Dear friends,
I've just received this pouch bought from eBay.
It's brand new and I'm a bit suspicious about its genuinity.
It'is in mint condition but if compared with other WW2 pouches in my collection, both Boyt and other brands, it shows something different.
Fabric is the correct colour (and smell) but a bit coarse and the thread used for sewings is of a deeper green than the colour of the pouch itself.
Snaps are shining like new. I think that even if perfectly stored they should show a little patina from dirt and age.
The female is impressed with an upside-down arrow I've never seen before (similar to WW2 british Broad Arrow) instead of the common punched point or usual brand markings of WW2 US snaps.
I'm sharing my experience because the seller has listed several identical pouches like this one (she states they're original WW2 from her dad's collection) there are others (too many) with same features listed lately on eBay .
I won it by a low bid but somebody could spend lots of money for something that leaves me still in doubt.
Everybody is warned and free to do what he wants.
Have a good Sunday.
Guy

To me, this looks like a British made pouch - nothing like the Boyt versions I have had.

Yes it looks like a British Made but these latter are still different.
They don't show the additional thread for carbine/pistol magazine.
I own one of these, if I'm able to find it in all my stuff I'll post a pic.

It certainly looks like British webbing which has a much coarser appearance than the usual American cotton duck. It's possible that the ink-stamped marks are spurious?

Sabrejet

Stop worrying it's original. Boyt made two patterns of USMC carbine pouches during the war. The pattern you have was actually first produced in 1944, in the same contract as bayonetman's.
http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/ind...?showtopic=2082

I'm new to this forum and I'm still unable to post Hi-Def pictures but as soon as I'll be able to post them I think everybody will agree with me about my purchase and will think double before spending money in such "well done" items.
Here following you find the "British Made" stuff.
They all are ink marked "BRITISH MADE" plus a British Government Broad Arrow followed by an inspector number and Manufacture (I think only M.E.C° or M.W.&S. Ltd.) plus Year.
Snaps are "LIFT THE DOT"
As for what I know there is no bivalent or convertible pistol/carbine pouch British Made.

Still "British Made" stuff

Guy,

The pouch you bought is not a fake or reproduction.

You probably got a good deal on it because it is dated '45, the '44 made (or '43 Froelich) pouches usually cost more. I have three brand new '45 dated pouches they are identical in weave, color, and smell to the Boyt '44 pouch I also have. The differences in stitching are shown in the other post I linked. Just because it doesn't have any patina or staining doesn't mean it is a fake. If you are upset because it is too mint I am sure someone on here will buy it from you.

No reproductions of the "pointed flap" USMC carbine pouches have been made- EVER.

Here are my Boyt 45 originals



Boyt '44

O.K.
but what can you say about that upside down arrow on the snap?
I've never run accross a similar one on any of US pouches I own or I have ever seen.
Do you know something about it?

Guy

It is probably a just a hallmark for a different U.S. producer of fasteners. I do not know the name of the manufacturer though. Not every fastener is marked Lift-the-Dot, especially USMC Carbine pouches.

Here are the fastener markings on my USMC carbine pouches

S.F. Co. 1943
2-S inside a triangle
1-Star Pull

Boyt '44
Rounded Flap
5-Klikit Pull
2-Unmarked, just a dimple at the 6 o'clock position
1-Arrow

Pointed Flap
2-Unmarked, just a dimple at the 6 o'clock position

Boyt '45
3-Arrow

Look at post # 8 to see your USMC pouch.

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/ind...?showtopic=2082


Look at post # 36 to see your arrow marked fastener.

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/ind...241&hl=lift the dot

Guy, No doubt about your carbine pouches. I've had a couple of these for many years, probably before any of the U.S. stuff was
being reproduced. I've never thought they were anything other than the real deal.

Dear friends,
I can help thanking everybody who joined our discussion.
Starting from a doubt of mine we have gone through a nice and very interesting history lesson about carbine poches.
It's true, we never stop learning.
I'm happy for my purchase now I'm sure it's a genuine pouch!
My seller has already gained a new excellent feedback.
Thank you again to everybody,
Guy

That's only the manufacturer's logo easily found on late WWII stuff but none knows his name. Compare with those on late war compass pouch..