belt pouches

[phylo_roadking]

All, I'm in possession of one set of three rifle clip pouches. They APPEAR to be German, and have a German "makers mark" on the back of the middle one - can anyone confirm a date from a company name? Pre-, WWII, or postwar will do!

It looks as if its ABKVA LEDERWAREN GmbH Bad Kreuznach

So, theyre German, and the odd thing is - if genuine - I got them for a pittance many years ago now, and theyre in incredibly good condition. Does anyone recognise the company name?

phylo

[Terje]

Triple ammo pouches were made by several countries from about the 1880s until a little after ww2. Germany of course, but also spain, france (possibly vichy) and I believe some south american countries. It's a german manufacturer but there was export; Norway's leather Krag pouches were made in Germany. Some countries like Finland imported or was given ww1-vintage triple pouches from Germany along with helmets from both ww1 and ww2.

I need to see the pouches to know more. Are they brown or black, is there an M stamped anywhere on them, do they take 6 or 9 clips?

[phylo_roadking]

Terje, theyre black, and can't see an M anywhere. The hide dividers inside have been removed .... these were bought MANY years ago and I was stupid enough to remove them. In my youth I didn't think that given the condition and price they could be genuine.....but have been great since for touring holidays on the bike, they in THAT form hold a huge number of 1/4 and 3/8ths inch drive sockets and allen keys, and one carries a change of plugs! LOL

ONE thing that might distingush, as I've tried to chase this detail down but noone can answer; the three metal spikes on the bottom of the pouches for the fastening straps - the outer two are indeed a spike, the middle one is rounded. Is THIS standard?

[Terje]

Removing the dividers was common so this does not make them less authentic, only a bit less original. I can't immediately recall if all three rifle fasteners were supposed to be idential or not; I'll have to check. What I do know is that during the last two years most german equipment manufactured suffered from lack of raw materials, less skilled workers and worn machinery. in addition to a lot of minor changes to improve efficiency and lower costs. I have seen early and late war triple pouches and typical changes are rivets replacing sewing, shorter and thinner straps and similar.

[phylo_roadking]

The only "surplus" rivets apart from on the backs are on the corners of the lids, everything else is stitched, and pretty good quality too. I wouldn't call the straps "thin", and theres a faint pressed line on the three front fastening strap, so some care and quality.

[ratdog]

If original to WWII, I doubt that maker marks during the war had "GmbH" on them. That is the American equivalent of "Incorporated", never seen on any 40's era stuff..........................B

[Simon H]

All, I'm in possession of one set of three rifle clip pouches. They APPEAR to be German, and have a German "makers mark" on the back of the middle one - can anyone confirm a date from a company name? Pre-, WWII, or postwar will do!

It looks as if its ABKVA LEDERWAREN GmbH Bad Kreuznach

So, theyre German, and the odd thing is - if genuine - I got them for a pittance many years ago now, and theyre in incredibly good condition. Does anyone recognise the company name?

phylo

Post war. War time produced pouches were individually marked by the makers. May see it marked DRGM, Deutsches Reich Gebrauchsmuster. GmbH is definately post war.