Canteens

Textbook M42 (steel) canteen in excellent condition. The red painted steel canteen itself is nicely marked SMM 43 which indicates production by Süddeutsche Metallwarenfabrik, Mussbach in 1943. The canteen comes in a textbook late war configuration with a black bakelite cup and pebbled leather straps. Very nice example!

Nice late war large 1L capacity canteen or “1L Labeflasche” in good used condition. The canteen itself is nicely marked WWL 42 which indicates production by Wilhelm Wiesenauer, Aluminiumwarenfabrik Ludwigsburg in 1942. WWL is an extremely rare to find maker and for me the second example I encountered! The canteen is in overall good condition without damages and comes in its original configuration with a black phenolic resin cup!

Textbook example M42 canteen in very good condition. The canteen is a typical late war example with a green steel cup. Both the flask itself and the cup are marked SMM 44 which indicates production by Süddeutsche Metallwarenfabrik, Mussbach in 1943. Textbook matching M42 canteen!

Textbook late war M42 canteen in overall good condition. The canteen has a nice cover with desirable riveted loops, which are sadly a bit damaged. The flask itself is nicely marked MN 43 which (most probably) indicates production by Metallindustrie GmbH. Neunkirchen-Saar (MENESA) in 1943. The canteen comes in a typical late war configuration with a matching cup. Nice late war example!

Black and white speckled bakelite canteen cup marked 46 S which is a unknown manufacturer in excellent condition. This is a extremely hard to find canteen cup variant in good condition. Unlike the other coloured examples known this is the second most hard to find variant only topped with the blue speckled example which only one is known. Beautiful and rare piece!

Black bakelite canteen cup marked 32/K 11783E which is an unknown and rare manufacturer to encounter in excellent condition.

Textbook late war M42 canteen with brown leather straps in good, used condition. The canteen features very nice and aesthetic brown leather straps. It comes in a textbook late war configuration with a bakelite cup marked gfc. Nice late war M42 canteen!

Beautiful and very rare canteen most probably made by the Dutch company VerBliFa (De Vereenigde Blikfabrieken) during the German occupation. The canteen is in used but good condition. VerBliFa (De Vereenigde Blikfabrieken) was the main manufacturer of the Dutch pre 1940 army mess kits, canteens and other stuff, these items were made in the exact same way. Stamped sheet metal and then tinned! The canteen is missing its cup. On the back of the harness a fork is fitted from the four piece cutlery set which has been there since the end of the war. The canteen is unmarked which is often the case with these Dutch produced canteens. Maybe one of the rarest variant of the M42 canteen there is, and for sure one of the best canteens I have ever offered!

Small female auxiliary canteen marked ESB 43 indicating production by Eduard Sommerfeld, Berlin.

Textbook coconut canteen in excellent condition. This example is nicely marked HRE 43 which indicates production by Heinrich Ritter, Esslingen. This canteen comes with the rare but typical small green painted aluminium cup which is unmarked but textbook for this canteen! Perfect example which would be impossible to upgrade!

For more information on these canteens look at my article here; https://fjm44.com/articles/the-coconut-canteen-ritters-mystery-canteen/

Late war manufactured short front strap as part of the late war 2-piece canteen straps. This is a long example as used on the large 1L capacity canteens or Labeflasche. This example is manufactured out of typical pebbled leather. Very hard to find spare to complete a late war canteen!

Textbook coconut canteen marked HRE 42 indicating production by Heinrich Ritter, Esslingen. Typical example with first pattern friction buckle closing strap. The canteen is in good used condition and complete with its phenolic resin canteen cup.

To learn more about the coconut canteens you can read my article about them here; https://fjm44.com/articles/the-coconut-canteen-ritters-mystery-canteen/

Textbook coconut canteen marked HRE 42 indicating production by Heinrich Ritter, Esslingen. Typical example with first pattern friction buckle closing strap. The canteen is in good used condition and complete with its phenolic resin canteen cup 46/K. Nice examples with the Initials FJ.

To learn more about the coconut canteens you can read my article about them here; https://fjm44.com/articles/the-coconut-canteen-ritters-mystery-canteen/

Textbook M31 (Alum.) canteen excellent condition. These green painted aluminium cups are rather rare to encounter. The cup is nicely marked FWBN 42 which indicates production by F.W. Brockelmann Aluminiumwerk GmbH KG, Neheim/Ruhr in 1942. Perfect example to complete a M31 canteen!

Textbook 1L Tropical Labeflasche in very good condition. The canteen is nicely marked VAL 43 which indicates production by a rare and still unidentified manufacturer. The inside of the screwing cap features cork instead of rubber which is a typical feature for this manufacturer! Sadly the leather strap on the bottom features a tear. Very nice Tropical 1L Labeflasche by a rare manufacturer!

Stunning and textbook late war M42 canteen in close to mint, most likely unissued condition. The canteen is a typical late war example with a rough wool cover with small press studs and black straps. The flask itself is marked SMM 45 and the cup is marked SMM 44 which in my opinion indicates a factory mismatched example produced by Süddeutsche Metallwarenfabrik, Mussbach in early 1945 with left over stock from 1944. Excellent late war M42 which would be hard to upgrade!

Coconut canteen marked HRE 42 named Wilhelm V. Lossow. The canteen is in good condition. The canteen comes with its matching phenolic resin cup.

Coconut canteen marked HRE 43. The canteen is in good condition. The canteen comes with its matching aluminium HRE pattern cup.

Incredibly rare original orange bakelite canteen cup. This is a rare opportunity to buy original orange bakelite canteen cup. This example was certainly MPD code marked just like the other examples but the markings are completely faded because of the time in the ground. The MPD code F7/K indicates production by a still unknown maker and the usage of urea resin (which is a certain type of Bakelite) with an organic filler material. The bakelite surface is affected by the time in the ground and thereby lost some of its smooth surface. The cup only has some minor discolorations which could probably be cleaned some more. Beautiful original and very rare example!

This cup was found in Berlin recently together with 12 complete and 5 damaged cups. They were dug up underneath remnants of a concrete floor together with other canteen cups and butterdishes. In 15 years of collecting I’ve only found one example for my personal collection: this is only the second time I’ve been able to acquire one. I have kept 3 cups for my personal collection, other then these there are no other orange cups on the market today that I am aware of. Rarer then most Knights Crosses.