Re: Mark VII bag

Posted by Cap'n Paul from 204.208.30.165 on June 17, 1998 at 03:02:33:

In Reply to: Mark VII bag posted by Tim Cook on June 16, 1998 at 19:19:11:

: Been going through the postings about these bags. I believe they are Canadian. The brass snaps are marked "United Carr Canada" on mine (which I found at a flea market for $3). British web gear is a much courser weave, very grainy. I also have a British gas mask bag, and it has buckles and straps, not snaps to close the flap. British made accoutrerments (battle equipment) is marked with a broad arrow symbol which dates back to Colonial times and even the French and Indian War. The Brits used to even mark trees in this country destined for their ship masts. My bag has one drain hole; I've seen others mentioned with 2 and 3. I also picked up a nice leather strap at a gun show for $4 to put on the bag after I cut off the canvas strap which was badly worn and frayed.

: Your bag sounds very much of Canadian manufacture. However, I would be careful in assuming all the Mark VII bags are Canadian. Remember that England relied heavily upon commercial trade with her colonial holdings (later, Commonwealth members) particularily India, Australia, and Canada. Canada had developed into quite an industrial power in her own right by the beginning of the 20th Century. Instead of exporting primarily raw materials to the British Isles, Canada was sending finished products (such as the Mark VII) back to England.

You indicated that your bag had one drain hole. My bag, which doesn't bear the Canadian markings you indicated, has two drain holes. Additionally, while period British web gear patterns were indeed constructed of khaki-colored, course grain webbing (e.g. the 1936 pattern), it is not indicative of all the British-made personal equipment. -CP

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I wish they had an edit button on this thing... Cap'n Paul 03:24:04 6/17/98 (0)

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: : Been going through the postings about these bags.  I believe they are Canadian.  The brass snaps are marked "United Carr Canada" on mine (which I found at a flea market for $3).  British web gear is a much courser weave, very grainy.  I also have a British gas mask bag, and it has buckles and straps, not snaps to close the flap.  British made accoutrerments (battle equipment) is marked with a broad arrow symbol which dates back to Colonial times and even the French and Indian War.  The Brits used to even mark trees in this country destined for their ship masts.  My bag has one drain hole; I've seen others mentioned with 2 and 3.  I also picked up a nice leather strap at a gun show for $4 to put on the bag after I cut off the canvas strap which was badly worn and frayed.

: : Your bag sounds very much of Canadian manufacture.  However, I would be careful in assuming all the Mark VII bags are Canadian. Remember that England relied heavily upon commercial trade with her colonial holdings (later, Commonwealth members) particularily India, Australia, and Canada.  Canada had developed into quite an industrial power in her own right by the beginning of the 20th Century.  Instead of exporting primarily raw materials to the British Isles, Canada was sending finished products (such as the Mark VII) back to England.

: You indicated that your bag had one drain hole.  My bag, which doesn't bear the Canadian markings you indicated, has two drain holes.  Additionally, while period British web gear patterns were indeed constructed of khaki-colored, course grain webbing (e.g. the 1936 pattern), it is not indicative of all the British-made personal equipment. -CP

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