Original WWII M1943 FIELD ("Jungle") PACK"AVERY 1944"LARGER-size model with "Trapezoidal" Reinforcement patches!"TRANSTIONAL" mix of Dark Shade OD#7 and Light Shade OD#3Webbing Straps & Straps & StitchingUSMC and ARMYMint NOS Unissued!
RARE in this UNTOUCHED condition!
This example was removed right of a factory crate from the AVERY factory, still folded. I acquired this in Boston almost 50 years ago at an old 'Army-Navy" surplus store. It has never touched the ground, been 'adjusted,' worn, or filled with contents. It sat out the war in an East Coast Depot, most likely the one in Boston Army Depot.
This was the larger "Field Pack" -- significantly more voluminous -- , than the original "Jungle Pack,"that was manufactured the year before in Camouflage and Dark Shade OD#7 Canvas and Webbing which were issed to Army troops in the Italy in April 1944 (See the National Archives Photo III SC273397, page 170 of Kenneth Lewis's DOUGHBOY TO G.I.: U.S.Army Clothing & Equipment, 1900-1945, Norman D. Landing Publishing, 1993) and to USMC personnel during the landing on Peleliu (See photo on Page 135 of Alec C. Tulkoff's, GRUNT GEAR: USMC Combat Infantry Equipment of WWII, R.James Bender Publisher, 2005). It also continued to be referred to by troops as a "Jungle" Pack also, despite the QMC's designation as a "Field Pack." The FM21-15, dated April 1945, shows the smaller design denominated as a "Jungle Pack" -- and this larger design denominated as a "Field Pack."
+ Although an Army contract item, this designt saw use in the ETOand the Pacific Theater.Marine Parachute units used the OD "Jungle Packs" on Vella La Vella and Bougainville. Army troops are seen carrying these on Luzon in the Philippines.
+ What distinguishes this considerably larger model "FIeld Pack" from the first O.D. and Camouflage "Jungle" Packs" were the two distinctinctive "Trapezoidal-shaped" REINFORCEMENT PATCHES on the front to support LOOPS for the STRAPSand ADJUSTABLE BUCKLES.
+ This Field Pack has large SECTIONAL UNITthat sits atop of the FLAP that closes by a bright brass functionalZIPPER, marked on the underside of the tongue, "PRENTICE." Attached is a small ELKHIDE PULL.It was designed to hold "canteen, medical kit, and other small articles."
+ The FLAP itself has a very broad margin to prevent rain entry. It is boldly and legibly stamped with the U.S. surcharge in large serif font. On the underside of the FLAP is the contractor's name and year of manufactuer:
AVERY 1944
+ The large lower section is essentially an open 'sack' with a round bottom and an open throat with GROMMETS, secured by a braided DRAWSTRING.
+ On the very top of the FLAP is stitched a length of lightweight 3/4" WEB TAPE, 12" in length, with twelve STITCHED-OPENINGS into which foliage, e.g. grass, branches, leaves, etc. could be inserted for camouflage.
+ The 5/8" WEB FLAP STRAPSand the horizonal 5/8" WEB COMPRESSION STRAPS, enable the pack be "cinched" and reduced to the size of the load.
+ As do all the other Army and Marine Haversacks, this "Field Pack" has two EQUIPMENT TABS for securing equipment with a M1910 BELT HOOK to its exterior, e.g. Entrenching Tools, Machete, Bayonet, additonal Canteens, Cleaning Rod Kits, etc.+ The BODY of the Pack, the SHOULDER STRAPS, DRAWSTRING, and EDGE BINDING are a uniform Dark Shade OD#7.
+ The circular bottom PANEL of the Pack is a contrastingLight Shade OD#3as is all of the THREADSTITCHING and the braided DRAWSTRING.
+ The narrower 5/8" STRAPS are a mix of "Mustard-KhakI" WEBBING and Light Shade OD#3 Webbing.
+ ZERO cuts, frays, blemishes, holes, stains, sun-fading, mildew-spots, 'white-ish abrasions, personalized markings, loose stithing, "pulled" EYELETS, missing blackened steel GROMMETS, ADJUSTABLE Ladder" BUCKLES, "FRICTION" BUCKLES, SNAP HOOKS,D-RINGS, or BALL TIPS,
+ ZERO STRAPS have been cut or removed(as in often the case with surviving examples fround today).
+ ZERO rust, corrosion, verdigris, or "bends/deformation" to any of the pieces of HARDWARE!
*****NOTE: Any overage in postage will be refunded!
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