What kind of canteen carrier is this?

[Brit-Tex]

I purchased this Italian canteen and cover a while back. The cover looks like USMC but a little different. I is a fairly tight fit for my porcelain canteen and cup. I have never seen a picture of a Italian canteen in such a cover. Does anyone know what I have here?

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[browningautorifle]

It does look like the early pattern of USMC cover. I think you'll find those flaps cross over not straight down. It was meant to secure AND keep the canteen clean. If it's been washed, it may be tight but give it a stretch and it'll probably fasten. Look through the equipment forum posts and you'll find pics.

[gsimmons]

Does it have a hole in the bottom? The third pattern were solid, the fourth had the hole in the bottom so it could be used as a funnel to fill the canteen. The first and second patterns looked like an M1910 canteen cover.

[Brit-Tex]

It does not have a hole on the bottom. All the USMC carriers I have seen have a vertical seam between the fasteners. I do not recall is the fasteners are marked anywhere.

I am a fairly advanced equipment collector. I collect US Spanish American War thru WWII and WWII British (inc. Airborne) I will start posting some pictures in the gallery soon.

Cheers, Fred

[Brit-Tex]

The construction is different from any I have seen. It has seams on the sides rather than front and rear. The belt hanger is brass, the snaps are marked only with a "Z" inside a shield. There are no visible markings. The canteen cup is a snug fit. If you cross the flaps, it is a perfect fit for the Italian Canteen it came with.