Aaron
Senior Member
The somewhat erroneously described "K98k pouch" (I say this because the pouch was issued throughout WW2 to any 8mm rifle, not just the K98k, not to mention it was introduced before the K98k was) actually has its beginnings In 1911 with the cavalry, who were issued pouches with 3 cells that held two five round stripper clips of ammo in each cell, for a total of 30. Two pouches were a total of 60 rounds, compared to the earlier M1909 ammo pouch that held 60 rounds (120 as a pair).
The K98 pouch as we know it would first be seen in 1933 (I have seen it described as the M1911 or the M1933 depending on literature, but have seen no official sources or period documents to confirm the official name) and constructed out of sewn, pebbled natural brown/tan leather and brass (rare) or aluminum hardware. These would often be dyed black by the troops, often leaving the back a natural brown. The earlier pattern pouches can be identified by the early rounded d-ring for attaching to the y-straps, aluminum hardware, all sewn construction, and the belt loops which can be un-buttoned to allow them to be removed from the belt without interrupting the rest of the gear on the belt. By 1939 pouches would be ordered to be dyed black, which would be done by the manufacturers from now on with in-field pouches being dyed by the troops. Steel hardware would also begin to appear around this time, but the rest of the construction would remain the same. Starting in 1942, riveted construction pouches and simplified belt loops would begin to appear along with square d-rings for mounting to the y-straps. A mixture of all known hardware and construction methods would be used from 1942 until the end of the war. In late 1944 there would be one last change with the removal of the stiffening second layer of leather but that is discussed in another thread.
I would loosely define the following pouch variants with these imaginary nomenclatures:
M11/33: detachable belt loops, most commonly seen with rounded d-rings, all sewn construction, brass or aluminum hardware, later examples utilize all features seen in the M42
M42: Simplified belt loops, square or rounded aluminum or steel d-rings, riveted, sewn, or mixed construction
M44: removed stiffening layer https://www.k98kforum.com/threads/model-1944-m44-k98-ammo-pouch-reference-thread.66618/ https://www.k98kforum.com/threads/model-1944-m44-k98k-ammo-pouch-links-thread.53226/
I will continue to update this thread as I acquire more pouches, feel free to contribute, preferably by using the same types of images and descriptions.
The K98 pouch as we know it would first be seen in 1933 (I have seen it described as the M1911 or the M1933 depending on literature, but have seen no official sources or period documents to confirm the official name) and constructed out of sewn, pebbled natural brown/tan leather and brass (rare) or aluminum hardware. These would often be dyed black by the troops, often leaving the back a natural brown. The earlier pattern pouches can be identified by the early rounded d-ring for attaching to the y-straps, aluminum hardware, all sewn construction, and the belt loops which can be un-buttoned to allow them to be removed from the belt without interrupting the rest of the gear on the belt. By 1939 pouches would be ordered to be dyed black, which would be done by the manufacturers from now on with in-field pouches being dyed by the troops. Steel hardware would also begin to appear around this time, but the rest of the construction would remain the same. Starting in 1942, riveted construction pouches and simplified belt loops would begin to appear along with square d-rings for mounting to the y-straps. A mixture of all known hardware and construction methods would be used from 1942 until the end of the war. In late 1944 there would be one last change with the removal of the stiffening second layer of leather but that is discussed in another thread.
I would loosely define the following pouch variants with these imaginary nomenclatures:
M11/33: detachable belt loops, most commonly seen with rounded d-rings, all sewn construction, brass or aluminum hardware, later examples utilize all features seen in the M42
M42: Simplified belt loops, square or rounded aluminum or steel d-rings, riveted, sewn, or mixed construction
M44: removed stiffening layer https://www.k98kforum.com/threads/model-1944-m44-k98-ammo-pouch-reference-thread.66618/ https://www.k98kforum.com/threads/model-1944-m44-k98k-ammo-pouch-links-thread.53226/
I will continue to update this thread as I acquire more pouches, feel free to contribute, preferably by using the same types of images and descriptions.
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