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Posted: 10/19/2008 1:03:25 AM EDT
What is this?: I got this old canvas bag at a surplus store years ago, but it does not have ANY tags or markings on it. Size is 12"H x 18"W x 6"D and has glossy black enamel on the hardware. The tan rubber bands are containing some straps that would be unruly otherwise... Any ideas? Is it worth anything? |
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Not an expert, but that appears to be Brit or Commonwealth canvas backpack which was intended to attach to soldier's web gear. Look all over for a symbol known as the "Broad Arrow". The head, or point of the arrow is a shallow "V", and the stem of the arrow is very short. The Broad Arrow's presence will confirm Brit/Commonwealth origin, as it is/was their acceptance symbol. The Brits used a number of different patterns of web gear systems since the beginning of the last century, some of which components were interchangeable. I'm guessing that is later-issue rather than earlier. ETA: here's a link that should explain everything:server.microlite16.com/josephs-militaria-and-homefront-collection.co.uk/PAGE67.HTML Dunno about value. Condition is everything; might be worth a little something to the right collector. |
| i can tell from the color and the black metal buckles its a cheap iraqi copy of a british pattern -58 large pack..you have to use the belt H-harnes to carry the pack it was very much disliked by British troops who had to use it and most soldiers used thier own money to by a better civilian model of pack...what you have is most likely from gulf war one 1990,i still see a lot of this type of web gear at surplus stores...whats it worth ? well you can get a real British p-58 webbing set for about $20 from the sportsman guide less a waterbottle pouch...vince g. 11b inf |
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I have a similar one. I use it as my emergency communications backpack for ARES. One side pocket contains my battery pack (either eight D-cells or a pair of lead-acid batteries), the other side pocket contains my primary radio, the main storage area contains water, food, poncho, maps, contact names and numbers, regional repeaters and codes, roll-up J-pole antennae, thin rope, and a 20 watt VHF amplifier. It is basically a 12 hour pack. Mine is all canvas and was advertised as British. |
..vince g. 11b inf..
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