US Canteen - Vietnam War Era

[Harlan (Deceased)]

water (especially when warm) still tasted like crap in those damn things. Dick

Thanks for that confirmation Dick...

I've never actually drank from any of the various plastic canteens of the era that I've come across, but I've removed their lids and they smelled nasty inside.... the odor reminded me of how bad water tastes from a cheap plastic garden hose on a hot summer day. (YUK!)

[browningautorifle]

Usually the taste came from iodine tabs for water purification. Strange when I used those, they seemed to quench my thirst better than when I didn't use them. At the time they didn't bother me either...

they smelled nasty inside

You should have checked out some of our thermos' if you wanted nasty...

Any of these can be cleaned though. If you take a couple of STEEL shot shotgun shells and empty the shot into the wet canteen or thermos and pour in a bit of your favorite powdered cleaner and screw on the cap again... Swish it around so the shot goes around the inside, not lengthwise. Empty into a kitchen screen sieve, and repeat until clean. Wash thoroughly and let dry with cap off. Store with the cap off too...

[Paul S.]

Ours had a rubber O ring in the cap to stop leaks, water (especially when warm) still tasted like crap in those damn things.

Dick

I'll second that. It took close to 30 years before I would willingly drink plain tap water again.