As World War Two segued into Korea, a hot spot in the Cold War, I was almost old enough for the Boy Scouts and all those camping adventures. I decided to be prepared, so I haunted the war surplus stores. They were jammed with left-over field gear, and even the poorest kids could afford it. A dime would get you a canteen. A quarter would buy an entrenching tool and a buck both halves of a pup tent.
My camping kit was so composed. We argued about which was neater, official Boy Scout stuff or the equipment "our guys" used to wipe out the dirty Krauts and Japs. The latter was infinitely cheaper and hence, in those days of small incomes, won the argument.
No one ever thought of "collecting" web and leather gear. How could you imagine collecting something as plentiful as dandelions? You bought the stuff and used it, period.
Flash forward a few decades and check the 21st Century prices for 1940s militaria and note the awe with which some identify the stuff as
jen-you-ine World War 2 relics. The louder and more precisely pronounced the "
jen-you-ine," the higher the price.
I started noticing the trend early enough to take small advantage of an unsettled and asymmetric market and started picking up the stuff at garage sales and auctions. A buck here, two there, up to three for decent 1911 holsters. Over the years the stash grew big enough to outfit a fire team (roughly two privates and a PFC or junior corporal), then, most of a squad (roughly three fire teams under a buck sergeant).
And I started taking a liking for and interest in all that canvas, webbing, and leather, so kept it up. If I live long enough and don't run out of storage space, I may someday correctly fancy myself able to supply a platoon.
Especially if I keep going to gun shows in semi-northern Minnesota, home of the clueless.
Five bucks for the .45 holster, two each for the first aid (and compass) pouches. An 11-dollar total for a dandy addition to my pile. The holster especially tickles me because it is much better than the picture shows. It looks warped because someone set heavy stuff atop it, but the lack of inside wear suggests it hardly ever housed a pistol.
A small geekout for serious
aficionados:
The holster is undated, made by Gratton and Knight, issued in russet, and blackened later, suggesting manufacture during or after the big war and possible re-issue for Vietnam, by which time most of them were issued in black.
The top two pouches are pre-war or early war. The color is OD3. The bottom example is later, perhaps 1943 forward, in OD7. (OD=olive drab). They're almost universally called first-aid pouches and were designed to hold a Carlisle bandage. At some point the Army decided they were fine compass carriers, too.
And that's what I did on my vacationette last weekend. Doing it in company of two fine St. Cloud kids, who are not among the clueless, just made it all the more pleasant.
