Original German WWI Infantry M1915 Canteen Feldflasche Lot – Medical and Without Cover Original Items

Original Items: Only One Lot of 2 Available. The typical canteens used by the Germans during the war were the M.1893 aluminum canteen with cork, the M.1907 screw-top Feldflasche and the enameled steel M.1915 model Feldflasche with cork stoppers.

The M1915 Feldflasche is actually a variation of the M1893 Feldflasche, although due to the shortage of aluminum, the M1915 was first constructed of tinned steel, but the tin wore away quickly and rust in the water was a problem, so construction moved to enameled steel. The basic canteen shape remained the same as the M1893, but the cork design changed to stamped steel caps instead of the aluminum pull. These canteens would have covers made from Steingrau or Feldgrau wool, brown corduroy or even ersatz papercloth, with full or simplified leather harnesses. Field medics and medical personnel were issued a larger capacity canteen. These larger medical canteens came equipped with a different carrying harness and shoulder strap assembly.

Both canteens are in lovely, displayable condition but there are a few discrepancies. The “naked” M1915 canteen does have its leather suspension but the piece that retains the cork stopper on the top is town completely away and the stopper now falls out due to cork shrinkage. The medical canteen has similar issue with the leather being dried out, cracked and torn. The strap that retains the cup is torn completely from the buckle on the front side. The wool cover has no significant damage to it but there is quite a bit of moth nips all throughout.

These are two lovely canteens and no collection is complete without a few! Comes more than ready for further research and display.