H031794 TEIGHTEEN ROUND FLARE AMMO POUCH. (Leuchttaschen) 

BACKGROUND: The German army utilized two basic models of flare pistols, with one having a short barrel and the other a long barrel, that were introduced in 1928 and saw service right up until the end of the war. Both of these basic flare pistols were issued with a specific holster and were capable of firing over forty different types of flares for assorted purposes and functions. Personnel equipped with the flare pistols were also issued a distinctive flare ammunition pouch. These flare ammo pouches came in two sizes with a small one designed to carry twelve flares and a larger one designed to carry eighteen flares. 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. Due to the extreme climate in North Africa the OKW, Oberkommando der Wehrmacht, (High Command of the Armed Forces), decided to replace the standard continental leather equipment items with canvas web construction equipment items in the belief that they would be better able to withstand the climate. Of Note: 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. 

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Khaki/olive canvas construction, tropical, eighteen round flare ammo pouch with steel and tan leather fittings. The uniquely angular pouch is roughly, 5 3/4" tall, 8 1/8" wide and 3 7/8" thick with a downward sloping, diagonally angled top edge. The diagonally angled, fold over top flap has three small stitched canvas web hinges to the reverse and two vertical tan leather closure straps stitched to the obverse. The closure straps affix onto corresponding steel studs positioned on the front body of the pouch for a secure closure. The side panels of the top flap and the top opening are both trimmed with cotton reinforcement strips with an HBT, (Herring Bone Twill), weave. The reverse body of the pouch has two, stitched on, vertical canvas web belt loops with a horizontal, stitched on, canvas web retaining loop to each and corresponding, extended, steel studs situated on the pouches bottom edge. The side panels of the pouch are missing there stitched, web reinforced, steel "D" rings for the carrying strap (removed). The interior of the pouch has three stepped rows of six, vertical, cylindrical flare retaining pockets, for a total of eighteen pockets. The top two rows of pockets each have a horizontal, natural wood slat riveted at their bottom edges to prevent the flares from slipping down to the bottom of the pouch. The interior of the fold over top flap is well marked with a faint, illegible, black inkstamped manufacturers code (Marking is jvf 41). Hard to find!

GRADE ****1/4                             PRICE $1,525.00

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