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Spotted one of these at an antique market last Sunday and as the price seemed to be right bought it. Looks to be unused. I wondered what made it special and found out that it is like a mini thermos, double walled. It's modern, probably still in use but still interesting.
Military Arctic Canteen
Can't say I ever saw these. We had one similar that was a plastic bottom outside but a thermos inner and steel outer shell. They worked exactly the same as a standard steel "Thermos" brand and worked very well... Let us know how this one rolls...
To clean them inside, I found you could use steel shotgun shot and some powdered cleaner. I mention this as most of ours you find surplussed are coated inside with something...chocolate or coffee. They'd get turned in as unserviceable. You put in a shell full of steel shot and a big pour of borax or bon ami or whatever you have with enough water to make a slurry and shake it around to scrub clean. Pour it out and wash it clean. Repeat until clean...
The old waitress "swirling ice cubes and salt in the coffee pot" trick works pretty well. Salt rinses easily when you're done and no soap residue.
Yes, you need to work to get that cleared out.Quote:
Originally Posted by old tanker
Baking soda and vinegar or plain water will clean it. Mind you, so will regular dish soap.
I don't think the one I bought was ever used but I do want to clean it just in case. My daughter found it indirectly for me. She spotted a post war German folding shovel and brought it to my attention. The canteen was sitting on the shelf above. I bought both. Has a cup also which is kind of amazing in that is still has the same handle that they had way back in WWI. I guess if it works, you don't need to fix it. I don't remember my canteen cup having that kind of handle however. But then my memory of my canteen cup is almost non-existent. Probably used it 3 times in 10 years.
Not the caked in stuff I refer to.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sunray
Those canteens were standard issue to troops in Alaska. Good for temps down to about -15 Fahrenheit. After that we would wear our parkas over the canteens. One big drawback though; when they did freeze you couldn't put them on the Yuke to thaw the water. The double walls insulated both ways. I believe they were still issued into the 90s.
Attachment 97303Attachment 97304
I can't recall even seeing one when I was there...tents with two doors, Akio sleds...Mind you, it was 44 years ago too.Quote:
Originally Posted by BEAR
I've never seen one or heard of one.
Would be nice for ice fishing or at the Deer shack, It looks to be insulated just enough that our portable heater or camp stove could throw just enough heat to keep it from freezing.
Afterward show it off on the display shelves. Could have tested it here the other night it was 4*F.
Nice score IMO, thx for sharing it.
I have seen the Arctic canteen cups with the new style (new to me) butterfly fold out handles but never saw them in the early 70s or mid 80s when I was stationed there. These might be civilian modified.
I like it so much I ordered two more of a surplus dealer. One of me and one for my daughter. I just got thinking how good hot cocoa would be in the deer woods and that was that. They didn't sell the carriers but I found them on ebay cheap. Battle boy surplus if anyone is interested.