1911 Magazine Holder

[oldfoneguy]

My son in law just picked this up for me off fleabay in anticipation of the CMP 1911's we should have before long. It had a furry green clasp that was fairly easy to clean. It's heavily stamped on the back and I can not read it. My guess is it is from the 80's towards the end of the 1911's use because of the condition which is very good. The only thing I can make out is the word magazine. If anyone has a clue please let me know. Thanks.

[Fushigi Ojisan]

Top line is Pocket ammo magazine.

Looks like the manufacture date in 1988

M1956 pouch BTW

[browningautorifle]

As you suspect, those are the very ones I was buying new out of PX in Ft Lewis WA in about 1989 I think. I could also find all the .45 brass I wanted on top of the walls of the tire house there while the troops were running through dry. I still have about six of the pouches. If you take them into natural light and work on angles you may be able to read them better.

[Sapper740]

Fortunately American gear is relatively easy to date since all US military clothing and gear has a tag or stamp that contains the contract number. By following the numbering system you can easily figure out the year and sometimes even month your item was made. First find out if you have a DA, DSA, DLA, or SPO Contract Number:

If there is only a manufacturer's stamp - it was made prior to 1953.

DA ( Defense Agency) - from 1953 to 1961

DSA (Defense Supply Agency) - from 1962 to 1977 (This is what collectors of Vietnam War gear look for)

DLA (Defense Logistics Agency) - from 1978 to 1993

1994 to Present - SPO, SPM, & other recent numbers.

[jond41403]

Excellent post sapper! Lots of great information there!