Two WW II–Vintage G.I. Magazine Pockets for M1 Carbine, With M1936 Pistol Belt

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Two WW II–Vintage G.I. Magazine Pockets for M1 Carbine, With M1936 Pistol Belt A Perfect Set for the Collector or Reenactor Pocket, Magazine, Rifle: Two Versions This set includes two ammunition pouches (officially titled “Pocket, Magazine, Rifle”), which are each designed to hold two 15-round magazines for the M1 Carbine. The two in this set represent the two versions of this pocket that were produced. One version has loops on the back to fit over the belt. The other version has a snap in the back that mates with a snap on the pistol belt to hold the pocket in place. Early Version, 1942 Dated Photos 1 , 2 , 5 , 8 , 9 , and 10 show this magazine pocket. It’s khaki canvas, with a snap on the back. The pistol belt fits through a slot between the back and the front, and the snap matches one on the belt to fix it in place. This style of pocket may also be fitted onto the buttstock of a carbine. If you want to know how to do that, see this YouTube on “ M1 Carbine Buttstock Pouch Installation .”The pocket is in excellent condition, though there are a few tiny stains (probably rust). The stains are visible in the photos if you zoom in. There is no verdigris and only a little wear on the metal parts.The manufacturer’s name and the date of manufacture are stamped on the back, but they are almost entirely rubbed out. The date “1942” is just barely discernible ( photo 9 ).This pocket is stamped with the designation of the unit to which it was issued: CO I 196 TH INF There is also a letter “A” (or possibly “R”) written on the back in ballpoint pen ( photo 8 ).The “196 th Infantry” was undoubtedly the 196 th Infantry Regiment of the South Dakota Army National Guard , and Company I was in the Third Battalion of that regiment. The regiment was formed in 1946 and federalized in September 1950 for the Korean War. Troops were drawn from the regiment and sent to Korea, but the unit as a whole never went overseas. Parts of the regiment went to Alaska, but the Third Battalion appears to have stayed in the 48 states. For more on the unit’s history, see the 196 th Regiment’s website and the company’s Web page . Later Version, 1944 Dated Photos 1 , 3 , 4 , 6 , and 7 show this magazine pocket. It’s canvas in the late-war, darker and greener OD shade. The pistol belt fits through loops on the back as shown in photo 7 . Note that these loops are in two slightly different shades of OD. This style of pocket would require modification to the belt loops to fit onto the buttstock of a carbine.This pocket is also in excellent condition; though it has some small stains (also perhaps rust) on the front of the flap ( photos 1 and 4 ). Again, there is no verdigris and only a little wear on the metal parts.This style of pocket includes grommets on the bottom edge from which other equipment (such as a first-aid kit) may be hung.The inside of the flap ( photos 3 and 6 ) is stamped with the manufacturer’s name and the date of manufacture: ARNOLD MFG. CO. 1944 For print references on these magazine pockets, see Kenneth Lewis, Doughboy to GI: US Army Clothing and Equipment 1900–1945 (Winton, Bournemouth, England: Norman D. Landing Publishing, 1993), pages 202–204; and Gordon Rottman, U.S. Army Combat Equipments 1910–1988 , with illustrations by Ron Volstad, Osprey Men-at-Arms 205 (London: Osprey Publishing, 1989), plate D. The latter shows two pockets identical to these, carried on an M1936 pistol belt identical to this one. M1936 Pistol Belt This belt is in excellent condition. The metal parts show some wear of the finish, exposing brass ( photos 1–4 , 7 , 8 , and 10–12 ), but there are no missing grommets, frayed canvas, or noticeable verdigris—only the tiniest hints here and there (zoom in on the photos and you will just barely make it out around some of the grommets). The belt bears no stamped markings. It has a handwritten letter “H” near the middle of the back ( photo 4 ). The belt measures 44 inches when unfolded to its full length, not counting ... read more

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