Greg Robinson Posted February 2, 2007 Author Share #51 Posted February 2, 2007 The 1st pattern M1941 haversack was made by the Marine Corps at their Philadelphia Supply Depot. They had cast bronze flap strap buckles rivited on to the canvas strap....a design that ill conceived since they soon became torn off in combat. And they had "D" ring on the ends of the shoulder straps which required that the Marine wear the suspenders. It was a complicated set up and made it impossible to wear the haversack as a standalone combat pack. I own one where the Marine cleverly converted the "D ring" haversack into a standalone pack by making some "field modifications" It didn't take long for the Marines to see their mistake and started making these with the "M" buckles which allowed the haversack to be used either with the suspenders, as before, or as a standalone combat pack. But retained the rivited hardware design for a while longer. BOYT HARNESS production never used this design....not the "D rings nor the rivited hardware. Here's a pic of an early "D ring" haversack. Note that the Marine removed the short strap on the rear which was intended to attach to the cartridge belt. Another useless feature in combat but somebody apparently liked it because it remained on the M1941 packs until end of production in the late 1960's. It also appears to have had green dye applied for jungle camouflage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Robinson Posted February 6, 2007 Author Share #52 Posted February 6, 2007 I've bought and sold on ebay for going on nine years now and I still don't get it. There's a current listing for a USMC M1941 haversack marked "BOYT 44". Granted, it's in top condition but it's a "modified", or what is sometimes called a "roll top" version, that saw very limited issuance in WW2. Yeah...the guy did a good job with the listing with nice pics but no way is it worth $150+ but that's where the bidding has taken it. On the other hand, I recently listed an unissued and very rare USMC M1967 field pack and wound up basically giving it away to a guy in Hong Kong who will probably resell it. RARE US WW2 USMC MARINES HAVERSACK BACK PACK Item number: 110087599505 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bagman Posted February 6, 2007 Share #53 Posted February 6, 2007 I was interested in that bag too, until I saw what the Reserve turned out to be! It's a great looking piece and would fill a hole in my collection, but.... Last year at SOS I bought a -45- Boyt Haversack in the same condition and felt guilty about giving $95.00 for it. I have overbid knowingly to get some eBay items because I have limited access to such gear otherwise and I didn't think I would ever see one of whatever as good as that being listed. This practice is pretty hard on my budget, however, so I'm trying to restrain the gotta-have-its!! Thanks for your post. You have reinforced my decision NOT to bid on this overpriced piece. I'll save the dough for SOS!! It is SO nice not to have to bid against the whole freaking world!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Robinson Posted February 6, 2007 Author Share #54 Posted February 6, 2007 F.Y.I. a "BOYT 44" M1941 "rolltop" haversack is a fairly common item on ebay. Maybe not always mint but it's usually not that expensive. There is also a "BOYT 44" 1st pattern haversack that's harder to find but even then I wouldn't go $150+ for it. At least with the "BOYT 45" haversack it's relatively harder to find. I paid $35 for a mint one of those over ten years ago and that was too much money but I've not seen all that many of those. But you have to keep in mind that few "roll top" M1941 haversacks saw service prior to VJ Day so it's really not a legit "WW2" collectible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted February 6, 2007 Share #55 Posted February 6, 2007 Yeah it does get crazy. A month or so ago I was shocked when I put up for auction a 1961 dated USMC officer's dress blues tunic. It had a belt and button-in fake collar, but none of the regular buttons. I thought it was perhaps a $30 piece. It went for $300! There were actually three bidders at $180 or more. Apparently they all knew something I did not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bagman Posted February 6, 2007 Share #56 Posted February 6, 2007 I'll just keep looking for a reasonable "BOYT -44-" roll top. I know these didn't get into the field much at all during WWII, but it would fill a collection nitch just by virtue of the date. '45 dated stuff really IS much harder to come across, isn't it. Ever seen a "BOYT -45-" rifle belt? I haven't, as yet. Not certain such even exist. Have seen ones marked "HARIAN 1945" but don't know much about them so haven't taken the plunge on one. They were all OD #7 in color. I got a mint " BOYT -44-" 1st Pattern Haversack at SOS in '04 for $120.00. A beautiful bag, and I've got a knapsack to accompany it, $38.00 from eBay. Same condition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Robinson Posted February 6, 2007 Author Share #57 Posted February 6, 2007 I think I paid about $40-$50 for my BOYT 44 roll top. It's shows light wear and a name stencil so I at least know it was issued. And I see them all the time on ebay so just be patient. I'd like to find a BOYT 45 knapsack but I almost never see them for sale. I picked up a near mint BOYT 44 1st pattern on ebay last year for $125. Darn near killed me to pay over $100 for one of those packs but they're getting harder to find. I'd had the matching BOYT 44 1st pattern knapsack for some time. And I have the BOYT 44 roll top knapsack I bought years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremiahcable Posted February 25, 2007 Share #58 Posted February 25, 2007 This is a UNIS marked Boyt upper pack to Headquarters, 23rd Marines, 4th Marine Division. The pack has some interesting features on it for a late date like this. It still has the dog ear flaps on the pack instead of the roll neck that was made that same year. Also, the cutter's marks for sewing on the equipment loops and hook up points are still very strong. The collector previous to me took the time to pen in the vet's name and unit on the pack as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremiahcable Posted February 25, 2007 Share #59 Posted February 25, 2007 Another view......note the fade on the painted on UNIS marks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremiahcable Posted February 25, 2007 Share #60 Posted February 25, 2007 Here we can see where the tail hook for the lower pack was cut off. Not an uncommon thing to find on this type of pack, it would have been rather uncomfortable rubbing into the middle of the back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremiahcable Posted February 25, 2007 Share #61 Posted February 25, 2007 Worth noting on this picture is the difference in how dark the UNIS mark is compared to the outside of the flap. It's a good deal darker on this inside mirror image from the ink or paint soaking through. Also note the date on the pack. This may be one of the last ones to have the flaps for closing the top vice the roll neck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremiahcable Posted February 25, 2007 Share #62 Posted February 25, 2007 Here are the cutter's marks for sewing on the equipment loops and hook up points. Very interesting to see these on the pack. They are also present on the bottom for the straps there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Robinson Posted February 25, 2007 Author Share #63 Posted February 25, 2007 In 1943 BOYT began reinforcing the flaps and buckle attachment points. Also, looking inside the pack you'll see reinfocement to weak points such as the blanket roll tie down strap. They continued on with this pattern into 1944 when sometime in the middle of that year they went to the roll top design. What you got there is a nice example of a UNIS marked 4th Mar Div havesack. I like the way the markings are properly faded and not "touched up" as you often find them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
usmc-collector Posted March 8, 2007 Share #64 Posted March 8, 2007 Craig, I also post some photos of 1st pattern Haversack with D-rings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gunbarrel Posted August 22, 2007 Share #65 Posted August 22, 2007 Thought I would post a picture of my one and only USMC haversack, a M1941 named to Corpsman George S. Marks Jr. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig_pickrall Posted March 5, 2008 Share #66 Posted March 5, 2008 This is some pics of the M41 in use. They appear in THE SPEARHEAD Volume 1 (1944) and volume 3 (1946), a magazine style printed history of the 5th Marine DIV. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corpsmancollector Posted March 14, 2009 Share #67 Posted March 14, 2009 Haversack 4th Pattern The Vietnam War version remained unchanged from the 4th Pattern, 1944 version, except for the material / color change. It is marked but and date stamped 1968. This is the last version of the M1941 pack and is made in nylon. Im afraid not Craig, I just picked up my first nylon top-pack and have yet to come across a bottom pack. Ill keep you posted! Will Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Robinson Posted March 15, 2009 Author Share #68 Posted March 15, 2009 Im afraid not Craig, I just picked up my first nylon top-pack and have yet to come across a bottom pack. Ill keep you posted! Will I've seen M1941 lower packs made of canvas dated as late as 1972.....highly unlikely they ever made any nylon ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dskjl Posted January 24, 2010 Share #69 Posted January 24, 2010 Here is my 1st attempt at assembling an M1941 pack. I don't have all the internals yet so I put a second shelterhalf in the bottom bag and a pair of camo coveralls in the top to fill things out. The outer shelter half has a wool blanket, 3 tent poles, rope, and 5 oak tent stakes rolled inside. On the outside is a 10inch bayonet, a T-hande shovel (ames) and cover and a Poncho. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THAT GUY Posted April 20, 2010 Share #70 Posted April 20, 2010 Here are my 3 M41 packs. Middle one is a Depot made M41 haversack w/ early rivet slides. Left one is a Depot made M41 Knapsack w/ early rivet slides. Right one is a BOYT 43 Knapsack w/ mid-war slides. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiGilio Posted July 26, 2010 Share #71 Posted July 26, 2010 Heres a interesting use of a M41 pack. Hooked up to M56 suspenders and used as a buttpack. Marine of A Company, 1st Battalion, Ninth Marines during Operation Prairie III approximately three miles west of Cam Lo in South Vietnam. Photo from The Vietnam Archive at Texas Tech University Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Posted September 5, 2011 Share #72 Posted September 5, 2011 Pack assembly Vietnam How exactly do you lace the suspenders to the pack? I thought there was a thread on it but I can't find it :think: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig_pickrall Posted September 5, 2011 Share #73 Posted September 5, 2011 I don't understand your question. The photo you link to shows how the suspenders fit. It is also described in the manual at the beginning of the thread and also in the info from the Guidebook. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Posted September 5, 2011 Share #74 Posted September 5, 2011 I don't understand your question. The photo you link to shows how the suspenders fit. It is also described in the manual at the beginning of the thread and also in the info from the Guidebook. Okay thanks, there was an old thread where somebody had done a step by step on it. It had some another info too so I was looking for it. Also I didn't even notice the Guidebok. I think I went right to the second page when I got here. Maybe I shouldn't post at 6 A.M anymore Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1917enfield Posted September 14, 2011 Share #75 Posted September 14, 2011 Here's one that is stamped "1943" inside at the bottom. Not USMC BOYT etc. I snaged it earlier in the week. Thought I would add it to the reference. Note: My luck you'll say it's Army..correction fake stamp. :crying: Pig Tail Cut Off: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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