Did Japan ever manufacture canteens for US Military during Korean War?

[USMC-EOD]

Does anyone know if the Japanese ever manufactured aluminum canteens for US military use during the 1950s?

 

I've run across a few examples of aluminum canteens in Okinawa which are completely unmarked except for the caps, which are molded into the tops "US" and a date of either "50", "51" or "52". These canteens are all very durably manufactured and are definitely not the cheaply made asian replica junk you see from time to time.

 

The chain on all of the examples I've seen are anodized brass/bronze. Obviously, the caps are US made.

 

If these were made by the Japanese, were they to supplement the long logistics lines for the Korean War?

 

Thanks and Semper Fi. Bryan.

[patches]

Could it possible they may have been made by them for their Army, from say 1954 or there abouts?, the Japanese Defense Force wears a lot American gear at the start.

[oldabewla]

All US aluminum unmarked military canteens were made pre WWI as the manufacturer wasn't required to have them stamped and marked.

I have three or four of them myself in my collection so what about the plastic cap? These are replacements caps.

 

You will never find a m1910 pattern aluminum canteen dated 1910-1917 because none were ever stamped with the pre WWI dates as this make sense.

 

Any unmarked dated but stamped (Japan) are made for the camping world post WWII.

[USMC-EOD]

Patches-yes; I have actually seen examples of the JASDF (Japanese Army Self Defense Force) aluminum canteens made in the M-1910 pattern. They always have a JASDF symbol stamped into the body of the canteen. No other markings. The cap on them is slightly different than the US pattern plastic cap.

 

Oldabewia-I guess that makes sense that these were made prior to WWI and had replacement caps stuck on them. All of the caps I have seen are marked on the top with "US" and a year, like "50" or "51". Do you think these were given by us to the fledgeling JASDF in the early 1950s as aid before the Japanese had gotten their industry up to produce their own?

 

I ask because I have found other obsolete WWI vintage gear out here with Japanese markings applied during service use. I have actually found four WWI BAR belts with the cup for the butt stock installed. I made an assumption that we sent the Japanese a bunch of our obsolete stuff during their rebuild.

 

Thanks for taking the time to answer.

 

S/F-Bryan.