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H076557 TROPICAL COMBAT RUCKSACK. (Rucksack)
BACKGROUND: During the war the early M34 and M39 "pony fur" backpacks were found to be too expensive and time consuming to produce which resulted in the production of a wide variety of less expensive canvas construction combat rucksacks and backpacks. In late 1940, with the impending German entrance into the North African campaign, tropical uniforms and equipment were quickly developed and issued in time for DAK, Deutsches Afrika Korps, (German Africa Corps), personnel’s arrival in Tripoli in February 1941. One of the innovations of the tropical items produced was the replacement of leather fittings for canvas web fittings which were deemed to be more durable in the tropical climates. Eventually, due to leather shortages, many of the tropical uniform and equipment items would be issued to personnel serving in southern areas of continental Europe and other theatres of battle including the assorted tropical style rucksacks and backpacks.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Woven, olive drab canvas construction tropical combat rucksack with canvas web, steel and alloy fittings is roughly, 17" tall, and 18" wide, with 5 1/2" deep side panels. The rucksack features a fold over, top flap with a horizontal, stitched seam to the reverse and a stitched on, vertical, khaki/tan canvas web, metal tipped, closure strap to the obverse. The top flap closure strap attaches to a corresponding, canvas web reinforced, toothed, sheet metal, gripper buckle situated on the front center of the rucksack body. The outer edge of the top flap is trimmed in khaki/tan canvas with an HBT, (Herring Bone Twill), weave and the top edges has two canvas web reinforced steel "D" rings for attaching additional equipment. The top opening of the rucksack, situated under the fold over top flap has a, "V" shaped cut-out to the front center trimmed in khaki/tan canvas with an HBT weave and sixteen natural alloy grommets with a corresponding, inserted, woven, natural off-white cotton closure drawstring. The front body of the rucksack has two, roughly, 9" tall, 6 3/4" wide, 1 1/2" deep, patch pockets with fold over top closure flaps situated near the bottom edge. The pocket closure flaps are trimmed in khaki/tan canvas with an HBT weave and each have a stitched on, vertical khaki/tan canvas web, metal tipped, closure strap with a corresponding, canvas web reinforced, toothed, sheet metal, gripper buckle positioned on the front bodies of the pockets. The side panels each have two stitched on, vertical canvas web loops for attaching additional equipment. The reverse of the rucksack has a horizontal strip of tan canvas webbing with two, canvas web, reinforced, rivetted on, steel, quick release hooks and a large, central, canvas web reinforced, steel "D" ring situated near the top edge. The reverse bottom edge of the rucksack also has a canvas web reinforced, stitched on, steel, quick release hook positioned at each corner. The quick release hooks and lack of integral shoulder straps indicate the rucksack was intended to be utilized with the combat Y-straps. The interior of the rucksack has a horizontal khaki/tan, canvas web, reinforcement strip to the top edge and four interior compartments. Three of the internal compartments have olive drab cotton/rayon blend pocket bags with fold over top flaps with corresponding alloy button closures. The internal top fold over flap has a handwritten name and an illegible, purple inkstamped marking. The rucksack is in overall very good condition with a couple of small picks and pulls, light age and usage toning and some light surface spotting to the metal fittings.
GRADE ***1/2 PRICE $143.00
To Order this item, please use one of the two e-mail addresses below to contact us. Please make sure to quote the item number in your e-mail
-E-Mail Address pawmac@nbnet.nb.ca Or guild@nb.aibn.com
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