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What do you make of this 1942 bag?

Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2004 9:20 am
by Kentucky Mason
Image


Wish I had better pics of this....does anyone know what it is? measures 10 1/2" x 12"


Flap reads:

M.D.(M)LTD.M.
(an arrow pointing up)
1942

Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2004 9:23 am
by IndianaFist
if it has no internal pockets I would say its a army map bag.

Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2004 9:48 am
by Rob
That's not a bad guess. Can't say I've seen anything like it before... not that I'm suggesting it's something rare or particularly weird... I just can't place it through my own militaria collecting and experience.

Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2004 9:49 am
by Rosenet
Looks _very_ similar to the WPG MkVII replica I have sitting next to me. Button color looks different, and obviously the stap isn't an Indy leather, but the shape of the bag and the bag flap are pretty much the same.

Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2004 10:02 am
by Marcus Petrius
Judging by the strap and the shape of the bag I would say it's a civilian one rather than one used by the soldiers.
I've seen more of these when searching for British gasmask bags on various sites.

Mike

Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2004 10:06 am
by Rob
Marcus Petrius wrote:Judging by the strap and the shape of the bag I would say it's a civilian one rather than one used by the soldiers.
I've seen more of these when searching for British gasmask bags on various sites.
Noooooo, have another look :) The MKVII is squared off at the bottom, and isn't as long as this bag.

I think this is precisely why KM is asking the question... because it shares similarities with the MKVII, but it's not a MKVII :)

Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2004 10:29 am
by Marcus Petrius
That's what I mean.
It's not a Mk VIII, but it's a civilian gas mask bag.

Mike

Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2004 10:34 am
by Rob
Mike, my apologies... I was actually replying to Rosenet who said:

Looks _very_ similar to the WPG MkVII replica I have sitting next to me.

I hit 'quote' next to the wrong post. Apologies for the confusion. You can now see what I was replying to in better context.

Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2004 10:38 am
by binkmeisterRick
This hasn't been asked yet, but does it have vent holes or any metal disks on it, or is it just an "empty bag?" If it's just a "bag" then I'm want to say it's a map case or something different than a typical gas mask bag. On Foyle's War, a mystery series which takes place in Britain during WWII, the civilians shown seem to be carrying the MkVII bags...

bink

Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2004 10:41 am
by Rob
Just so we can have an easy comparo in the same thread, here's my WPG replica...

Image

Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2004 11:23 am
by Marcus Petrius
Hey Irwin (yeah, I know, it's Rob :wink: ), it's okay, I make mistakes a lot myself too. :oops:
binkmeisterRick wrote:This hasn't been asked yet, but does it have vent holes or any metal disks on it, or is it just an "empty bag?" If it's just a "bag" then I'm want to say it's a map case or something different than a typical gas mask bag. On Foyle's War, a mystery series which takes place in Britain during WWII, the civilians shown seem to be carrying the MkVII bags...

bink
A Dutch collector who had been in the trade for twenty years assured me these bags are civilian (simplified in terms of material and manufacturing) versions of the Mk VI and Mk VII. Trust me. :wink:

Mike

Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2004 11:32 am
by jjkillin
Marcus Petrius wrote: A Dutch collector who had been in the trade for twenty years assured me these bags are civilian (simplified in terms of material and manufacturing) versions of the Mk VI and Mk VII. Trust me. :wink:
Mike
Are there large differences between the civilian and military version of the Mk VI & VII?


James

Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2004 11:58 am
by English Adventurer
As far as I'm aware, there was no civilian varient of the army MKVII bags.

The bag you have there Mason is for a civilian special service type gas mask.

Ian

Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2004 12:03 pm
by Marcus Petrius
jjkillin wrote: Are there large differences between the civilian and military version of the Mk VI & VII?
I'm not sure about inside compartments, but it doesn't have the inforced bottom like the Mk VII. I think it also lacks the disc and lace to tie it around your chest.

It's not litteraly a civilian version, but rather a bag that looks like it for civilian use.

Mike

Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2004 8:11 pm
by Swindiana
I've come across these babies quite a few times too and I'm agreeing with Mike. The up-pointing arrow (the Broad Arrow) was the government acceptance mark for all war material in each Commonwealth country. Single arrow = British bag. I've never seen the M.D.(M)LTD.M. stamp before though.

Regards,
Swindiana

Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2004 8:24 pm
by Indycire
There is one of these on Ebay right now. It is a Civilian's bag.The seller has a British gas mask with original bag and box. The bag has the same white looking strap, and looks like a collapsed MKVII, looks flat and not like a box. The original box even says Civilian Duty Respirator. I dont know if i can post the link, but if you search its easy to find.

Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2004 11:14 pm
by Skippy
Yep, these are a civilian WWII era gas mask bag. I've seen them with gas masks in for sale at militaria fairs I've been to recently.

Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2004 8:32 am
by Skippy
& here's further confirmation...

Image

Description:
BRITISH HOME FRONT GAS MASK. A civilian gas mask in its original mint condition shoulder bag style canvas carrying case with its shoulder strap. Maker marked to interior flap 'Hampton & Sons 1941'.
& you can purchase it here...

http://www.regimentals.co.uk/shop/Shopi ... very=Delv1

Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2004 11:10 am
by Swindiana
And some of them came with a Raiders sandbag:


Image

Kidding. :D

Regards,
Swindiana

Posted: Wed Sep 01, 2004 11:22 pm
by Kentucky Mason
Thank you all for the lengthy reply. I had seen this one...somewhere... and was real curious. At least I know what it is now.

Thanks!