BACKGROUND: Introduced on March 23^RD 1931 the standard issue M31 canteen was based on the WWI M1893 and M1907 canteens with minor modifications. Originally the M31 canteens were manufactured in aluminum but later as the aluminum was required for other more critically essential items the canteens began to be manufactured in steel. In late 1940 with the impending German entrance into the North African campaign the standard brown felt cover and leather retaining straps and carrying harness of the M31 canteen were altered to an olive drab felt cover and web straps for longer wear in the tropical climate. Another variant, developed in late 1941, was the replacement of the felt covers with a plastic impregnated wood covering for better durability. When issued the canteens came with an integral carrying straps and harness and regulations prescribed the assorted manners in which the canteen was to be carried with the most common form being to secure it to the bread bag suspended from the load carrying waist belt although other methods were also utilized. With potable fluids being such an essential item for an individuals well-being the canteen must be considered as a very important piece of personal kit.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Later war issue, .8 liter capacity, tooled steel construction, M31 canteen with a brown painted, steel cup and blackened, pebbled, leather carrying straps and harness with steel fittings and a woven, mottled brown ersatz wool blend cover. The roughly 8 3/4" tall, 5 1/2" wide, 3" thick, vertically oval, tooled, magnetic sheet metal construction canteen has brazed side seams and a protective black primer paint and is contained in a slightly mottled, brownish ersatz wool blend cover with three magnetic sheet metal, closure snaps and a simplified vertical, blackened leather harness and carrying straps. The wool blend cover has a horizontal leather retaining loop rivetted to both the obverse and the reverse and a rivetted on natural steel stud to the bottom for securing the carrying strap and harness. The simplified leather harness and carrying straps doesn’t have the standard, additional, reverse strap. The leather carrying and cup retaining straps have a black painted, pronged, magnetic sheet metal, roller buckle to the obverse and a matte grey painted, magnetic attachment friction clip to the reverse all intact. The canteen has a reddish/brown painted, tooled sheet metal, screw on cap with diagonally angled ribbing, and a rivetted on, leather retaining strap all intact. The screw on cap retains all of its protective reddish/brown primer paint. The canteen comes complete with a brown enamel painted, tooled steel construction, 3/8 liter capacity, M31 canteen cup. The roughly, 3" tall, 4" wide, 2 1/2" deep, elongated oval cup has a rolled back lip to the top edge, and a raised, brazed on, strap retaining bracket to the obverse. Interestingly the cup doesn’t have the usual, swivel wire handles to the reverse or any evidence that they were ever applied. The cup retains over 95% of its original brown enamel paint. The canteen has no visible manufacturer’s markings. The canteen is in fairly good condition with light to moderate age and usage toning, moderate surface spotting to the snaps and some moderate surface cracking to the obverse leather strap. Scarce late war type.

GRADE ***1/4                             PRICE $310.00