M1 Garand Leather Scabbard Makers and Inspector Initials

Hey,
So I cannot find a list of US inspectors in WWII that did leather items. I have a 1941 Jeep Scabbard that has marks in several places. I am also curious if because of how early on it is made could it be a converted 1903 scabbard. I am going to insert links to the pictures because when I try to add them they only work part of the time or for part of viewers. It is marked V.D.C. in the bottom right corner where the muzzle would be. And partially covered by the guard is the marked
L-F-C or O
11-?

At the top there is the US J.Q.M.B 1941 J.B. here are the pics











Here are the links

The initials at the top are J.Q.M.D. for Jeffersonville Quartermaster Depot, in Jeffersonville, Indiana. It appears to be a Model 1918 scabbard converted for the M1 Rifle.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Pmoore87

could it be a converted 1903 scabbard

---

Yes. It does truly appear that's what it would have been. Nice...

I agree Jim, it is a converted 1903 scabbard.

Sweet, I was pretty curious about it being an M1 scabbard and made in 1941 as I had not seen any info about them in researching before I purchased the item. I almost passed on it because of the condition and the downward trend in M1 scabbards lately, but the pre declaration of war date made me jump on it. Any idea what the other marks might be? There was a division of the Australian home guard the Volunteer Defence Corps that the British Army outfitted with gear, would it be possible that the V.D.C. is indicating that it was intended to go to them through the Lend Lease Act? Or is it just a second set of inspectors marks possibly because it was converted? Thanks a ton guys all this info will help me a lot in figuring out what to do with it

This makes sense because the straps, or at least one of them are dated 1918, with a whole bunch of other initials

There's not tons of info about the makers marks of leather goods for WW1. There's lots of examples we can put names to letters, but at the same time there's several sets of company and inspector's initials that have no meaning any more. Lost in time. At this moment, all I can lay hands on is this copy of manufacturers and their goods for you...check it out...

W1 manufacturers

Belber Trunk & Bag Co., Philadelphia, Pa. - Gunsling Point Parts

Chicago Belting Co., Chicago Il. - Point parts for gunsling, Loop Parts for Gunsling.

John Clark Saddlery Co., Portland Or. - Rifle Scabbards, Saddles Cav M1904

Clinton Saddlery Co., Clinton, Ia. - Pistol Holsters, Bridles, Saddles, Saddle Bags.

Duncan & Sons, Seattle, Wa. - Gunslings M1907, Brest Collars, Rifle Scabbards, Saddles M1904.

Graton & Knight Mfg. Co., Worcester, MA. - Bridles M1914, Bayonet Scabbards, Revolver Holsters M1909, Gunslings M1907, Leather.

Harrison & Gathright, Louisville, Ky. - Saddle Cav M1904. [known to have made M1907 slings]

Harpham Brothers Co., Lincoln, Ne. - Saddles M1904

Hermann Sanford Saddlery Co., Springfield, Mo. - Gunslings, Bridles M1914, Saddles Arty and Cav M1904.

Hess & Hopkins Leather Co., Rockford, Il. - Saddles Arty and Cav M1904

Hewes & Potter, Boston, Ma. - Pouches small articles, hand axe carriers, pick mattock carriers. [known to have made M1907 slings]

Henry Hotze & Son, St. Louis, Mo. - Saddles Arty and Cav M1904

F. M. Hoyt Shoe Co., Manchester, N.H. - Breech Lock Covers, Pannier Packs, Pistol Holsters, Gunslings, Canteen covers, Headstalls, Feed Bags, Helmet Linings.

Kerr Adjustable Strap Co., New York, N.Y. - Gunslings. [Web]

Edward R. Ladew Co., Glen Cove, N.Y. - Brest Collars, Saddles Arty and Cav M1904, Headstalls, Gun Slings, Bridles M1909, Rifle Scabbards.

George Lawrence Co., Portland, Or. - Saddles Arty and Cav M1904, Gun Slings, Rifle Scabbards.

Lichtenberger-Ferguson Co., Los Angles, Ca. - Saddle Cav M1904, Rifle Scabbards, Gun slings.

Plant Brothers & Co., Manchester, N.H.- Bridles M1909, Suspenders for haversack, Water Buckets, Gunslings for U. S. Rifle M1917, Magazine Bandoleers, Pistol Belts, Ration Bags, Cartridge Belts, Feed Bags, Shovel Carriers, Pouches for First Aid, Haversacks.

Rice-Soren Saddlery Co., Muskegon, Mi. - Saddles arty and cav M1904. [known to have made M1907 slings]

Scheffer & Rossum Co., St. Paul, Mn. - Bridles M1909, Mule Saddles M1913, Pistol Holsters, Saddles Arty and Cav M1904.

Westboro Trunk & Bag Co., Westboro, Ma. - Carrying cases. [known to have made M1907 slings]

Smith Worthington Co., Hartford, Ct. - Saddles Cav M1904, Bridles M1909, Gunslings.

Western Mfg. Co., San Francisco, Ca. - Gunslings M1907.

Harvey Wheeler, Concord

I appreciate you finding this for me, now I just need to figure out how scarce or common the scabbards are. Any ideas?

Hopefully there's a couple of individuals here that will come forward with numbers of production and makers...

Being WWI vintage the initials are probably the piece worker's initials that initially either cut out the scabbard or sewed it up. This was common on WWI era leather goods.

Lend-Lease material was not marked as to who or where it was going.

And there we go.

Would it make sense that they began dating items again after the Lend Lease Act was passed? I have found other converted scabbards from Pre WWII online or at least info on them, and none of them seem to have dates prior to 1941. Or did they begin dating items after the declaration of war?

Probably more military mindset than anything else. Since most of the WWI era leather had the manufacturer, date, and inspector's initials, someone may have decided it needed the later date when converted on it. The standard U.S. military equipment sent as Lend-Lease was not marked any way to differentiate it as L-L.