G/K43 Ammo Pouch with stripe

[sfmike1]

Opinions on this style of K43 pouch would be appreciated. I have read that these (unmarked) pouches are thought to be authentic war-time production. Any other information would be a great help. The craftsmanship of the piece is amazing for a late war item - if in fact it is one.

[Alfred.R]

this is modern reproduction.

[sfmike1]

I would have assumed so as well, but not so sure. The author of this well-known site describes them as authentic. Hard to believe someone would spend so much time & effort making these and not mark them if they were a repro.

http://claus.espeholt.dk/g43_pouches.html

7a. Sand colored heavy linen with a red stripe
Other pouches have the red stripe placed elsewhere. Brown leather. No markings. This type is also seen as MP38/40 and MP44 pouches.
Genuine: Yes

[juoneen]

Seems pretty authentic by the leather being dried out, and has honest age to it overall...I would also assume it was original...even with the different colored leather used...and the ring being pitted some....that's a lot of trouble to make just to fake....

[sfmike1]

Yes, I'd agree....if these are fakes, they'd be the most impressive I've ever seen. I know it's totally common to use old leather and hardware on fakes, but all the leather on the pouch is somewhat stiff and permanently formed - like the rear loops. I don't think it's possible to assemble that, but I guess you never know. The leather bottoms inside the pouches are particularly impressive in their construction. Did an army use the K43 after the war (i.e., could they be post '45 made for use by another country)?

SF Mike

[Grubhy]

I would say good one, but stitches. Please take a look closer.

[MP44_tom]

Imho a well known fake..... but like i said, just my opinion

Tom
www.mp44.nl

[Sonnenwende]

I´m with Tom on this one: artificially aged reproduction IMO.

Regards
Sonnenwende

[sfmike1]

Thanks everyone for the opinions.
SF Mike

[Dmv]

would the stitching be the give away?

[sfmike1]

would the stitching be the give away?

I'm not sure.....perhaps Grubhy will explain. They look not typical, (the extra turns on the front keepers), but in late war I'm not sure the standards would have been maintained.

I've seen a lot of fakes (aged repros), but if this is one it would have to be a very old one (like from the 70's). Having it in hand, there's nothing that seems....artificial. The leather is stiff, not new.

Tom....says "well known copy" though. He's usually right

[MP44_tom]

In fact it is the leather that gives it away... it is artificially aged (and dry / cracked)

also the discolouring wth the D- ring is very typical...

I used to have a few of them, but sold them to reenactors...

Also the stitching is different, compare it to original stitching.....

And, I do make mistakes...... from time..........to time (C3PO ??)

Tom
www.mp44.nl

[sfmike1]

In fact it is the leather that gives it away... it is artificially aged (and dry / cracked)

also the discolouring wth the D- ring is very typical...

I used to have a few of them, but sold them to reenactors...

Also the stitching is different, compare it to original stitching.....

And, I do make mistakes...... from time..........to time (C3PO ??)

Tom
www.mp44.nl

I think Tom is probably right here, although it's still the stitching that seems more of a give away. The leather parts are perhaps taken from other pouches - combining less rare or damaged pouches into one new (rare) one. I have added some new pics - comparing the red striped one with an original fuq'45 pouch:

1. Keeper straps - stitching looks pretty bad when compared to the fuq model:





2. Top Straps - The fuq model has continuous stitching for the edge trim and the top strap. The top straps on the red strip model were done as a separate process, with a different size stitch.





3. Rear. Not bad for a fake I guess. The combination of rough hand-stiches and nice machine stitches along the top seems strange though. Note the fuq pouch is one-piece, not separate flaps.



Hope this helps everyone spot these.
SF Mike

[Grossfuss]

G/K43 Mag Pouch

Hi SF Mike,
Very well illustrated.
You were lucky with your "fuq 1945" stamp - one of the clearest I've seen and a nice WaA stamp on the other strap.
Shame they're all fakes - "STOP IT RIGHT THERE"!
Wish I could find the gun to go with mine.
Good hunting,
Grossfuss