1942 Dated Japanese Canteen

The canteen is a mid war example, with a leather retention strap and metal buckles on the retention strap and on the shoulder strap, all of which would soon be eliminated as a measure to conserve strategic materials. The base is dated “Showa 17”, or 1942, while the shoulder strap is dated “Showa 18” or 1943. There is faint kanji written on the canteen harness. The canteen and harness exhibit field wear, with the metal buckles showing rust from use in a tropical environment, but overall the canteen and harness are in excellent condition.