The history of the Genuine Issue French Military Canteen began in the late nineteenth century by the model used by the cavalry.
PHOTO
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DESCRIPTION
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YEAR
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  | Bidon 1877 Model 1liter , canvas Bluish Grey Iron Adopted in 1877 , it is designed with two necks with a capacity of 1 liter. Bidon 1877 Model , 2 liters It is covered with blue cloth dark blue for hunters and khaki for the colonial troops. Mle.1877 Bidon (canteen) The Bidon is either a 2-liter or 1-liter canteen, covered with horizon blue or later khaki wool cloth. Both types had two spouts, a large and small, that were stopped with either wood or cork which was secured to the canteen itself with string. The double-sized 2-liter canteen was originally reserved for issue to troops in Africa, but the difficulty of supplying clean water to men in close combat was considerable and it prompted the introduction of the double-sized water bottle to all troops in the summer of 1915. Often two bidons were worn; in the assault, one bottle typically contained wine (pinard) mixed with water, the other coffee and tafia spirit. |
1877
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 | Bidon mod.1884 de Cavalerie | 1884 |
 | Bidon d'essai mod. 1892 | 1892 |
 | la gourde mod. 1935 Real name "bidon" replace gourde mod. 1877 same shape of 1877 and one neck Capacity 2 liters | 1935 |
US M1910
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1947/50
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 | Le bidon modèle 51 |
1951
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 | Le bidon modèle 52 Capacity 1,5 liter The Bottle mle 1952 replace 1951 model, the content is the same, the main change comes from the cap. It is bigger and Bakelite, the first production will have brown caps, then they become khaki. |
1952
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 | Bidon modèle 52 en plastique Capacity 1,3 liter | |
hi there, so both types are used in WW1 correct? With horizon blue and khaki covers? Also, I am wondering, do the straps always have to be brown leather, or can they be a khaki colour or material as well?
ReplyDeleteDuring WWI, both 1877 canteens were used, together with older models from 2d Empire era during the winter-spring 1914-15 because of shortages. The Bidon d'essai was in use too. In august 1914, the only one in use was the small one, covered in dark blue wool. Then, from winter, every kind of covers were used, wool, colth, corduroy and even sometimes nothing or some kind of paint. The blue horizon covers only appeared in spring-summer 1915, the khaki at around the same time, when the 2 liter canteen was generalized. About straps, at the beginning of the war, they were black, rough side of leather upside, and narrow (20 mm). The natural leather ones (not brown... they became brown because use, dirt and grease), rough side inside and large (25 mm) were at first designed for the 2 liter canteen, though many used the narrow one as well. Some canvas straps of every kind and color were also seen from late 1914 to spring of 1915. To put it short, speaking of french canteens, the winter of 1914-spring of 1915 was an absolute mess, and it is not till the summer of 1915 that the things became regular. And even with that, the corduroy or canvas covered canteens were used till destroyed. By the way, since 1860, the regulations said covers should be made with old and worn out uniforms, and it was still true till 1940. Hope it helps !
DeleteFrench soldiers would often carry two of the two liter canteens, I think the French were the only ones who realized that soldiers needed water to do their job.Yes they use both cover colors , straps you can find also other colors and material
ReplyDeletethanks for your comment ,and Keep surfing on Webbingbabel