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H005160 CAVALRY TROOPER'S LEFT SIDE M34 SADDLE BAG. (Packtasche M34/Pferdegepäck)
BACKGROUND: Although considered highly mobilized for its time the German army still utilized a great number of horses through-out WWII with the average infantry division containing roughly five thousand horses. In 1939 the German army also had fifteen, primarily horse-mounted, Cavalry regiments that were mainly tasked with tactical reconnaissance. Even though most of the Cavalry units were mechanized by 1940 they still utilized a large number of horses through-out the war. By 1943 the Germans were experiencing fuel and vehicle shortages which resulted in an increase in the number of horses utilized in the field. Cavalry personnel were basically equipped the same as the standard infantry personnel with the addition of specialized horse equipment. All mounted personnel were issued with a pair of saddle bags instead of the standard backpack or rucksack. Originally the Reichswehr, (National {Defence} Force, Circa 1919-1933), era M26 pattern saddle bags were issued until the M34 saddle bags were introduced on May 7TH 1934. The M34 saddle bags consisted of the right hand side bag designed for carrying the Cavalry troopers kit, the left hand side bag designed for carrying the accessories for the horse and a central coupling device. Both of the bags could be detached from the central coupling device and the right hand side Cavalry troopers bag could be utilized as a backpack as required when the owner was on foot. Of Note: A new, smaller set of saddle bags were introduced on February 15TH 1940 but all three versions were used through-out the war. This example is the left hand side, Calvary saddle bag for the horse’s accessories.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Smooth finished, molded, tan leather construction left hand side M34 saddle bag with alloy fittings and machine stitched seams, designed to carry the horse’s accessories. The roughly, 14 1/2" tall, 7" wide, 4" deep, saddle bag features a large, fold over, top flap with a horizontal stitched seam to the reverse and a stitched on, vertical, closure strap to the obverse. The top flap closure strap attaches to a leather reinforced, pronged, natural alloy, roller buckle which is situated on the bottom of the bag. The front body of the bag has a roughly, 9" tall, 6 1/2" wide, 1 1/4" deep, "U", shaped compartment with a fold over, top flap with a horizontal stitched seam to the reverse and a stitched on, vertical, closure strap to the obverse with a corresponding leather reinforced, pronged, natural alloy, roller buckle position on the front of the compartment. The top section of the front compartment is concealed beneath the large top flap when it is in the closed position. The saddle bag has a stitched on, vertical, leather loop to each upper side panel with a third loop positioned on the reverse, designed to attach additional items. The top edge of the right hand side panel has an additional horizontal, leather strap with a pronged, natural alloy, roller buckle also designed to attach other additional items. The reverse, top edge of the bag has an extended, curved edge, leather panel with a rivetted on, vertically slotted, alloy plate and an additional strap for attaching it to the coupling device. The coupling device strap has torn off. The alloy plate is well marked with the stamped manufacturer’s initials, "L & F", indicating manufacture by Linden & Funke of Iserlohn. The forward edge of the extended, curved top panel is well marked with the impressed manufacturer’s name, location and date, "Koch & Benning Wuppertal-B 1940". The interior of the bag has a single, large, compartment. The saddle bag is in overall pretty good condition with some minor chafe wear, light age and usage toning, some light surface cracking to the closure straps and the leather has started to stiffen with age. Nice Cavalry accessory.
GRADE ***3/4 PRICE $388.00
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