Help Identifying this First Aid Box?

[dilburrito]

I'm looking for information about this first aid box.

I received this from the estate of a family member. He was a medic in the Pacific towards the end of WWII, spent time in Japan.

It seems obvious that it is a US Army kit but that's about all I can determine. I have researched online and see items that are close but not exact. In particular the clasp is an interference fit, not the typical military clasp. The handle has a bend on it that when retracted keeps pressure against the clasp, keeping it locked closed.

It has some paint stains from some period of its life that don't belong on it.

The internal compartments look normal except the saw tooth pattern along the top of one divider and holes along the opposite side. I'm guessing something such as hypodermic needles or some sort of tubular items.

There are no other identifying marks or stamps that I can find on the thing.

I'm just looking to know more about this thing.

[Bodes]

WW2 US Emergency Medical Box

[ScottN]

Actually, that appears to be the M 1912(?) squad cleaning kit box for the M1 1911.45 automatic. I believe it’s covered in this forum. 

[dilburrito]

Believe it or not I looked on Ebay, found some that were close.  The one you found (Bodes) was dead on, thanks.

 

As far as the gun cleaning kit goes the First Aid paint makes that unlikely, but it would make sense that the Army would use the same equipment for many roles.  Some different labeling and it's a gun cleaning kit, that never even occurred to me.

 

Thanks guys!

[Survival]

I am very confident that was not used by the military as a first aid kit.  After WW2 the surplus dealers worked overtime to try to repurpose surplus to turn them into sellable items.  Mostly canvas gear but some items like this.  They would take a combination of military and civilian medical components and fill the kit with an assortment of items.  Stencil the lid and sell them as first aid kits.  What would be easier to sell?  A first aid kit or a 45 Squad cleaning kit.  Immediately after the war that is.  

[usmc grunt]

Survival and Scott are correct. This was never issued as a first aid kit. This is an M1912 Squad Cleaning Kit for the M1911 / 45 caliber pistol. You can see a complete kit at the M-1911 Forum here:  https://www.1911forum.com/threads/m1912-1911-squad-cleaning-kit-wwii.1073854/?post_id=14099185&nested_view=1&sortby=oldest#post-14099185

[dilburrito]

That all makes sense, I'd rather have an intact cleaning kit anyway.  You guys sure know your stuff, thanks again.