one in my original post.

I agree that the large ring would not be made for carrying the pack, but as was mentioned earlier by another member this was a "utility" ring and could be used for many things like carrying or attaching straps.

Still a mystery to me because of all of the rucks I have only the tropical type have this single large ring.

More comments are appreciated.

Thanks,

Brad

[Brad Posey]

None of mine have been cut and re-welded. Anyway, I think if these rings were re-welded the heat would be too great for the webbing and would catch on fire or at a minimum show signs of being burned.

I will take some better pictures.

Brad

[Michael Kuligowski]

I don't see how you could attach the Y-strap to that ring !.

Pierre - the Y-straps hooks - like Herry mentioned - were cut off....

[Soldat de Fer]

Pierre - the Y-straps hooks - like Herry mentioned - were cut off....

Hello
My bad
I used to have one in mint condition ,no hooks either ( did not look to ever had any) but with some web straps ( tropical ones) originaly sewn with it.
Post-war make-up maybe ?
Regards
Pierre-Yves