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MODEL 1910 RIMLESS EAGLE SNAP CANTEEN – UNIT ID’d – 6TH CAVALRY REGIMENT – COMPLETE WITH A SCARCE MODEL 1910 FIRST PATTERN “FLAT TOP” CANTEEN ID’d TO THE 36TH INFANTRY DIVISION, AEF – AN EXCELLENT HISTORICALLY  AFFILIATED SET:  This very nice, complete Model 1910 Rimless Eagle Snap Canteen bears a cavalry unit identification disc set on the front of the cover which is stamped “6 CAV 3” with the integral “US” and the crossed sabres insignia.  The early production “flat top” Model 1910 Canteen and Cup are identified by unit stampings and soldier applied engravings as having been issued to a soldier in the 36TH Infantry Division and that he served in France in 1918.    

This Model 1910 Rimless Eagle Snap Canteen presents in very nice condition showing only minimal signs of use despite the obvious evidence of being issued as described below.  The cover is in very clean condition with no tears or damage and only very minor wear at the outside corners of the flaps.  Both of the rimless eagle snaps are intact and fully functional with none of the tearing or separation often found in the material surrounding the snaps.  There is no evidence that the front of the cover was ever stamped with the characteristic “US”, perhaps the identification disc serving the same purpose of identifying the cover as US Army property.  There is a faint trace of the maker ink stamp under right flap, but no distinct characters of the stamp are legible. 

This canteen and cup set is the fairly scarce early production “flat top” Model 1910 Canteen that has the early pattern screw cap with the flat top surface (as opposed to the later dome shaped cap) and the seamless body construction.  The canteen is full form with no significant damage and no cracks.  There are a few dents and handling marks commensurate with the service in the field documented by the applied unit markings, but the canteen is not abused or misshapen.  The original chain and ring are present and intact, and the hard black rubber liner is still present in the cap.  The canteen cap threads are stripped from over tightening.  The cap fits on the spout, stays in place, and does not rattle.  This does not affect the display quality of this set, but the soft aluminum only tolerates so much pressure when the cap was screwed in place.  Overall, this is solid example of the scarce early pattern Model 1910 Canteen.  The cup is likewise full form with no dents and no misshaping.   

There is no maker stamp on either the canteen or the cup as is correct for this early design, however the canteen and the cup bear a considerable historical record between the unit applied identification stampings and the soldier applied engravings recording his service.  The unit marks on the cover, canteen and cup, and the soldier’s decorations on the canteen and cup provide a possible solution which untangles the history of the issue and field use of this set.    

It is well documented during the mobilization in response to the United States’ entry into World War One, the army transferred experienced officers, senior NCO’s, and technically trained enlisted men from the Regular Army regiments into the National Guard divisions being formed from the influx of recruits and draftees.  These transfers provided the National Guard units with an experienced cadre which would accelerate the training and organization necessary to prepare the new divisions for assignment to the Western Front.  Whether these Regular Army soldiers transferred to the National Guard divisions took their personal issued equipment to their new units or not is not a matter of the historical record, however it stands to reason that soldiers in transit during that time would need at the very least their uniforms, and their personal haversacks, canteens and mess gear which had been issued during their service in the Regular Army regiments.  

The cover bears two unit identifications.  In addition to the 6TH Cavalry Regiment identification disc on the front of the cover, the bottom of the cover is stenciled in ink, “7 D 29”, indicating this cover was once in the inventory of a regiment of that number, perhaps the famous 7TH Cavalry Regiment.  Both regiments served on the Southern Border during the Punitive Mexican Expedition in 1916 and were sent into Mexico. The 6TH was sent intact to France in 1918.    

The canteen bears two soldier applied identifications.  High on the reverse of the shoulder is lightly engraved “R E P  1918  FRANCE” surrounded by an odd shaped oval border, and on the opposite, front side is engraved “B. HUNTEM” - presumably the soldiers’ names to whom this canteen was issued.  The bottom of the canteen has a series of letters and numbers engraved into the aluminum and what is probably a unit inventory number “H 1” stamped in the center.   

The front of the cup is engraved with the initials “TWP”, again probably soldier applied to identify his cup.  The bottom of the cup holds a considerable amount of information in the applied characters.  Most prominent is the engraved outline of a shield or arrowhead, consistent with the shape of the insignia of the 36TH Infantry Division – the letter “T”, for Texas, superimposed on a blue point-down arrowhead for Oklahoma, the two states from which the 36TH was formed in July of 1917.  Confirming that this arrowhead represents the 36TH Infantry Division insignia are the adjacent unit applied identification stamps: “CO. C; 133 MG B T; 36 DIV; AEF”, indicating Company C, 133RD Machine Gun Battalion which was attached to the 72ND Infantry Brigade of the 36TH Infantry Division during its service as an element of the American Expeditionary Force in France.  The division trained at Camp Bowie, near Fort Worth, Texas, and was shipped over to the Western Front in July of 1918, participating in the heavy fighting of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive.   

This is a very nice example of the earlier pattern Model 1910 Rimless Eagle Snap Canteen complete with the scarce Flat Top Canteen, and which has the added value of being identified to two very active, historically significant units.  (0802) $425

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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