BACKGROUND: The standard issue M31 haversack, commonly referred to as the "breadbag", was based on the M1887 haversack and was adopted by the Wehrmacht, (Armed Forces), as well as a wide variety of uniformed and non-uniformed political and paramilitary organizations in 1931. The main variation in breadbags used by political and para-military personnel as opposed to Wehrmacht personnel was the color with the police version being issued in a distinctive, police, teal green, coloration. The breadbag was designed to carry rations, eating utensils and other assorted personal items. The M31 breadbag was originally issued with a removable carrying strap although regulations dictated that the breadbag was to be worn suspended from the equipment belt. This resulted in the breadbag carrying strap seldom being used for its original purpose though it was utilized for a wide variety of improvised functions. Production of the breadbag carrying straps was discontinued sometime during the war. The M31 bread bag was utilized through-out the war although a simplified version was also produced starting on November 20^TH 1944.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Police, teal green, water repellent, canvas construction bread bag with tan leather and natural alloy fittings. The bread bag is roughly, 10 1/2" tall and 12" wide, being somewhat wider at the bottom and tapering inward towards the top. The bread bag has a fold back, top flap with a horizontal stitched seam to the reverse. The top edge of the bread bag has a vertically extended, leather reinforced, canvas belt loop strap with a single button closure to each corner and an additional central, vertical, strap with a rivetted on, alloy belt support hook. One of the belt loop straps has a replaced, broken, green bakelite button. The reverse of the central, belt support hook strap is well marked with a faint, mostly illegible, black manufacturer’s inkstamp. The bread bag also has two, leather reinforced, alloy "D" rings to both the back and front near the top edge corners. The front of the fold over, top flap also has two, small, horizontal, leather loops, machine stitched in place. The reverse interior of the fold back top flap has two stitched on, button holed, vertical, leather closure straps with corresponding dish buttons to the front center of the bread bag’s body. The interior of the bread bag has a single, large compartment with an additional, stitched on, vertical, leather, closure strap with a corresponding button. All three internal buttons are absent. The bread bag comes complete with a roughly, 48 1/2" long, 1 1/8" wide, dual-ply, teal green canvas construction carrying strap with tan leather reinforced, alloy friction clips to each end and machine stitched outer edge seams. The two part strap has a rectangular, sliding, natural alloy, length adjustment buckle, and a separate rectangular, alloy, joining clip. The strap also has a roughly, 17 1/2" long, central section with the addition of three rows of reinforcement stitching with a few stitches missing. The bread bag is in overall good condition with light age and usage toning and only one of the original five buttons remain.

GRADE ***1/4                             PRICE $110.00