M42 Messkit – WJ44
The M31 messkit or “Kochgeschirre M 31 (Alum.)” was a 1.6 liter capacity cooking pot carried on the left side of the breadbag. The messkit was a clever engineered piece of equipment capable of serving as a cooking or eating pot. The early models also had indicating marks on the front, under the handle on which could measure the size of the contents. It had a cleverly placed wire handle on which the messkit could be hung above a fire. The messkits came in a big variety of colours and materials. At first the messkits where nearly completely made out of aluminium except the wire handle. From around 1940 onwards the handle on the lid was made from steel. In 1942 the simplified steel model “Kochgeschirre M 42 (Eis.)” was introduced. It had less and less well crafted details and the production became a hurry. I found the designation “M42” in the production numbers of the German Industry.
Model: M42
Marking: WJ44
Maker: –
Material: Enameled steel, painted over in olive
Colour: Dark blue/gray enamel
Notes: This messkit was painted over the enamel finish. This Olive paint however never really bonds well to the enamel and therefor nearly never remains. If one looks closely at the closeups one can observe remnants of this olive paint. The markings are placed on the handle, a unusual place that was first utilized by this maker in 1944.
Please note these articles are for reference only and not for sale!
F. Suijkerbuijk collection
