WWI Canteen, Mess Gear, & Gas Mask Mixed Lot: Austria-Hungary, Britain, & France

WWI Canteen, Mess Gear, & Gas Mask Mixed Lot: Austria-Hungary, Britain, & France

Mixed lot of gear features an Austro-Hungarian Enameled Canteen With Cup & Carrying Harness.  Green enameled iron canteen and cup both have 1917 dated maker stamps, with chips in the enameled finish as is normally the case.  This set is complete with the original stopper, captive end stopper cord, and a brown leather carrying harness with iron adjustment buckle rather than the field gray cloth carrying strap.  Leather strap is very fragile and mostly broken on one side.  This system was abandoned later in the war in favor of carrying the canteen inside a pocket of the breadbag that was sewn exclusively for that purpose.  We seen canteens regularly, we see even see cups on occasion, but finding the whole rig does not happen often.

Far more often (or rather nearly always, in fact) is the very crispy, relic condition of a French ARS Gas Mask.  These rubberized fabric masks just do not survive in anything that resembles pliable condition, and are normally found soldified into the same collapsed and compacted form that they take when stuffed into the carrier.  These are no exception.  The fragile eyepiece lenses have self-destructed as well.  Lot includes two masks, one complete with the metal carrying canister, and the other on the loose.

Lot further includes a tinned iron French M1852 mess kit which has lost most all of its tinned finish and is now oxidized and lightly rusted, complete with lid, as well as one of the interior trays and an extra lid, and a French Issue Cup.

Lastly, the lot includes a British Pattern 1903 Water Bottle in the skeletal brown leather carrier as is commonly associated with mounted troops.  Carrier is unmarked; canteen has BroadArrow and other stenciled markings on the khaki wool covering.

$100 - $200