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Reproduction of the early variant magazine pouches for the Mkb42, MP43, MP44, and STG "assault" rifles. These appeared in 1943 and remain more common in period photos than the better-known types with individual flaps for each cell.
The design is simpler than the later variants, but the single flap was found to allow more dirt and sand to enter the magazines during hard use (combat), and the lack of reinforcing led to them wearing quickly. They also lacked the back strap, which allowed them to slide toward the wearer's middle- I can personally attest to this being annoying.
These pouches, as well as the first type of 6 flap pouches, were designed to carry the magazines with their curve facing outward. Later this was inverted for better ergonomics. The last disadvantage I'll mention in this sales pitch, is that, during hard use, the magazines in the outer cells tend to want to work themselves around the corners of the flap to see what's going on. If one is having an overly active day, it is possible to lose a magazine. More personal experience.
All problems aside, these are high on the cool meter, likely due to the rarity of surviving originals and the fact that most everything related to these rifles gets somebody excited. I plead the 5th.
Never seen one in WWII photos? Yes you have. As a kid I couldn't figure out what the hell the guys with MP44's were wearing during the relief of Kowel. The outer magazines tend to roll forward, making the pouches look crumpled and difficult to make out. In original photos, troops are often seen only wearing one of these pouches, and sometimes they've secured them in some way to prevent them from sliding to their belt buckle. (One photo of a Gebirgsjager shows the rear hook of the Y-straps attached to the D-ring of the mag pouch to keep it back.)
Our pouches are made using original WWII German canvas that we acquired from KP Emig about 20 years ago. We do have a pair of originals, so all the details are correct- few as there actually are. This batch is marked "Mkb42" and "adf 1943".
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