British 1937 Pattern Basic Pouches

A look at the history and development of British manufactured 1937 Pattern basic pouches.
/ riflemanmoore
/ riflemanmoore
www.karkeeweb.com/

[@Juup2003]

Hi, you really are making great videos. I was very surprised when I just noticed you only have about 5k subscribers. I was wondering if you could make a video on British canteens (and their covers). I am a young Dutch collector and i’m putting together a British uniform from the royal Warwickshire regiment.

[@leighrate]

Simon, stop apologising. You really need to have both types of video. Complete sets to give overview, and then the individual item videos to fill in the detail. Personally I find them equally interesting, particularly given your depth of knowledge in the matter.

[@RiflemanMoore]

Many thanks for the kind words. I'm sorry for apologising so much!

[@gunnerjames1056]

Very good information on these. I have to take a look at all of mine a little closer. I just took a guick glance a the two large Bren magazine pouches next to me.They both have Ballistite sleeves in lid. One is " C " broad arrow marked. ZL & T Limited, 1940, and the other is MS & ULTD, 1943. One pouch labeled on back "FRONT", and other " REAR". They hold three Bren mags each. They have the shoulder and waste strap as well. Shoulder strap is also ZL & T 1940 " C " broad arrow marked. I like seeing these 37' pattern videos. Thanks Rifleman Moore!

[@RiflemanMoore]

The 'C' marked pouch is Canadian made. The utility pouches, as they're known, of Canadian manufacture, along with their basic pouches seem to have retained the ballistite loops throughout production. Glad you're enjoying the videos, thanks for commenting!

[@gunnerjames1056]

@@RiflemanMoore I just checked the other four pouches I have, and discovered three are Canadian, and one is 1944 British. All but the British one have the ballistite loops. Two of the Canadian ones have the word "SMALL" on the back.

[@danielf1313]

Incidentally, a number of 1938 dated 1908 pattern basic pouches of the type never fitted with ballistite loops (MECO stamp in the centre of the lid) were converted into Mk.1 pouches for the 1937 pattern set. These usually have very clear positioning markings on the back from where the 08 pattern tab and hooks should have been sewn on.

[@andrewgalea5412]

Simon just to say great work....you cover the subject really well and you are one of the best sources for visual hands on information. Always following this channel... My main interest in British WW2 uniforms / webbing in Malta from 1939 - 1943. You may know we had our own colour scheme with regards to webbing and camouflage for helmets etc... It would be great if you could do a piece on North Africa/ malta summer uniforms.. I.e. Shorts etc. also would be interested in ww2 naval tropical uniforms that I presume were used in Malta in summer. Thank you keep up the great work. if you are ever coming over to Malta look out for my Facebook page WW2 sites Malta and drop me a line

[@RiflemanMoore]

Absolutely Andrew, North Africa and RN tropical uniform are definitely topics I plam to cover going forwards. I'll certainly drop you a line if and when I head back to the island, I certainly hope to in the future!

[@infantryS04]

Grear video. Can I ask I want to do a utility pouch set up do I nred 2 pouches or jus 1? CheerS from NZ

[@beefcakes27]

I have a made in England 1943 dated one with a much wider top buckle with what looks like a now removed lower strap that was sewn on. Why would the be made with the larger buckle up top? Thanks

[@oajh2252]

Very interesting! :)

[@RiflemanMoore]

Glad you found it so!

[@thebullfrog9416]

I have a pair of pattern 37 mark three pouches that have the rifle grenade bullets

[@richthompson1234]

I'm not sure which Mk it was, but I got issued these when aged 14 years old when I joined the Army Cadet Force 👍😁

[@warci]

can anyone provide the length measurement of the later type? bought 2 sets already, but I'm not certain which type they are and both won't fit my replica mags. thanks

[@Yuffuuuffyhxtt]

I got one too

[@mm1lk0]

Great video! I recently bought two Bren Gun ammo pouches, but they don't have any back hooks to connect to the belt, it just has loops at the bottom that the belt can't fit through, any advice for how to connect them to the belt?

[@RiflemanMoore]

Those are utility pouches and not a pair, you need one with a strap attached to the bottom and a strap which connects them over the shoulder/around the neck. They are carried in addition to the basic web equipment.

[@andrewjohnston4127]

One thing I have noticed on the mk1 and mk2 pouches I own is that they only hold 1 bren magazine each, the lid will not close and fasten when holding 2.with the mk3 there is enough depth to the pouch for the press stud to fasten properly

[@RiflemanMoore]

I've not had that problem myself, both my using Mk Is and IIs easily cope with Bren magazines. Perhaps your examples have shrunk a little over time? Very early war webbing is supposed to be pre-shrunk but I believe the facility used for this process was bomb damaged in 1940 so webbing made from that point on wasn't made of pre-shrunk cotton.

[@andrewjohnston4127]

@@RiflemanMoore kzbin.info/www/bejne/gHeVap2bnJxqjLc

[@andrewjohnston4127]

@@RiflemanMoore here's a video of the ones I have, gives you an idea on how much they must have shrank over time

[@allenprior8573]

Andrew Johnston Your Mk I pouch appears to be of Indian manufacture. Indian made webbing was notoriously prone to shrinkage and of extremely variable quality!

[@andrewjohnston4127]

@@allenprior8573 thanks for the info

[@longrider42]

Okay I have two of the later pouches, that have the quick release buckle. Now I just need the web belt and suspenders. Okay, just checked my pouches they are Mark 3s made in 1952, marked MEC.

[@RiflemanMoore]

Not hard to find the belt and braces (British nomenclature), the MEC is actually MECo which stands for Mills Equipment Company.

[@jasperleunk8412]

I have a MkIII with quick release but stamped ABL 1957 which is Belgian army I guess. Did they use them too?

[@RiflemanMoore]

Absolutely, the Beglians used a version of 1937 Pattern post Second World War. Some items were British made surplus (modified in some instances), others were Belgian made.

[@johnraptis8953]

Goodmorning Simon

[@RiflemanMoore]

Good afternoon John.

[@andrewfox6631]

So all press stud pouches are ww2 era ?

[@rkoopa_bro]

My pouches don’t have the hooks to connect to a belt, what are those?

[@RiflemanMoore]

Likely utility pouches which are to be carried around the neck in addition to the basic web equipment. One of them should have a strap permanently fixed to the rear to secure them around the chest.

[@rkoopa_bro]

@@RiflemanMoore Ah alright, thanks man. Yea I’ve never seen anything like it before so I figured I should ask around because they look legit, making me doubt their repro, but something was off. Appreciated very much 👍

[@motorsphere356]

I have a 1942 dated p37 pouch. Looking at the specifications it is a mk3 pouch so mk3 pouches did have balestite loops. Anyway good video

[@RiflemanMoore]

Is it British made?

[@motorsphere356]

@@RiflemanMoore I'm not sure it might be Canadian. I've got another one dated 1941 without the balestite loops. The one with the balestite loops are brighter.

[@l.cressey6806]

@@motorsphere356 Canadian web equipment was supposedly manufactured in a more yellowish tint. I know South African pattern 37 web equipment was also of a brighter shade, but the balestite loops make me think they are probably Canadian.

[@anvilbrunner.2013]

Hello Rifleman Moore. Iv'e got a load of them in pairs stamped & dated from 42 to 44. I'd like to sell them ?

[@RiflemanMoore]

I have quite a few myself but I have friends who might be interested, can you drop me a line on Facebook perhaps?

[@anvilbrunner.2013]

@@RiflemanMoore Her indoors is on facebook. I'll take some photos and send them to you. I've got some other bits of 37 & older pattern webbing which i'll include.

[@thebuffs3794]

completely off topic but if you are in 1913 home service dress would you wear the forage cap or the 1914 blue cloth helmet ? Many thanks

[@RiflemanMoore]

I believe it would depend on the order of dress.

[@thebuffs3794]

@@RiflemanMoore thank you for the fast response. Do you know anywhere I might get more information about Edwardian uniforms?

[@456tetert]

hello i am 13 years old and I am trying to collect a whole nz army uniform thanks for the vid so i no what to buy

[@bobsemple07]

How's the progress bro