What in the world...

[jennyb]

Hi there - new here, and just looking for some answers. I found this old leather and brass thing some time ago and have no earthly clue what it is. It's stamped, "ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL 1918 T.O.O. " It's such a strange shape that I'm not even sure what it MIGHT be! Any help is greatly appreciated, as my curiosity has he best of me...

Information

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[Brit plumber]

It looks like a holster for a side arm.

[Peter Laidler]

On the technical side of life, I'd say that it was a decoratively adorned whatsit

[jmoore]

I've no idea! Maybe one of the '03 Springfield guys would have a clue? (Not that I think it's for a rifle, particularly.)

[Pattern14]

Some sort of instrument case.

[Peter Laidler]

For a folded artillery elevation quadrant?

[jennyb]

It's only about 15" top to bottom, so I guess it could fit a gun, though it'd just rattle around in there - a folded elevation quadrant maybe; never seen one of those. Thanks for looking it over, y'all! I will keep looking around.

[Mike in Wis.]

That looks like a fancied up case for artillery spare parts... M1916 75mm Gun. Perhaps a modified case for an officer's trench periscope ?

See the M1916 spare parts case below as it was originally issued...

[Sgt Brown]

Whatever it is, I am guessing it is Japanese by the brass chrysanthemum on the side - symbol of the Emperor.

Tom