WWII Canteen Cover 1944

[husk]

Found this one today for $25 with a canteen. Airstress Midland 1944. Respectable condition and will go well with my 1944 Collette. Very hard to find these 1944 covers.

[armysoldierant1944]

I always loved the name of that manufacturer...Airtress Midland....I have a mint one dated 1945

[jmd62]

Nice to see a U.S. made 1944 cover, congrats!

[COL911]

I’m sure this pistol belt, metal canteen and cover are WW2, but the canteen cover has a 1926 date stamp. Could this be early stock used during WW2?

[Old Marine]

That is not a WWII canteen cover.  It is an M56 canteen cover.  The 1926 number is not the date, it is probably part of the contract number or stock number.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M-1956_Load-Carrying_Equipment

['Flage Guy]

'44-dated Canteen Covers are indeed scarce, as are '43-dated Covers made in O.D. #7 canvas. 

I stocked up on '44s years ago (below) when there were a few more to be had than there are today, but still have yet to find a dark O.D. '43. Found one in mint condition in a friend's catalogue years ago for $125.00, but it was already gone by the time I phoned him.