USMCman01 Posted November 22, 2015 Share #1 Posted November 22, 2015 This recently came to the doorstep and I thought the color was strange. Its edging is an orange color and its overall color is a pea green, just like early riveted m1941 packs. My thinking is that this is a very late production piece. It's marked to the second marine division. What are your thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USMCman01 Posted November 22, 2015 Author Share #2 Posted November 22, 2015 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USMCman01 Posted November 22, 2015 Author Share #3 Posted November 22, 2015 My camera bleaches everything so here is another photo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USMCman01 Posted November 22, 2015 Author Share #4 Posted November 22, 2015 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USMCman01 Posted November 22, 2015 Author Share #5 Posted November 22, 2015 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USMCman01 Posted November 22, 2015 Author Share #6 Posted November 22, 2015 It is also attaches like a backpack so you don't have to intergrade the straps into a belt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'Flage Guy Posted November 23, 2015 Share #7 Posted November 23, 2015 Looks like you just got hold of a real treasure there...thanks for showing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USMCman01 Posted November 23, 2015 Author Share #8 Posted November 23, 2015 Thanks. IMO it might be The last of the P1912's. I know for sure you have a great example for everything I have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'Flage Guy Posted November 23, 2015 Share #9 Posted November 23, 2015 What you have there is shown below on the left, next to our familiar old "mustard-O.D." 782 Pack on the right. These were also produced in a dark forest green shade, also with tan edge binding. All the stampings I've seen thus far on these were pre- or early War. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'Flage Guy Posted November 23, 2015 Share #10 Posted November 23, 2015 OOPS, I guess you were posting at the same time I was. You're right, these are late-production '12s. Here is the stamping in the Meatcan Pouch on the left Pack rig: it reads "QUARTERMASTERS DEPT. U.S. MARINE CORPS 1941 - 1942" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USMCman01 Posted November 23, 2015 Author Share #11 Posted November 23, 2015 I guess it all kind of adds up. The orange edging seen on early war M1941's, marked to the second marine division, and a meatcan pouch with early depot markings. Did you find the pack on the left together. And, where in the world did you find that meatcan pouch? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'Flage Guy Posted November 23, 2015 Share #12 Posted November 23, 2015 I bought the Pouch separately on the green one; the "mustard" one had a matching Pouch, but the stamp was barely legible so I snagged a couple of Q.M.-stamped ones (for obvious reasons) from Ebay some years ago. Here is the stamp on the right-hand Pack: "DQP., 1940-41" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USMCman01 Posted November 23, 2015 Author Share #13 Posted November 23, 2015 I am envious. They are very nice ones. I do have a few questions. What are the lines, that appear on many depot manufactured items. Are they for stitching and attaching? Also, what is the material that holds the square rings on the back. I have 2 salty examples that have different thicknesses and they have always puzzled me. Both are definite depot made (green thread, issued to a marine, etc) but have faded extensively from the jungles of Guadalcanal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USMCman01 Posted November 23, 2015 Author Share #14 Posted November 23, 2015 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'Flage Guy Posted November 23, 2015 Share #15 Posted November 23, 2015 Those dark lines are just the way a bolt of canvas came from the textilery on the finished edge- you can see them occasionally on Shelter Halves, Packs and other bigger canvas items. As to the square rings, do you mean the ones on the Pouch? That is a lighter weight version of the 5/8" webbing used to make closure straps and other such things. I'd plumb forgotten about the difference between that stuff and the "normal" strap material; I've seen other Marine items which utilized softer-than-normal finishing material as well. Below, another example on the knife pouch of a prototype Parachutist Jump Smock. This stuff is way softer than it looks in the pic: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'Flage Guy Posted November 23, 2015 Share #16 Posted November 23, 2015 That material on yours is the same "tape" stripping used for the closure straps on the Shovel Covers...cool! Mine is a little heavier gauge, but not by much... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USMCman01 Posted November 23, 2015 Author Share #17 Posted November 23, 2015 I've seen your collection enough (not complaining though) to know you have 2 depot made shovel covers with different weight straps to retain the shovel. Your usmc marked in bold letters across the front has the light weight canvas. I believe you concluded that these were earlier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USMCman01 Posted November 23, 2015 Author Share #18 Posted November 23, 2015 You beat me to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'Flage Guy Posted November 23, 2015 Share #19 Posted November 23, 2015 Here's a close-up of the light web tape on your Pouch on a Q.M. Shovel Cover... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'Flage Guy Posted November 23, 2015 Share #20 Posted November 23, 2015 Ha...we posted all over each other again The Cover in the pic isn't the outside-stamped one; this one is like new. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USMCman01 Posted November 23, 2015 Author Share #21 Posted November 23, 2015 That's definitely it. I think the least we could say is that it is earlier. Then again, the depot could have been using up old stocks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'Flage Guy Posted November 23, 2015 Share #22 Posted November 23, 2015 That's definitely it. I think the least we could say is that it is earlier. Then again, the depot could have been using up old stocks. I sure wish the old records on M.C. stuff weren't so hard (often impossible) to dig up. Sure are a ton of unanswered questions such as these we've discussed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USMCman01 Posted November 23, 2015 Author Share #23 Posted November 23, 2015 Grunt Gear states that most of the production records were ditched when the depot changed locations. Or they're in someone's attic... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'Flage Guy Posted November 23, 2015 Share #24 Posted November 23, 2015 Yeah, I remember Jim Moran's book saying something along that line as well, right at the outset. For some reason, I kind of doubt that they'd have discussed amongst themselves "Hey, we'd better preserve these records...this is scarce Marine Corps Q.M. stuff!!!!" Doug Bailey has a requisition letter written by a Marine commander during the War asking for M-2 Ammo Vests made in 'flage material. A top-notch picker I knew in Texas actually found one, but he had sold it long before I rolled around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USMCman01 Posted November 23, 2015 Author Share #25 Posted November 23, 2015 Even the purple dye used one the DQP stamps, it had to be vegetable oil. I definitely learned a few things and we raised some good points. A camouflage M2 vest!?!?!?!?! That's got to be one funky lookin' piece of gear. I could only imagine where it is now. I believed they talked about making camouflaged leggings, but it never went through. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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