WWII USMC CAMOUFLAGE STRAP (for Shelter Half, Bedroll, M1941 Pack) Mint NOS

Description: WWII USMC-specific "Frogskin" Camouflage Equipment STRAP (for Shelter Half, Bed Roll, M1941 Pack System).Mint NOS Unissued!SCARCE! + These WWII-era USMC Camo Straps have become increasing difficult to find on the loose!!+ Dimensions: 1" x 38" + This is the iconic WWII-era "Frogskin" splotch-pattern, green side out, STRAP (not the later, Korean War "Mitchell" leaf-pattern).+ ZERO fraying, loose or worn stitching, fading, stains, or personalized markings. + Each of the "SHELTER, HALF" manufactured solely by the POWERS & CO. of Chicago, Illinois between 1942 and 1945 under USMC contracts came supplied with four threaded through the four loops stitched along the ridge line of the Shelter Half. + The POWERS & CO., originally of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, manufactured a large line of "tents, awnings, truck covers, bags, canvas goods, and camp furnishings" according to their 1920 Catalog. The fabric itself was woven and printed by a separate manufacturer (the J.W. VALENTINE CO. of New York City) and assembled by the POWERS & CO.. + The two-ply CAMOUFLAGE Shelter Half fabric straps were of varying lengths -- anywhere from 36" to 43" --, the length being somewhat inconsequential The straps made from 'scraps' from the factory floor, left over from the fabrication of SHELTER HALVES! + Each was 'edge stitched' with a stamped steel BUCKLE hastily sewn to one end with several LINES of stitching. Later, by the end of 1944 the Buckles were sewn with two BAR-TACKS. The other end, the 'bitter' end was chain stitched to prevent fraying. The earliest adjustable BUCKLES with bright cast brass, then blackened cast brass, and, finally, this blackened stamped steel.BUCKLE.+ "The Camouflage SHELTER HALVES and their matching Bed Roll STRAPS did not see use in the Pacific until November 1, 1943 during Operation GOODTIME, the landing on Bougainville in the Solomons." (Harlan Glenn, "782" GEAR: USMC FIELD GEAR & EQUIPMENT OF WWII, p. 82. ***** RELATIVE SCARCITY OF USMC GEAR: Only 4% of all who served during WWII were MARINES! During World War II about 16,000,000 personnel served in the U.S. military. Approximately 11,200,000 or 70% served in the U.S. Army; 4,200,000 served in the Navy; but ONLY 660,000 served in the U.S. Marine Corps. Six-hundred THOUSAND out of sixteen MILLION Not many of these these USMC-specific WWII "Frogskin" Camouflage Straps for the Shelter Halves were made in the first place, relative to the millions of 'Army' design Shelter Halves Those FEW that did survive the Pacific Campaigns were reissued or used up during the service in the Korean War. Solid undamaged examples of wartime dated USMC WWII "Frogskin" Camouflage Straps in UNISSUED condition are now SCARCE!!!

Price: 42.5 USD

Location: Little Rock, Arkansas

End Time: 2025-01-25T02:16:25.000Z

Shipping Cost: 4.85 USD