Development of the M-1910 Canteen Cover
The M-1910 canteen cover, also known as the "Canteen Cover," has been an integral part of American military equipment since its creation in 1911. Its development aimed to replace the old M-1885 canteen by providing a more practical and durable solution. The M-1910 canteen cover is designed to protect the canteen and cup, with significant evolutions throughout its history, influenced by the specific needs of the U.S. Army during both World Wars.
Initial Production (1911-1912)
The first version of the M-1910 cover was produced by Mills and Rock Island Arsenal between 1911 and 1912. It is made of "Cotton Duck" cotton canvas from two distinct pieces—the base and the body—with an interior lined with felt for insulation. This felt helps maintain the water temperature, which is beneficial for soldiers in various conditions.
The flaps of this initial version are rectangular, each with a specific closure mechanism that requires turning at 90° to engage the female part on the flap. This system proved too fragile and was quickly abandoned. At the front, the cover is reinforced with seven vertical stitches, and property letters are stenciled to mark its military ownership.
Developments Until 1945
Production from 1912 to 1917
The following version, introduced at the end of 1912, features snap buttons to secure the flaps, now rounded for better ergonomics. These buttons display embossed U.S. emblems and are arranged with the male part on the flap and the female part on the front of the cover. This arrangement will be reversed in later productions.
The flap edges are trimmed with a cotton tape to prevent fraying, while a double brass wire hook (the "Double Hook M-1910") is added at the back for attaching the cover. This design forms the basis for future models used for more than 40 years.
Production from 1917 to 1918
During World War I, this model became the most common. The stock produced was sufficient to equip troops until the United States entered WWII in 1941. The main difference from the previous model is in the snap buttons, which changed to a style called Fastener Style 1 "Lift the Dot", removing the U.S. emblems. The flaps are internally reinforced with a piece of canvas to better resist tearing.
1917-1918 canteen cover snap button.
The canvas used is Khaki Shade No.1, with a dorsal seam, and the metal parts are made of bare copper alloy, a feature that makes these versions recognizable.
Close-up of the 1917-1918 canteen cover snap button.
Production from 1940 to 1942
To meet the needs of WWII, production resumed in 1940 with a design similar to WWI models. The year and manufacturer were stamped on the back of the cover instead of the flaps, a change partially adopted depending on the manufacturer.
These "Type I" covers used brass for metal components and a blue-gray felt interior for insulation. In 1942, some versions made by JEFF. Q.M.D. replaced the blue-gray felt with Olive Drab wool, a notable variant.
Complete canteen dated 1942 by JEFF Q.M.D.
Production from 1941 to 1944 (Type 2)
In 1941, a new cover version was introduced under Q.M.C. Tentative Specification J.Q.D. No. 1, aiming to facilitate canteen removal and optimize canvas cutting. The design changed to have a side seam on one side instead of a dorsal seam, allowing for larger interior space and less fabric waste.
Due to shortages of strategic materials like copper, some metal parts were replaced with alternatives. However, existing stocks continued to be used, making metal components unreliable for precise dating of covers.
GATES MFG. CO. canteen covers dated 1944
Production from 1944 to 1945 (Type 3)
The final adjustments to the M-1910 cover were made in 1944 under Specification J.Q.D No. 1A. The canvas color changed to Olive Drab No.7, a standardized camouflage shade for all individual equipment at that time.
An additional 3-1/2 by 2 inches canvas reinforcement was added to the webbing loop for the hook, strengthening the attachment—a common issue with previous versions. These details mark the models produced until the war's end.
M-1910 canteen cover made by SHANE MFG CO. in 1944
European Production (1944-1945) – M-1910 British Made
To meet the needs of troops in Europe, the U.S. Quartermaster Corps, based in England (ETO), ordered a British-made version of the M-1910 cover. This cover, known as the "M-1910 British Made", is similar to the American Type 2 model but uses local materials.
The differences include a greenish-khaki shade and reduced front stitching from seven to four stitches. The metal components are also made of painted steel, sourced from the local civilian market.
These variants and their specificities make the M-1910 canteen cover a subject of passion for collectors, with each detail contributing to the narrative of American soldiers in the field. Each of these evolutions offers crucial identification elements for military history enthusiasts.
| Manufacturers | Manufacturing dates |
|---|---|
| ACA | 1917 |
| BRADFORD & Co | 1918 |
| BRAUER BROS. Mfg. Co | 1918 |
| C. & A. Co | 1918 |
| CJ O'KEEFE Co | 1918 |
| EXCEL LEA Mfg CORP | 1918 |
| FMHS Co | 1918 |
| FSF | 1918 |
| GALVIN | 1917-1918 |
| KEMPER-THOMAS Co | 1917-1918 |
| LCC & Co | 1917-1918 |
| LD Inc | 1917-1918 |
| LN GROSS Co | 1917-1918 |
| LONG | 1917-1918 |
| M. & C. Co | 1918 |
| NB Co | 1918 |
| PM & Co | 1917 |
| PERKINS & CAMPBELL ILL | 1917-1918 |
| POWERS | 1917-1918 |
| PROGRESSIVE | 1917-1918 |
| RIA | 1917-1918 |
| TCC & Co | 1917 |
| THE MILLER HEXTER Co | 1917 |
| ATLANTIC PRODUCTS CORP | 1941 |
| ATLAS | 1941 |
| BAKER-LOCKWOOD Mfg. Co | 1941 |
| BRADD'S Inc | 1941 |
| EXCEL LEA. Mfg. CORP | 1941 |
| G. & R. Co | 1941-1942 |
| I SHOE | 1941 |
| JEFF QMD | 1941-1942 |
| LUB PROD Co | 1940 |
| SF Co | 1942 |
| AIRTRESS MIDLAND | 1942 |
| APPLETON AWNING SHOP | 1942 |
| BG. Inc | 1942 |
| BRADD'S Inc | 1942 |
| COLLETTE Mfg. Co | 1942 |
| EXCEL | 1942 |
| FOLEY Mfg. Co | 1942-1943 |
| GATES Mfg. Co | 1942 |
| HERMAN BROS Mfg. Co | 1942 |
| HS Co | 1942 |
| JW JOHNSON Co | 1942 |
| JAX LEATHER Mfg. CORP | 1942 |
| JQMD | 1942-1944 |
| KOZEE-KAR | 1943 |
| LUB PROD Co | 1943 |
| CHANDELIER | 1942 |
| MADE RITE L. & Co | 1942 |
| NU MODE Inc | 1942 |
| RADE LITE & Co | 1942 |
| ROXEL Mfg. Co | 1942 |
| SCOTT Mfg. Co | 1942 |
| SHANE Mfg. Co | 1942-1943 |
| ST. CROIX G. Co | 1943-1944 |
| WW STANLEY Co | 1942 |
| Stock number | Designation |
|---|---|
| 74-C-300 | COVER, CANTEEN, DISMOUNTED, M-1910 |
| 74-C-302 | COVER, CANTEEN, MOUNTED, M-1917 |
| 74-C-304 | COVER, CANTEEN, MOUNTED, M-1941 |
Cover, Canteen, Mounted, M-1917
A cover was specifically designed in 1917 for the American cavalry, under the designation Cover Canteen Mounted M-1917, to meet the needs of this branch. It has a design similar to the M-1910 version for foot troops, except for the double hook of the M-1910, which is replaced here by an adjustable leather strap with a sturdy carabiner. This device allows the canteen to be attached to the rings of the saddle's girth. The strap is secured by five fabric loops sewn around the cover (two on each side and one on the bottom).
This model was manufactured during World War I, between 1917 and 1918, and relaunched during the interwar period by the Quartermaster Depot of Jeffersonville between 1933 and 1935. A version was also produced in England by the Quartermaster for the European Theater of Operations (E.T.O.) during World War II. This model was classified as Limited Standard in 1941 following the approval of the improved model Cover Canteen Mounted M-1941.
Cover, Canteen, Mounted, M-1917, E.T.O.
This cover has the same shape as the M-1910 Dismounted version made according to the specifications of the E.T.O., but with a notable difference: a woven fabric strap is sewn on one side, and an adjustment buckle is placed on the other, allowing for length adjustment of the strap. This model is designed without a carabiner, using a quick-release fastening system typical of British military equipment.
The reasons for introducing this model are unknown, especially since American covers were declared obsolete in 1941. This British Made version seems to have never been distributed, as evidenced by the many new examples observed today in stock.
Stock No. 74-C-304
Cover, Canteen, Mounted, M-1941
(Specification J.Q.M.D. No. 1 of 04/12/1941)
Wrongly dubbed the "paratrooper canteen," the Cover Canteen Mounted M-1941 was designed for the cavalry, although it was distributed to various units, including paratroopers, mainly due to the shortage of M-1910 covers.
This model replaces the M-1917 version for mounted troops. With the motorization of the cavalry starting in 1940, the old model with a carabiner for the saddle became impractical. In response, the Quartermaster Corps launched a model adaptable to both a saddle and a belt equipped with the M-1910 hook. The M-1941 model features a longer M-1910 hook strap and two horizontally sewn fabric straps for easy attachment to a saddle.
This model was manufactured from late 1941 until 1943, when the American cavalry officially became motorized. The cover is made of Olive Drab No. 3 cotton fabric with an insulated interior lined with wool, without updates for the new Olive Drab No. 7 adopted later.
The covers are generally marked with the manufacturer code and the year of manufacture on the back.
| Manufacturer | Years of production |
|---|---|
| AIRTRESS MID Inc | 1942-1943 |
| AG CORP | 1942 |
| B.MILLS Inc | 1942 |
| COLLETTE Mfg. Co | 1943 |
| FOLEY Mfg. Co | 1942 |
| G. & R. Co | 1942-1943 |
| HARIAN | 1943 |
| JW JOHNSON Co | 1941-1943 |
| KOZEE-KAR | 1942 |
| LUB PROD Co | 1943 |
| CHANDELIER | 1943 |
| NU MODE Inc | 1943 |
Cover, Canteen, Mounted, M-1941, E.T.O.
The E.T.O. version of the M-1941 cover is manufactured in England under the supervision of the Quartermaster Depot. It is identical to the American model but produced with locally available materials, including an adjustable strap and a quick-release fastening device typical of British equipment.
The metal components come from British army stocks, and the manufacturer’s markings and year are affixed to the inner face of one of the flaps.
| Manufacturer | Years of production |
|---|---|
| BS Ltd | 1944 |
| BH & G. | 1944-1945 |
| CP Ltd | 1944 |
| MW & S Ltd | 1944-1945 |
In summary, the M-1910 canteen cover illustrates the constant evolution of military equipment, responding to the changing needs of soldiers since its creation in 1911. Designed to replace the M-1885 canteen, it has incorporated various improvements, such as snap buttons and webbing loops, enhancing its durability and security.
During the Second World War, the materials and manufacturing processes were adapted to the constraints of the time, demonstrating great flexibility. Its variants, tailored for cavalry attest to its functional importance across different military branches, making this accessory essential for the daily lives of soldiers.
