Fixbayonets! Posted July 27, 2011 Share #1 Posted July 27, 2011 Here is a piece of WWII field gear that I would think is a little less common, 1945 dated lister bag. It has all of the original ropes & hardware. Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fixbayonets! Posted July 27, 2011 Author Share #2 Posted July 27, 2011 Dated 1945 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fixbayonets! Posted July 27, 2011 Author Share #3 Posted July 27, 2011 Here is a photo I have of one in use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig_pickrall Posted July 27, 2011 Share #4 Posted July 27, 2011 Many years ago those were fairly common in surplus stores and usually in new condition. I never bought one and the other collectors I knew did not either. They were to large and most of us had no where to display them. I did see a lot of them go to Scout Troops and little league baseball and foot ball teams. I would like to have one now but they are probably silly prices today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fixbayonets! Posted July 27, 2011 Author Share #5 Posted July 27, 2011 Hi Craig, This is the first one I have come across in all my years of collecting. I found it at a local swap meet for $10, the dealer was happy to get rid of it & I was happy to take it off his hands. For future reference, TM 8-220 MEDICAL DEPARTMENT SOLDIER'S HANDBOOK dated March, 5 1941, has information on how to go about using the lister bag to sterilize water in the field. Here is a photo from the TM. Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawkdriver Posted July 27, 2011 Share #6 Posted July 27, 2011 Many years ago those were fairly common in surplus stores and usually in new condition. I never bought one and the other collectors I knew did not either. They were to large and most of us had no where to display them. I did see a lot of them go to Scout Troops and little league baseball and foot ball teams. I would like to have one now but they are probably silly prices today. Actually, I was looking at getting one and unless you are wanting a WWII one, there is a guy that occasionally sells NIB lister's on eBay and I think I was gooing to pay $40 for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig_pickrall Posted July 28, 2011 Share #7 Posted July 28, 2011 Thank you for the seller info. If I was to buy one I would want a WW2 dated version. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawkdriver Posted July 28, 2011 Share #8 Posted July 28, 2011 If anyone else is interested, here is the link: eBay Lister Bag The guy has 12 of them and has provided some history as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgtbrown Posted July 28, 2011 Share #9 Posted July 28, 2011 Lister bags, or "canvas cows" were, as mentioned, quite common in "the old days". Our re-enactment group had (has?) one but never used it because of its size and bulk. However, there was a smaller five gallon version with a single spigot that was much more usable for our purposes and would be much easier to display. Sorry but no photos. It was a backpack style. Never know where one will turn up. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fixbayonets! Posted July 28, 2011 Author Share #10 Posted July 28, 2011 Tom, I have never been involved with reenacments but I have used this lister bag for living history displays. The lister bag becomes one of the less bulkier items when compared to hauling wall tents, filed tables, field desks, ration & ammo crates, etc. One of the guys built a tripod for the lister bag, made for a great display! Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgtbrown Posted July 31, 2011 Share #11 Posted July 31, 2011 Tom, I have never been involved with reenacments but I have used this lister bag for living history displays. The lister bag becomes one of the less bulkier items when compared to hauling wall tents, filed tables, field desks, ration & ammo crates, etc. One of the guys built a tripod for the lister bag, made for a great display! Rob I will agree to you UNTIL you fill the darned thing. At 7lb/gallon they get real heavy real fast! I have never re-enacted but use the term generically - we do LH displays only. Our full display fills a 22 foot box truck, a 32 foot trailer and, if we bring the hospital, another box truck. Anyhow, those 5 gallon units are much easier to deal with. Tom :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmoore456 Posted July 31, 2011 Share #12 Posted July 31, 2011 I will agree to you UNTIL you fill the darned thing. At 7lb/gallon they get real heavy real fast! I have never re-enacted but use the term generically - we do LH displays only. Our full display fills a 22 foot box truck, a 32 foot trailer and, if we bring the hospital, another box truck. Anyhow, those 5 gallon units are much easier to deal with. Tom :thumbsup: Just to pick nits, water is 8.34 lbs/gallon. Ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmoore456 Posted July 31, 2011 Share #13 Posted July 31, 2011 I will agree to you UNTIL you fill the darned thing. At 7lb/gallon they get real heavy real fast! I have never re-enacted but use the term generically - we do LH displays only. Our full display fills a 22 foot box truck, a 32 foot trailer and, if we bring the hospital, another box truck. Anyhow, those 5 gallon units are much easier to deal with. Tom :thumbsup: Just to pick nits, water is 8.34 lbs/gallon. Ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fixbayonets! Posted July 31, 2011 Author Share #14 Posted July 31, 2011 I will agree to you UNTIL you fill the darned thing. At 7lb/gallon they get real heavy real fast! I have never re-enacted but use the term generically - we do LH displays only. Our full display fills a 22 foot box truck, a 32 foot trailer and, if we bring the hospital, another box truck. Anyhow, those 5 gallon units are much easier to deal with. Tom :thumbsup: Tom, Well I must admit I never filled it with water, just stuffed it full of blankets to give it a filled out look for display. Sounds like you guys put on one heck of a nice living history display! Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgtbrown Posted August 1, 2011 Share #15 Posted August 1, 2011 Tom, Well I must admit I never filled it with water, just stuffed it full of blankets to give it a filled out look for display. Sounds like you guys put on one heck of a nice living history display! Rob Our cook actually uses that small lister bag for water. He tried the big bag once and never used it again. Our full display is gorgeous but, in truth, it is too big. With today's economy and gas prices, we haven't done it in some years. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holloman Posted January 28, 2012 Share #16 Posted January 28, 2012 I hate to bump such an old topic, but I REALLY want one of these for our WWII reenactment group. I'd even be able to use a postwar one. Anyone have a good lead? I already emailed the ebay seller for the one listed above. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arnhem44mad Posted July 6, 2016 Share #17 Posted July 6, 2016 I just won one on ebay last week for $50 and it's here already (UK)! Scott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arnhem44mad Posted July 6, 2016 Share #18 Posted July 6, 2016 I just won one on ebay last week for $50 and it's here already (UK)! Scott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now