Tornister Straps (Tropical)

[Wesley's Dad]

Forum,

Posted is a pick of an odd "tropical" tornister strap in my collection. I say odd because it has an olive green buckle instead of the almost universal gray. The buckle and the leather tab are dated 1941. Easily the earliest date I have encountered on a web strap regardless of buckle color. Back to this one, I have never seen another one like it.

Are the details of this strap of any significance? That is would this particular variation be more desireable over the more common example. Is this a true "tropical" example, intended for tropical use as opposed to web in place of leather?

Thanks, I'm interested in any comment or opinion.

Regards,
Mike

[MGN]

I would say no, some of mine are marked 41 and 42, just depends on what hardware they had available at the time. Also just a few more variations to collect

[Willi Z.]

Mike, I think it is unique. And, I feel that 41 and 42 dated web items are true tropical items. After 1943 many field gear items were made from/with web and are considered to be just as much late war as tropical. The early stuff is always more desirable because of the DAK theme.

[derspiess63]

I'm with Mike on this one...green painted buckles and metal tips are uncommon but they surely don't make this strap "unique"...I've got several whose hardware is quite rusty but which have remnants of the original green paint and a few others, mint and made by SatherLago Wien in 1941 and 1942 whose buckle(made JDEHA) is painted gray and the tip (made by LUX) is painted green.
It would be interesting to point out that nearly all the tropical or late-war web equipment I have in my collection have the tip of the straps painted green and are made by LUX!
Manny