Pre WW2 Thompson SMG 50 round drum pouch

[RCS]

I found a RUSCO marked but not dated Thompson 50 round drum pouch, I thought most of the WW2 US manufactured drum pouches had WW2 dates (most are 1942). Could this be a pre WW2 drum pouch ?

[browningautorifle]

Could be...or maybe British contract?

[RT Ellis]

These images were part of a group of Ordnance Department photographs that documented various weapons and accessories, most of which were dated 1940-41 and were therefore "pre-war." I included the 5-cell magazine pocket because of the identical RUSCO marking to your drum magazine case.

[Flying10uk]

Did the U.K. military ever issue a mag pouch specifically for the Thompson Drum mag either "home grown" or imported from the states. I know that the British Thompson transit chest had provision for the storage of drum mags in the chest but I've not heard of the U.K. issuing a pouch for one. Did they make use of an existing pouch?

[RT Ellis]

If anyone knows the answer to your question regarding British gear it would be these people, if you don't see it shown on the site send them a PM.
Karkee Web

I can tell you that the only contract listed for this item in my reference was a USMC 1942 contract, but my source only lists contracts of $50,000 or more so there could have been an earlier Lend Lease contract that was intended for Britain that is not listed. Mills U.S. company had set up a business in Britain known as Mills Equipment Co. that manufactured much of the woven web equipment used by British and several other countries, so it was not necessary for the British to seek to have the work done offshore.

[Big Al]

I'd say it's a pre-war commercial drum pouch.

[Mk VII]

Did the U.K. military ever issue a mag pouch specifically for the Thompson Drum mag either "home grown" or imported from the states. I know that the British Thompson transit chest had provision for the storage of drum mags in the chest but I've not heard of the U.K. issuing a pouch for one. Did they make use of an existing pouch?

Although I have come across a contemporary reference in the PRO to converted Lewis Gun pouches being issued to the Home Guard for this purpose, no US-type drum pouch appears to have been issued to the Field Army. Most likely they put them in a spare small pack.

[Peter Laidler]

I sincerely hope that no one thinks that I am in any way a webbing collector, enthusiast, freak or fiend by answering the UK Military question here. Some of the paperwork that we had relating to the formatting of the Infantry Training pamphlets in respect to the Thompson gun, it stated quite clearly words to the effect that '...........there iss no anticipated demand at present or in the future for a drum pouch as this is being catered for by the plentiful Lewis Gun drum pouch of which there are ample stocks.......'. I haven't got a copy of this stuff as I sent it to the US for a US author to use. But there's our take on the drum pouch
I am not a webbing freak........