Fall 2026 Militaria and Aviation Auction
Lot 109:
Description
World War II-Era U.S. Tan Canvas Ammunition / M2 Demolition Satchel Bag with Steel Hardware and Webbing Strap Fixtures Offered here is an original World War II-period U.S. military field satchel, of a type broadly associated with the M1 ammunition bag and M2 demolition-charge carrier pattern. Constructed of heavy tan cotton duck canvas, the bag features period steel hardware and integral webbing strap fixtures typical of combat and engineer equipment issued in the early-to-mid 1940s. No fully legible manufacturer or inspector stamp survives on the example offered; faint traces of ink stamping are reported on the interior, consistent with contract markings that have faded with decades of service and storage. No unit or personal provenance has been identified for this piece, and no separate published history accompanies it – its story rests with the object itself. Satchels of this general profile were issued widely across the U.S. Army to infantry riflemen, combat engineers, and airborne troops, serving multiple roles in the field: carrying blocks of TNT or Composition C explosive charges, spare ammunition clips, hand grenades, and sundry demolition tools. Combat engineer battalions relied on bags of this type when rigging charges against bridges, bunkers, and beach obstacles during the European and Pacific campaigns, while airborne sappers carried similar satchels into combat drops for immediate demolition tasking on landing. Though this particular example carries no unit-specific markings or documentation, its form and materials place it squarely within that broad and essential category of WWII infantry and combat-engineer field equipment. The satchel is fashioned from substantial tan/khaki canvas duck, showing the characteristic weave and stitching of wartime contract manufacture, with a flap closure secured by steel hardware fittings. Webbing strap loops remain along the body for attachment of a carry strap, and the steel snap and buckle fittings, though showing surface oxidation, appear functional and structurally sound. The main body retains its shape and stitching integrity throughout. No additional items accompany this lot. Condition is fair to good for a vintage combat-service piece: the canvas shows moderate surface soiling and handling wear, with localized rust staining consistent with age and long storage, while the ink stamps that would typically identify contractor and inspection markings are largely faded or illegible. A solid, honest example of GI demolition and ammunition-carrying equipment, representative of the unglamorous but essential gear that supported American infantry and combat engineers through the campaigns of World War II.
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