K98 pouches – Kriegsmarine – Otto Gehrckens Pinneberg 1939
The ammunition pouch for the K98 (Karabiner 98) bolt action rifle was executed in leather. Each soldier had two pouches which held 30 rounds each. The pouches where divided in 3 main compartments with a divider in each. The 7,92 x 57 mm ammunition was loaded on 5 round clips. Pre/early war the pouches where executed in brown leather, to be blackened and polished by the individual soldier. Some time early in the war (most) producers switched to blackening the leather pre production. Further simplifications occurred in 1943 when the pouches where further simplified. Some of these changes are the shortened loops for the belt and the use of rivets in stead of stitching or even combined. The back of the pouches have a D-ring to which the front hooks of the Y-strap would be attached.
Branch: Kriegsmarine
Colour: Blackened brown leather
Marking: Otto Gehrckens Pinneberg 1939 – Kriegsmarine acceptance stamp
Maker: Otto Gehrckens, Pinneberg
Year: 1939
Stitched or riveted: Stitched
