Ex Army Gas Mask Bag

[axemangler]

Bought this small bag with a leather bottom from an online store....its perfect for my trangia and other bushcraft bits I take with me when mooching...cost a £6.95 plus postage...mine was put into service on the 14 dec 1942 and still going strong.

armynavysurplus.co.uk

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[big_swede]

hey, that's the classical swedish respirator bag. I had one as a teenager, as my manbag. Very fine bag indeed.

 

[axemangler]

hey, that's the classical swedish respirator bag. I had one as a teenager, as my manbag. Very fine bag indeed.

Yep thats what my wife calls it my Man Bag, goes everywhere with me....a bit like her...lol.

 

[Zingmo]

Yeah! The kids chime up "Daddy's got a handbag!" everytime I take mine out. I rejuvenated mine with neatsfoot oil on the leather and some homemade greenland wax to waterproof the canvas.

Z

 

[axemangler]

Thats just what mine needs the canvas waterproofing, I though of diluting some wax prep I have for waxed jackets and brushing this in, what do you think.

 

[Zingmo]

Try this thread. Mr Eds tutorial on homemade greenland wax is very easy to follow.

I am not sure about other treatments; I do know you can overdo it and make a mess of the item. When I did my M39 I stoppeed after the first coat and tested the water repellent qualities under the tap. I found that the canvas is waterproof long before it looks waterproof! I found a cheap source of beeswax was some candles from Aldi. The beeswax helps with the musty smell as well.

Z

 

[SteveW]

Out of interest do you have the dimensions of the bag handy, especially the strap length?

I bought a Czech bread bag recently as a general mooching about bag and the straps are very short (or more correctly I am very wide) so the thing rides half way up my back like a Hussar’s Cartouche.

 

[MrEd]

Try this thread. Mr Eds tutorial on homemade greenland wax is very easy to follow.

I am not sure about other treatments; I do know you can overdo it and make a mess of the item. When I did my M39 I stoppeed after the first coat and tested the water repellent qualities under the tap. I found that the canvas is waterproof long before it looks waterproof! I found a cheap source of beeswax was some candles from Aldi. The beeswax helps with the musty smell as well.

Z

yes definately do a light coat first and test it as i can get stiff and cordboardy easily. it doesnt take much to dramatically improve the waterproof-ness. Athough i did find i had to put slightly more on the seams

 

[axemangler]

Out of interest do you have the dimensions of the bag handy, especially the strap length?

I bought a Czech bread bag recently as a general mooching about bag and the straps are very short (or more correctly I am very wide) so the thing rides half way up my back like a Hussar’s Cartouche.

The strap is very long and once over the shoulder will easily hang on your waist with a bit to spare...and the good thing is you get a strap that goes round your waist to stop it flapping from side to side included in the purchase...ok they smell a bit musty but I soaked mine in a bit of washing up water and rinsed it out and it smells fine now....I also polished the grey leather with some boot polish to keep it supple.

 

[axemangler]

Out of interest do you have the dimensions of the bag handy, especially the strap length?

I bought a Czech bread bag recently as a general mooching about bag and the straps are very short (or more correctly I am very wide) so the thing rides half way up my back like a Hussar’s Cartouche.

Seen the pic of your bag and I would buy some green webbing and make another strap, cant be that difficult.....I think you can get the webbing at B&Q.