Duffel Bag Identification

[freedomguns]

Can anyone point me to resources for identifying duffel bags? is it possible to get approximate dates of manufacture by certain characteristics? I would like to be able to tell if duffel bags are WWII, Korean War, Vietnam war or newer.

[GUDMAR1975]

We called them sea bags in the Marines. I don't have a reference, but I do have memories and a small collection.

 

WW II sea bags were simple cylindrical canvas bags with a draw string (rope) top. No straps or pockets. I've only seen them in museums.

 

SECDEF ordered all services to use common procurement wherever possible. That occured in the mid-1960s. After that sea/duffel bags were the same for all services.

 

Some bags have nomenclature, contract numbers, and dates stamped on the inside. Some don't. One can get an approximate date from the details on the bag. There are changes in material, straps and pockets. The bags all seem to have the same dimensions though.

 

Here are basic changes over the years as I recall -- (Regret I have no photos. I'm sitting on a commuter train with cell phone.)

 

* Canvas bag with one long strap and handle. Fold over top with three grommets and a metal loop to close and accomodate a padlock. This would be from the 1950s or 60s.

 

* Canvas bag as described above with the addition of a small rectangular flapped pocket to accommodate shipping and storage information. This might have occured in the early 1970s.

 

* Canvas bag with two back pack style straps in lieu of the single strap. These can be seen in the 1980s movie "Stripes".

 

* Nylon versions of these bags. I retrived a one strap version in nylon from a dumpster at Camp Pendleton in 1979. I haven't seen another like it. Most nylon bags I seen have the back pack style straps.

 

The most recent bag I've encountered is a much improved version. It has a full length zipper running along the long axis. The zipper is covered by a flap with a single metal grommet with an opposing mental loop for security. There are three or four fastex buckle compression straps accross the top and a clear plastic window at one end closed by a slender velcro strip. The window pocket is for identification/shipping info.

 

I don't know if Marines are issued the newest bag yet. I bought one at the Army PX uniform store at Fort Myer, Virginia a couple of years ago.

 

No doubt other forum members can improve or correct my hasty sea bag history.

 

Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk

 

 

[freedomguns]

Great information!

 

Here is what I believe is a mid 60s duffel bag. Although I haven't yet matched the SN with the name, this bag was acquired in Nebraska.

 

It could have belonged to this Marine:

findagrave.com/memorial/93975295/william-john-wehling

 

"Bill felt called to serve his country and enlisted in the Marines in June of 1966. Bill served a tour of duty in Vietnam and was awarded 3 purple hearts for his bravery in battle. He was honorably discharged as a Corporal E-4 in 1968 at which time he returned to Broken Bow."