Well Served in the Bundeswehr in 2007 and we still used these mess kits then and i am quiet shure they are still using them today. So the top part is from 2007 ☝️😁
And in both cases, you can still mount the leather safety strap, but WWII version has a simpler design, plus you can fix it pretty fast if the handle breaks,
I have the same post war kit. The pale is definitally East German, simple to identify, as it is the only locking handle system, of all mess kits in that design. The top lid, is austrian, and is more Shallow than the East German military lid, and was a combo design, created for the police, or (military police). The military issue is a 2 part system, lid and pale. The Police issue was was tree piece, including the pale insert, with 2 handle slots, and the Austrian lid. So You and I have the military police post war mess set, as far as my research shows so far. Thanx for showing us your mess kits, really enjoy seeing them.....great video bex
The difference between the locking ball bale. The Bundeswehr version has it the Austrian doesn't. So this is a Bundeswehr version. The Austrian is closer to the WW2 one, it has the two loops system nearly identical to the WW2 gear. It also has the belt loop flush to the bottom of the lid/cup. NVA (DDR) one has a handle on the inside cup not a handle hole and has not got a belt loop on the cup in the later two versions.
I have one that I picked up in the early 1990s which is close to the WWII style except the handle lugs are just a bit smaller and it came with a third tray inside. Right where the handle is riveted its marked PSL, the color is quite similar to a dark forest green. I got this from US Cavalry and was advertised as an East German mess kit and it was brand new back then. I have used this a lot during then out in the field to heat up MREs, make coffee, and cook ramen noodles etc. This is such a fantastic piece of gear for an Infantryman. Today I still use it when I go on long road trips packed in an emergency ruck sack.
They are very good mess kits. Easy to carry, cool with, and just look cool. Only fault I see with it is using a spoon on the bigger container because it’s a bit hard to reach that last bit of food.
I always carried a pair of Korean long stainless chop sticks and a long bamboo spoon which is also very easy to clean. I learned this from reading about the Japanese Army because they used the same style of mess kit as the German's M31. The Communist Chinese, Taiwanese Chinese (Nationalist), and Korean Armies still use the M31 style mess kits today in their field exercises to eat out of.
You can bend that hook at the bottom just slightly and it will be as good as new, bought 5 of these newer ones for the equivalent of 1 us dollar per kit👍
Very informative video and answers a few question I had about these kits. Thanks. Just one small point though (at 7mins 46 secs in) you mention rust at the bottom of the main pot.....aluminium cannot rust so it must be just rust stains from something made of steel which was stored earlier. Those stains should come off quite easily, but as it's an exhibit in a collection, it may be better to leave them for authenticity. Thanks again.
Were these painted with lead paint ? I have a super nice early war kit that I cleaned and sanitized - but that lead paint (if indeed it is) freaks me out
I have a very dark green (well worn paint) messkit like the one on the right in your video, which was sold to me as a WW2 M31. It does have the correct pointed bottom friction retainer, but udner closer inspection is stamped 'PSL 59' to both the lid hinge area, and also to the right side carry hinge. Does this mean it's post-WW2 ?
@@theenorman8706 Thanks for your reply - I proved it was post-WW2 and the auction house gave me a full refund. I gave them a quick education on the differences !
Just a quick question and I hope I get an answer. Are both of these Aluminum? Cause I've been looking at 2 or 3 on Amazon, one comes with a leather strap and it's 30 odd bucks while the one without the leather strap is cheaper, has more reviews (solid 3 out of 5 via 30 reviews) but the main complaint seems to be the fact it's a Chinese reproduction of the kit..which tbh the one with the leather straps looks to be the exact same but out of the 3 reviews it has near full marks on it. I'm kinda on a budget and am wanting to get one for camping, both are post war kits. They do have one that is a WW2 original though but since I'm wanting to use this I'm actually rather hesitant to get the actual one..kinda in a pickle here, should I go for the Chinese repro or the WW2 Original?
I have both a chinese repro and a an original east german one. I use them for camping cooking and eating only. I must admit that the East german one is better, because it's tighter built (the parts fit better together). As far as straps go, both came without one, and in lieu of that I just use a small belt that I got from walmart.
Mikhail Орен I use dog collars for my east German mess kits. Plastic quick buckle and a ring to attach to pack or belt. I don't do reenactments, too old.
Now that I've seen this I'm seeing so many German mess kits for sale that are labeled as ww2 but aren't becuase I'm looking at the small details in the mess kit.
I have what i believe is a reproduction this will help me to defarb it. Its honestly the closest ive seen compared to any others other than the lid it has no tabs for the carrier but is a easy fix for me. Ill be brazing them on to get it 100%
