Gasmask, Water Bottle, Mess Tin, MP40 Magazine Pouches.

The other gears in this pic are the Water Bottles the Mess Tin, the Gas Mask with canisters, the MP30/40 Magazine Pouches , the Cleaning Kit, the Spork and the private purchase medical metal tin in leather cover.

There was two Gasmask Canister or Carrying Case for Gas Mask (Tragbüchse für Gasmaske).
The M1930 case was from UK, I found out in recent year that it was not a field troop item as on the top of the lid marked: (AUER  RL 1-38/3 Vertrieb gemäß 8 Luftschutygesetz genehmigt). Which was a rear troop-- Luftschutz item.
The gasmask inside inside was a M1930 mask, made by rubberized cloth and leather. 

The other canister was the tall M1938 case in steel and M1938 mask made by rubber, definitely a field troop gear,  it was came from Unique Import of USA but without carrying strap, I made the straps by myself, but forgot the details.

Both cases was in good condition, and its solved the years long quest of the hot water bottle shape case carry by the German solders at their back, It was the first time I tried to breath via the gasmask and also the first time I experience to carrying it cross the shoulder and hook to the belt, quiet heavy then, not until my Army days to gear up with full battle order in the field, and wore the S6 and S10 gasmask in NBC suit, these little load was nothing to a trained solder.
(All sold with the lot.)

This two water bottles was my first close encountered of the real bottle, and its so difficult to carry on the belt order in full bottle.

The bottle at the left without mug was came from UK, may be a early version for combat troops, or may be a rear organization as it has brown leather straps cant tell, but its felt cover was in poor condition so I made another cover, but in brown wool, found out it was impossible to get the same material as original covers, even the reproduction cover on today are still unable to copy the material,  and I remembered I had pill out the snap buttons top and glue onto the flat snap buttons. Today I had just received a same type water bottle in complete surprise, looks like the good old man up there take great care to me.

The other one was also from UK, it is an expect example of the M1931 field flask and drinking cup (Feldflasche 31 and Trinkbecker), forget to record the markings, but its good.

The mess tin or M1931 cook pot (Kochgeschirr) was from Unique Import I htink, may be repaint by me. I had another mess tin bought from a toy shop, look the same but forgot the details.
(All sold with the lot)

The cleaning kit for K98 rifle was strange to me then,  had no idea a rifle needs cleaning, not until I jointed the Army and later I got my firearm license to purchase rifles. Fotgot where it came form but its contain was completed, as my recent purchased cleaning are always without the 'key'. 
(sold with the lot.)

Next to the cleaning kit was the self purchased medical box was a empty metal box protecting by a leather cover, interesting item, but I don't think I could buy it back again. Also no idea where its came from, possibly from UK.
(sold with the lot.)

Spoon and fork set in aluminum, the 'Spork', its the one of the few item I am keeping until now, may be I put it in my army backpack as a tool and forgot, it has a marking 'GAG 39', glad I had keeping it.

I was always think that I had a Soldbuch, but from the photo shown it was actually a Wehrpaß and came with a cover, it had lost the first page with the photo. unlike today the internet is full of information and translating tool, I had no idea what it wrote, and no knowledge of the difference between  Soldbuch and Wehrpaß then, all I got was a photos of these document in a Japanese reference book which I was also can't read. I had just obtained a completed Wehrpaß and I cane read the constant now.
(sold with the lot.)

This pair of MP38/40 magazine pouches or the Machine Pistol magazine pouches (Maschinenpistole Magazintaschen) was definitely a repro, any repro pouches made in China today are far better than this, but its was the only pair I could find then, wooden blocks was cut into magazine shape to fill it up, and I don't know what was the purpose of the small side pouch, the reference said its for loading tool, which I couldn't get it, not until my Army day I had 7.62 and 5.56 loading tools for my weapons. 
(Sold with the lot)

Original Gas cape / Bread bag / Bread bag strap

The other three items are the Bread bags (Brotbeutel 31), Bread bag strap and the Gas cape (Gasplane) was came from UK and USA,  all original and in fair price.

The below Bread bag was in  very good condition  even not in grey color its was the early type with leather reinforcement, but I have no idea of the top Bread bag, looks like a late version.
The strap was from Unique Import, its was in very good condition and I learn how to hook it on the helmet from the pics below.
(All sold with the lot)

Now I recognized that it is a wide strap, as I have one of this now, but I don't know then.

Photos: Brain L Davids

This gas cape bag was good but the snap buttons was so rusty and separated from the cloth, there was an original gas sheet inside, and I was unable to figure out how to use it, not until I went through trhe NBC training in the Army, then reng the bell of the gas attact protection. Now the gas sheet price is sky high, I am still have not found any original sheet, but I have three to four bags.
(Sold with the lot)

Original Assault pack

It should called A frame bag, exact name is 'bag for the combat pack' (Beutel zum Gefechtsgepäck), but it was a long story, the listing from UK had no image or drawing, its was written Assault pack, I thought it was the A frame in another name, but when opened the parcel found this bag, I was so annoyed and disappointed, but nothing I can do, eventually decided to build the A frame by myself.

It is the early version, I am still searching for it as I bought am original A frame came together with a late version bag.
(Sold together with the log)

Assault Frame

This Assault frame (Gurtbandtragegerüst) was also entirely built by me, also from the reference of the books, I was not knowing how the German Soldat carrying the mess tin and other small bags on their back. 

As long as no way to search for it, so DIY again. 

But I found dozens of A frames in the basement of a shop on London around 1993, but I hadn't buy any even I had a thick wallet then. Which I wish I did.

This was constructed by British canvas straps, sew together with steel sheets in between, not difficult to make, but the D hooks was no way to obtain, my friend hand file four D hooks from sheet metal, so the A frame was born.

(Sold together with the lot)

I found this color was different from the top photo, and recalled it was painted by model color of Olive Green, and stamped something on it, also not knowing what was the center cloth was, but the original photo shown these details, so as the replica. 

When Bud O'Toole visit my home and saw the A frame and hand made D hooks, he sent me two or four original D hooks when he back home, and I replaced the repro hooks with real one. Again unlike today just tape D hook on eaby, dozens of sources jump out, like this pair a good repro from a eshop.

This was the photo taught me the existing of the Assault frame, and good proportion for making the drawing. This was the first time I saw such an ingenious piece of gear. 

This photo is from the Almarks Publications book of 'Waffen-SS' which I bought in early 70s.

Tent Poles Set

This tent pole set (Zeltaysrüstung) was entirely hand made by myself, there was no way to search for wanted items then, so when I think I had sufficient information I started the DIY process.

With the left over canvas from the tronister, I made this bag with leather straps, buckles and buttons was from a period lot. the wooden poles was from camping equipment store and cut short.

Tornister

I had two backpacks (Tornister), all came from UK, but I didn't know the different versions between the organizations then, not until recent years when I look back to realized that these was not an Army backpacks.  

This pack has an internal wooden frame, should be a HJ pack, there was a bullet hole at the lower left corner at the back side, its shoot through the lower leather, canvas and wood frame.

(Sold with lot)

This pack also has a internal wooden frame, possible an SA pack.
Its came in poor shape, the hair on the leather almost gone and many holes, and the canvas was badly damaged, I had overhauled the entire pack, the canvas was from British Army duffel bags, and luckily found a  matching color fur, possible a cow hide, not a 'Pony fur. All original leather pieces was hand stitching back by following the original holes.
(Sold with lot)

My Boots

Back then there was no source to obtain any original or repro WWII boots, these was only looks like period  boots, anyway they are all gone now. 

Like I said this riding boots was loan, and 99% not period or not German boots, but looks good.

I am entirely have no idea where it was found,  but it was brand new then. The gaiters should be BW items.

This is a British mountain boots, marked 1962, with Swiss crews and nails, it was found in local surplus shop, already dried and peeling off. It was keeping in my procession and just sold to my friend collection British gear on months ago. 

This was order made by a local old shoemaker, by following Brain David's drawing, but it is not the common version, wondering why he use this drawing twice in his books. The nails was not German hobnail, and the heel irons was British type, I knew nothing about rough side out in those days.

This was a British Fire Brigade boots, made of pebble leather and rubber soled, I smoothed the the pebble by hot iron. It was came from local surplus shop.

Riding Breeches

This was purchased from Berry Smith; a riding breeches (stiefehose & reithose) sold as WWII item, it was returned to seller as I had no idea a good reithise should made of gabardine, I thought it should be in field-gray not grey, and suspected it was a BW item, lots of lost on postage, bank charges and exchange rate.

Until now I am still have no idea its an original item or not.

Next to it was a BW tunic, Berry Smith sold it as original, but if it is available now I'll make it into a convert tunic.

Can't recalled where was this riding boots came from, should be a short loan from someone, but fit me and the breeches then, not now as I gain lots of weight.

Camo Face Mask

This was my hand made camo face mask, which took me around a month to weave, the expensive tan color string was bought from Japanese handcraft shop,  the canvas straps was from surplus shop, should be British Army stuff, the helmet loop had three springs saw inside the band, this pic show the mask was completed but still in tan color. 

(Sold with the lot)

This was sprayed by two color to form the camo pattern, I made two masks, I can't recalled this is another one or not,  one was gave to Bud, and he like it so much and want me to take order on it, but I was too lazy to make more, as it was boring to make even the second one.

But I'll make it again but fail to locate colored string, may be order some string for dyeing.

 This was one of the two photo as reference, but back to those old time, the only way to study was to made an enlarged photocopy for details.

(Photo: Andrew Mollo)

This photo showing the other side of the mask and the three pieces 

construction, which was the most important information I needed.

(Photo: Bruce Quarrie)

 My drawing of the construction before purchase the material, the final way to weave was to put rows of nails on the top and bottom on a board, then secure the vertical strings on it, the thinner string then weave between it horizontally. 

Photo: Almark Publication

After all these years when I am writing this blog, I found this tiny photo, both soldier are wearing the camo masks on top of their nude helmets, and it proofed my wild guess of the spring construction was correct, and gave more information for my next mask. Also technology made the tiny pic enlarged to next level.

Helmet covers

I recalled I had few helmet covers, the fabric was from two sources only, Waffen SS camo from Bud O'Toole and the WH material from local surplus shop, but most was drawstring, only the forest camo had the spring hooks installed, unlike today we can find any original and repro parts on the net, especially on ebay, I had no way to locate any parts back to 70s and 80s.  

This was the hooks set from Bud, which was the only set I had. Other SS covers was drawstring, but I forgot how many cover  had.

These fabric was from the local surplus shop, Splinter, Tan Water or even Italian came could be found locally.

(Photo: Andrew Mollo)

(Photo: Brain Davids)

This pic is from ebay, but Bud gave me an original set like this which was the first time I saw this system.

Original Third-Model Splinter FJ Smock

This was another study by Bud of a third model FJ smock, someone sent these photos to him, which was selling in a store for $550 (in 1980), this was the normal transferring images and description without the PC in 1980.  

(All photos: Bud O'Toole)

(Photos: Brain L. Davids)

Thirty years later, someone discussing the third model FJ smock and suspecting that it is a Bod O'Toole's product. What an achievement of his product, you just can't avoid it.

Hoping that I could buy back a Bud O'Toole product again.

http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/showthread.php?t=337170&highlight=bud+o%27toole