A little OT, British WWII pattern water bottle with leather carrier

[Hal O'Peridol]

Never seen a leather carrier before only web ones. this one is like new, carrier itself marked with 66 under broad arrow, carrying strap marked with:
LEES (W) Ltd 1940 ^. It all looks brand spanking new. Paid 30 bucks for it in a combined buy with an early fixed bale USGI M1 helmet. Substitute standard I believe?

Oh, yes, a Tommy carrying an Enfield probably drank from this at some point.....

Information

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[Mk VII]

A certain amount of leather equipment (which appears to have been termed 1939 Pattern) was made, following the pattern of the 1937 stuff as far as was possible. Some parts of it are fairly scarce today, some, like the belts and the water bottle carrier, are fairly common.

[Badger]

Although a little OT for your question, I thought you and perhaps other collectors of web gear might find these two Knowledge Library entries display some items from my wife's collection somewhat interesting.

Check the 167 pic detailed photo montage of the 1937 Pattern - WWII British Soldier's Haversack (click here), or the 85 picture photo montage of the 1937 Pattern - WWII British Webbing Set (click here) shown in the England - Milsurp Knowledge Library (click here)

Regards,
Badger

[gew8805]

You probably have the above mentioned WW2 P39 leather carrier (similar to the one in the P37 webbing set) or a P14 carrier from WW1. While the P14 gear did see front line combat service in the trenches during WW1, the P39 set of WW2 was used almost exclusively for the Home Guard ("Dads Army"). It is an interesting set and VERY hard to find. To a collector, the canteen, if standard green enameled, is worth about $20, if blue enameled, about $30. The carrier is impossible to value at this point because P39 gear is exceptionally hard to find. I personally have never seen a P39 canteen carrier but that sounds like what you may have, but I can tell you for a fact that a WW1 dated P14 carrier would sell for around $100. You did very well, even better than the helmet you described to us on "Gunboards". Please post detailed pictures if you can.

As a closing note, anyone interested in British and Commonwealth webbing equipment should keep an eye on "Karkee Web", a new and highly detailed site that is here:

Karkee Web

It is growing and by leaps and bounds with great, detailed information and exceptional detailed photographs. They are still expanding the P37 section and will be adding a section on the P44 set in the future.

[jona]

Don't remember where I found it, but have had it for awhile.

[Hal O'Peridol]

Thanks for the input....this is the first one I have ever seen, and I thought I was doing the guy a favor buying it for 30 bucks!

I'll get some detailed pics out late tonight, I've got a Fujifilm camera with a fantastic macro function.

Jona, mine is similar to yours, but also quite different....

[gew8805]

jona, very nice and hard, if not nearly impossible to find here in the US. However it is not P39 but is an Australian made version for home forces use. Hal O'Peridol, looking forward to the pictures. You did do the seller a favor, he had no idea what he had and feels good about the sale. Remember, at this point in time, not that many people collect web gear and prices will stay relatively low outside of collecting circles, in those circles, you made out like the proverbial bandit. I might add that the prices I mentioned in my above post were for the cantten only on the general market, if the canteen had a web carrier, you could double the prices. You did okay.

[John Sukey (Deceased)]

Just curious, if that's rare, then what's a Boer War canteen (with strap) going for these days? (one small moth hole in the cover)

Oh by the way, I can't really call it a water bottle since it looks more like the current boy scout version in the shape.

[Hal O'Peridol]

Here's some pictures of the canteen and carrier....

[gew8805]

Great pictures and you did very well. Before I "enlarged" the pics, I thought it was a new reproduction carrier but it is what it is, original to WW2. Congratulations.