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Hello:
Can anyone advise me which magazine pouch is appropriate for training/field use for an 1980's era US Soldier? I see pix of military policy with shiny black leather ones,....was this what everyone would have used? By this time were the WW2 style canvas pouches out of service?
Any insight anyone can offer would be appreciated.
Thanks.
Mike
From what I remember, single snap canvas pouches were in use with .45 mags. Certainly earlier. The double snap were gone and that leather one was strictly MP as you suggest. I bought all mine from the PX in Ft Lewis in the '80s new.
This pouch... 45 Mag Pouch
Thank you sir.
There should be a few more guys wander by yet, there were some like Bear that were serving then too...
The twin snap .45 pouch as shown in Jim's post is what was issued when I first went in the Army. In my Airborne unit in Alaska only officers were issued this pouch. I was a 60 gunner and we used one M14 pouch with two .45 mags. Medics wore the same. Rattled like crazy so I went to the Army surplus store in Anchorage and purchased a tan WW2 .45 pouch and used it, until the CO. told me to take it off because it was not the same color as the OG gear. When we got a new CO. I got an up-to-date .45 pouch from the clothing sales store and wore it until I became a team leader. Still had to wear the M14 pouch but that was OK, carried pogie bait in it.
BEAR
Never heard that one.Quote:
Originally Posted by BEAR
That was it, which was attached to the PX in Ft Lewis. Brand new gear, still have them here full of mags I haven't used since I got them...about 28 mags for 1911A1.Quote:
Originally Posted by BEAR
Thanks for the info...this is what I was hoping to clarify.
Did you mean you never heard of the M14 pouch (M1956 Universal Ammunition Pouch)???Quote:
Originally Posted by browningautorifle
Or did you mean carrying two .45 magazine being carried in the said pouch????
Here's pictures of M60 teams in Alaska. Notice the single M14...uh.....M1956 Universal Ammunition Pouch:lol:
Yes, I was well aware of M1956 pouches...just using for pistol mags.Quote:
Originally Posted by BEAR
Not what I would have pictured either...two little mags rattling around in a big box, waiting to rattle right out. I built my own fighting order in about 1977 using two M1956 pouches and an "H" harness, Cdn M45 web belt, US issue butt pack. Looked like US gear and held together, held FN mags like it should.
Hey Bear, what year would those photos have been?
April 1974, Barter Island, Alaska
Just before we arrived, January '75... Looked like the same snow too...:madsmile:Quote:
Originally Posted by BEAR
Those canvas 1956 pouches were one of the best all around pouches the Army ever issued. They'll even hold 25 12 Gauge shotgun shells.
Good utility pouch. Just a bit big for a couple 1911 mags...you could fit a box of .45 ball in there too.Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian Dick
Bear, where are your “over-dirties” ?
Realistic name too... But after a few days out, I can easily imagine where the name came from. Ours would be burned and melted because they were nylon.Quote:
Originally Posted by frenchkat
All I ever wore were the cotton version. Couldn’t keep them clean to save our lives.
Good to hear from a couple of old Alaska hands.
Ken “Frenchkat” Bowen
I was Canadian army and ours were nylon. I ended up training with Bear in Jan '75 during a joint forces training opportunity (Fairbanks). We didn't know then of course but we were in the same places at the same time...and you weren't far away.Quote:
Originally Posted by frenchkat
Strangely enough we didn't take them. Barter Island had no trees and our green uniforms could be seen for miles. One of our squads was even tracked by a couple of Polar Bears for a short while.Quote:
Originally Posted by frenchkat
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