A Few Meatcans

[Alec]

Snagged a few meatcans today. They range from predated RIA manufactured meatcans to 1903 through WWI. Also a great surprise as there were half a dozen Marine Corps Depot made meatcans as well.

[RustyCanteen]

Very nice!

 

I'd love to have found those.

[BigJohn#3RD]

Meat Cans or Mess Kits? Look like Mess Kits to me. Anyhow neat pickup. Selling any?

Regards,

John

[Alec]

I guess I am hungry. Mess kits. Will probably move some when I figure out all of them.

[atb]

The Army nomenclature was officially "Meat Can."

[RustyCanteen]

The Army nomenclature was officially "Meat Can."

 

 

Correct.

 

That aside, it's an impressive find.

[MattOravik]

How are USMC depot made kits marked?

[Alec]

_{They are not marked. The hinge is NOT cast. It is made of bent metal and has either two or three rivets.I will try to post pictures later this week if I can find some time. The Depot made them and canteens. There is documentation about the hinges and how they were being changed from two to three rivets.}

[fstop61]

Time for a big pot of SOS.....Nice find!

[jeb137]

The Army nomenclature was officially "Meat Can."

 

For me, this is new knowledge. If I were the storekeeper who had to order mess kits through the stock system, I'd never have found them. "Meat Cans" would never have been in my thought process.....

 

The things you learn.

 

<<<<< old dog... new trick....

 

Jon B.

Newaygo MI

[Airborne-Hunter]

I've seen quite a bit of field gear, but USMC depot mess kits are new to me. I, too, would like to see pictures. Best ABN

[Alec]

In 1940 the USMC Depot stated that the three rivet meat can created issues in that the 3rd rivet loosened over time and became a spot for food to accumulate. They felt a two rivet hinge would make the meat can "easier to clean and more sanitary" and was a small savings in cost. Note the hinges are stamped metal and not cast like the Army varieties during this time period.

 

Note the two varieties of USMC meat cans and also that the handle is completely unmarked.

[cutiger83]

WOW! That is a LOT of meatcans. Very interesting fact about the two and three rivet variety.

 

Thanks for showing these....Kat

[Mitter2k1]

Very nice find indeed! That must of been a very noisy ride home with those rattling around in the trunk.

[Alec]

I posted this in a separate post too but from same source so adding here too. A French manufactured US marked 1918 dated meat can. I think unusual and maybe rare?