MP38 u. MP40 magazine pouches
In the wide scale of collecting and studying German army combat equipment one of the most variety exists in the niche of ammunition pouches. Before and during world war two; Germany was a industrial giant in europe. But this did not mean that everything was centralised, this did not mean that there were 5 to 10 large contractors that did all the producing. No; the contrary. The German army relied on its equipment production by mostly middle sized and small businesses such as shoe and saddler factories. This is one of the main reasons that there is such a abundance of variants available for the collector to study today. We can globally observe several design models and countless variants to that.
Discerning these different patterns is easily done by looking at period photographs but also looking at the markings makes it clear which pattern became first, and which came second. Because there are many written references out there who all have their own nomenclature I’ve chosen to use the types as set by the website MP40.nl . This is written by a very professional and kind collector; I would warmly recommend anyone interested in the MP40 to visit his website for in depth studies on the subject.
6 different MP38 u. MP40 magazine pouches in defining models and variants ranging from early to late
To best understand these pouches one must understand all the basic models which underwent significant design changes which will enable to identify or roughly date a pouch; even when it is a unmarked example.
Prototype pouches
Super rare first pattern MP38 magazine pouches in light used condition. These first pattern pouches were made prior to 1940. Interesting and typical to the construction of these pouches is the white webbing ammunition belt material used for the belt loops and D-ring. These pouches are extremely scarce to find, especially in this good, undamaged condition. These pouches are seen typically with Fallschirmjäger along with the 6 cell variant of these pouches. The pouches where found in 2018 on the French/Belgium border together with a green FJ helmet cover and a Gasmask canister attributed to 63213 Stab. Kompanie Fallschirmjager-Ersatz- u. Ausbildungs-Regiment 2.
This is the first known pattern pouches made for the MP38. These pouches were made between 1938 and 1940 as a ad hoc solution for the first MP38’s in a field trial. Images of the Waffen-SS in the 1940 campaigns shows little to no pouches in use with the MP38.
First pattern pouches
Scarce and rare early first factory made pattern MP38 pouches in very good condition. This type of pouch was made in webbing/rayon construction with rayon loops and straps with square metal tips and was issued to the Heer, Luftwaffe and Waffen-SS. This type of pouch is widely seen with Fallschirmjager in the 1940 campaigns. This is the first factory widescale produced style which we can see in 1940 photographs. Even when these were in production; the issue and use of the MP38 in the 1940 campaigns was still in its infancy. Even when you can see photographs of the MP38 in use with Heer troops, you would be hard pressed to find photographs of pouches in use in the 1940 campaigns.
Scarce and rare early first factory made pattern MP38 pouches in very good condition. This type of pouch was made in webbing/rayon construction with rayon loops and straps with square metal tips and was issued to the Heer, Luftwaffe and Waffen-SS. This type of pouch is widely seen with Fallschirmjager in the 1940 campaigns. This is the first factory widescale produced style which we can see in 1940 photographs. Even when these were in production; the issue and use of the MP38 in the 1940 campaigns was still in its infancy. Even when you can see photographs of the MP38 in use with Heer troops, you would be hard pressed to find photographs of pouches in use in the 1940 campaigns.
Second pattern pouches
Early second pattern and matching MP38 u. MP40 magazine pouches which is easily recognizable by the D-ring which is still sewn in to the upper left corner. The manufacturer of these pouches is still unidentified. Like late war pouches a blue line woven in the canvas can be seen.
Textbook second pattern MP38 u. MP40 magazine pouches marked gvh42. This is the second pattern pouch with D-rings in the upper corners. The pouches are matching and in good used condition. This is the latest dated pair of MP40 pouches which still has the D-ring sewn in the upper corner. Later this year all manufacturors switched the position of the D-ring to the side at a 90 degree angle from the pouch.
Switching of D-ring position
The second pattern factory made MP40 pouches had the D-rings for the Y-strap attachment sewn at the top corners. The second pattern pouch featured the D-ring sewn on an elongated strip at a 90 degree angle from the pouch. Whilst most producers switched the D-ring position in 1942 I have also seen fkx 1941 marked examples of the second pattern. So whilst it is safe to say that most changed the position in 1942, it is possible to see earlier examples. Yet I have never seen a first pattern pouch dated later then 1942. Additionally around this time many manufacturers started to mix materials within individual pouches creating many interesting collector variants in the process.
A nice matching pair of MP38 u. MP40 magazine pouches marked Otto Koberstein Landsberg 1942 indicating production by Otto Koberstein Landsberg. The pouches are in good unissued condition as pictured! The leather on the pouches is supple and the canvas is strong. One of the pouches was most probably on top hence the slight difference in aging. The set still has the original red pencil lines at all the leather fixtures.
Textbook Heer/Waffen-SS and Luftwaffe issue matching MP38 u. MP40 pouches in good used condition. The pouches are the same maker and material with matching stitches and fabric.
Excellent matching pair MP38 u. MP40 magazine pouches marked gfg 1943 indicating production by Karl Hepting u. Co., Leder- u. Guertelfabrik, Stuttgart. The pouch is nicely manufactured in green canvas and has a interesting construction with many different thread colours in the construction and the black part of the leather inside in stead of outside.
Excellent pair of matching green MP38 u. MP40 magazine pouches. The pouches are in mint condition and seem to be unissued. The pouches are both nicely marked MP38 u. MP40 and clg 43 which indicates production by Ernst Melzig Lederwaren, Liegnitz. Photographed next to its tan brothers these are for sure one of the most common MP40 pouches on the market today.
A wartime worn pair of pouches marked CLG43. They are made in a different green canvas as we usually see by this maker.
Blue MP40 pouches marked CLG42; a rare variant to find as most CLG marked pouches are made in green or tan canvas.
Collector variant pouches;
Excellent pair of matching blue and green MP38 u. MP40 magazine pouches in good used condition. The pouches are an a-typical construction with the closing flaps made out of woven HBT fabric other then the base material of the pouches. This construction can be linked to maker dkk 42 which would indicate production by Friedrich Offermann u. Söhne, Lederwarenfabrik, Bensberg. The pouches are both matching in cloth, stitching, hardware and leather. The pouches are executed in nice blue and green canvas with brown leather.
DKK marked pouches have the largest amounts of variants in manufacture. There are a lot of mixed pouches made from blue, grey and green canvas all mixed together.
A used pair of DKK pouches in a rare variant with webbing back straps and D-ring supports.
A super interesting pouch from my own collection is this example marked dkk43. The pouch is a typical mixed pouch as by this maker, but it is a unusual variant with the closing flaps made from lightbrown leather.
Rare MP38 u. MP40 pouch in good used condition. The pouch is a rare blue grey web variant with leather pouch flaps. This is a typical late war variant pouch which would be issued to the Heer, Luftwaffe or Waffen-SS.
Nice original MP38 u. MP40 pouches marked bdr 43 indicating production by Richard Ehrhardt, Lederwarenfabrik, Poessneck, Thuringia. The pouches are in nice used condition and is a rare type made out of several types of material. These pouches have the top covers made out of a coarse webbing strap which is bordered with tan fabric at the ends.
A nice set of two MP38 u. MP40 pouches made at the BNZ – Steyr -Daimler – Puch plant which also produced the MP40 itself. A vague ink stamp can be seen on the rear in white ink which is sadly unreadable. These pouches are made out of a variety of materials, different canvas but also at two different tones of leather. The straps that retains the D-ring to connect to the Y-strap are made out of rayon tape. This set is to be considered of mid- to latewar manufacture.
Jørn Schmidt collection
A rare matching pair of leather MP40 pouches marked evg42 indicating production by Max Oswald, Lederwaren- und Reiseartikel-Fabrik, Karlsruhe. Although leather is a nice material for equipment does not mean that they are great to make magazine pouches out of. The pouches were field trialed with a number of units including the Panzer Lehr division. The leather makes for a great weatherproof pouch but if filled with water would be a challenge to get the magazines out and a instigator for corrosion. They were made between 1941 and 1943.
