Ultimate G43 / K43 Pouch Discussion

[R_Hessian]

Item

As someone who has had a large quantity of items sent to him from the Ukraine, I would point out the Russian applied black protective coating that has been seen on many of the pouches shown on this thread.

The Russians applied this to most anything metal and then stored them, its the same coating that can be found on the arsenal refinished svt40's that were brought into this country awhile ago.

Often this coating can be taken off with just your fingernail, I have atleast ten 98k poushes right now with this coating applied on all metal fittings! My g43 pouch also has this coating still on areas... it too came to me directly from the Ukraine.


Regards,
Robert

[MGN]

Hello Robert,
I also have a pair of pouches that has this black coating, I just want to say one thing:

Do you think that the Russians spent the time on captured material to apply this black caoting? Rather then just stor the stuff away as is?


Thanks Michael

[kmh]

Someone in Russia had really both the power and the possiblity to clean up in the stores from II WW. The marked have been floated with Russian pouches and they all ranking in condition from very very worn to near mint but one common caracteristic to most/all the pouches was the black coating to the fittings not always that easy to remove as Robert say but sometime a tar like substance very hard to clean away. So yes correct from Russia with maybe not just love but probably also a nice profit.

Kim

[R_Hessian]

Someone in Russia had really both the power and the possiblity to clean up in the stores from II WW. The marked have been floated with Russian pouches and they all ranking in condition from very very worn to near mint but one common caracteristic to most/all the pouches was the black coating to the fittings not always that easy to remove as Robert say but sometime a tar like substance very hard to clean away. So yes correct from Russia with maybe not just love but probably also a nice profit.

Kim

Kim,

Yes that is correct WHEN its on the leather ( from poor application ) is a bear but on the metal I find it easy to remove. The Russians had lots of "help" and all the time they needed.

Robert

[MGN]

So this is good to see an pouches, because it shows that the item was in the hands of the Russians before it went into storage.

Robert, I wanted to ask did they continue this process with there itesm after the war? It is a smart idea to help the hardware resist rust. I have to agree with this point becuase I have an early pouch dated 38 that has this black coating on the hardware.

Thanks,
Michael

[R_Hessian]

Mgm

So this is good to see an pouches, because it shows that the item was in the hands of the Russians before it went into storage.

Robert, I wanted to ask did they continue this process with there itesm after the war? It is a smart idea to help the hardware resist rust. I have to agree with this point becuase I have an early pouch dated 38 that has this black coating on the hardware.

Thanks,
Michael

MGM,

Every item that has been sent here except a few has this coating on the metal, when I asked my contact he informed me that yes this was done by the Russians and all items stored.

Now I do have some Russian items that do not have this coating? For example I have a MINT Russian pigskin holster made for the LUGER! it has no coating on any portion of the metal areas ( I actually tried to sell it on the estand but I think people did not know what it was )... anyway thats what happened!

Robert

[MGN]

Robert,
Did this proces continue after the war?

Michael

[R_Hessian]

Mgn

Robert,
Did this proces continue after the war?

Michael

Michael,

All of the work on the German items was done "after the war", the Russian items I have no idea... I can only tell you that a few years ago I bought a svt40 as did many people, everytime I held the rifle this black stuff flaked off all over the place.

I have enclosed a picture of one of the places that these things are stored in.

Robert

[MGN]

Hey Robert,
I can imagine all the bunkers that haven't been found yet.

I want to bring this thread up again and address the question of the hardware found on the pouches:

Type of D-rings,
Steel stubs for holding flaps down
and steel crimps for holding leather together.

Thanks Michael

[Jeff Ashenfelter]

Willi,
Sorry, I missed your earlier post. The first pouch that I pictured, the Bla 1944 in black leather was actually the first G/43 pouch that I kept that I thought was original. In one of the G/43 pouch websites that Michael posted, there is an anecdote which states that these were brought in from Russia in some quantity in 2000. I have no problem with these being authentic as I have examined quite a number of them.
That being said, I also know that there are some nice repros of this particular pouch on the market. I agree with you that the fakes are pretty easy to distinguish from the originals.
I think that because these turned up on the market in some quantity and in mint condition that a lot of people were confused and prematurely wrote them off!
Perhaps our years of collector (conditioning) which tells us that red flags should go up, when an item is in mint condition or comes along in quantity, should be shelved and we should keep an open mind, at least for awhile.
There are many members here who have acquired WW2 German items that have come from the old Soviet Union. Robert Zimkas and Matt Weber for example, have some great items that were never issued and in QUANTITY!
Recently a good friend of mine who collects German pistols came up with a quantity of mint Astra 300 holsters. They are all very well marked and in mint condition. We compared them with a vet bring back example and they are Identical. Now if I took this holster to a gun show I know that no one would believe that it was original. These particular holsters are probably as rare as the G/43 pouches.
I hope that we can answer as many questions as possible about these pouches. It would be nice to finally resolve some of the fears that most of us have about these items. But as you said on another thread, common sense goes a long way when trying to distinquish an original from a repro! Jeff

[R_Hessian]

Astra

Willi,
Sorry, I missed your earlier post. The first pouch that I pictured, the Bla 1944 in black leather was actually the first G/43 pouch that I kept that I thought was original. In one of the G/43 pouch websites that Michael posted, there is an anecdote which states that these were brought in from Russia in some quantity in 2000. I have no problem with these being authentic as I have examined quite a number of them.
That being said, I also know that there are some nice repros of this particular pouch on the market. I agree with you that the fakes are pretty easy to distinguish from the originals.
I think that because these turned up on the market in some quantity and in mint condition that a lot of people were confused and prematurely wrote them off!
Perhaps our years of collector (conditioning) which tells us that red flags should go up, when an item is in mint condition or comes along in quantity, should be shelved and we should keep an open mind, at least for awhile.
There are many members here who have acquired WW2 German items that have come from the old Soviet Union. Robert Zimkas and Matt Weber for example, have some great items that were never issued and in QUANTITY!
Recently a good friend of mine who collects German pistols came up with a quantity of mint Astra 300 holsters. They are all very well marked and in mint condition. We compared them with a vet bring back example and they are Identical. Now if I took this holster to a gun show I know that no one would believe that it was original. These particular holsters are probably as rare as the G/43 pouches.
I hope that we can answer as many questions as possible about these pouches. It would be nice to finally resolve some of the fears that most of us have about these items. But as you said on another thread, common sense goes a long way when trying to distinquish an original from a repro! Jeff

Jeff,

Your comments are well written and in line with my thinking on the subject. Being able to examine the items out of those "two doors" has been not only rewarding for my collection but has given me hope for future items.

If by chance your friend might have a extra Astra 300 holster for sale please keep me in mind as I could use one.

Take care!

Robert

[MGN]

Another G/K 43 Pouch to add, this one comes from Bill Grist:

[MGN]

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[MGN]

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[MGN]

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