The broad arrow and number is likely to be the stamp from the War Office inspector who approved the bag for use. The broad arrow was/is the mark of the British Government to denote that it’s “Government Property”
@@WeFightTheDark I was in the Ministry of Defence Police and every darn thing had the broad arrow stamped on it 😂 My Mk 7 has “R.M.A.” 1942 and the broad arrow with “49” stamped on. Interestingly, some of the ink from the “49” has transferred onto the bag, so I guess the inspector was stamping thousands and was rather slapdash?
Back when I was in grade 11 (many, many moons ago) I took part in a 3 day long American Civil War Re-enactment field trip. There was a group of professional re-enactors who had come up from the States who also helped in the event. For 3 days my fellow classmates and I were 'enlisted' into the Confederate army and we ate, slept and lived as soldiers. It was one of the most fun things I ever did during high school and I will never forget how awesome it was to take part in such a historical re-enactment...
nice! I love old canvas bags (and cooking stoves) and have many. Just one observation: WWI was "the dawn of chemical warfare" (first German attack, 1915 against "Spahi" French colonial troops). In old photos and films one can see Brits and Imperial troops wearing such bags (hanging from the neck) Americans also used them, Germans instead used the well known corrugated tin cylinder (I guess after 1916, when they also adopted the new helmet). And of course this Mk VII from WWII was the continuation of the British model (replaced later with a "square" green bag carried fixed on the hip like the modern ones)
Absolutely correct! Technically they're two different generations but since WWI and WWI were so close together I lumped them together in my statement about the design as a whole :). WWI revolutionized it and WWII took it even further. It was obviously used much earlier but during those two wars it took on a life of its own. Sadly we are seeing a resurgence of it here and there which is a bit scary but most still know better than to use it.
I have my grandfathers who was a Sgt in 61st Highland Anti Tank Regiment. It sailed from Gourock around the cape of good hope, up the Suez canal, El Alamein, Tobruk, Wadi Akarit. Didn't make it to Sicily but went up Nan Beach Juno Normandy D+1. It went through Caen up to Arnhem battle of the Bulge and the victory march at Bremerhaven 8th of May 1945. My father used it to carry his lunch in and so did I. The bag is now 81 years old and still looks great. It now sits in the 61st H/A/T archive along with his medals.
Gas mask bags come in handy. When I was in, we had the M17 gas mask with the world's most difficult to change interal filters. Take that thing out & you have a pretty good bag that's usually waterproof.
I just picked up a couple of these from some old wear house depot find. One had a frayed up strap so I removed it and replaced it with a leather strap just now. Can't wait to take it out.
Just got one from What Price, it's a WE&S, marked 1941. Strings intact. Just installed the leather strap. Indy and Steve Irwin, heck yeah, check out the Bush Tucker man if you haven't already. Another iconic adventurer with an iconic hat as well.
Hello, cool video! I just thought that I would pass some info along. Soldier of Fortune sells a canvas shoulder strap that is new made by Kay Canvas. They are 50 inches long with brass hooks on each end. They should be long enough for you to be able to wear it down to your hip like Indiana Jones does, but being tan in color, the bag would still have the look of a World War 2 bag, but should be close enough in color to match the bag. They are going for about $15.00, not including shipping. FYI, that disk on the side of your bag was used to rap the string around, but, if need be, by giving the bag a hard pull, come off in order to remove the bag quickly in an emergency.
Bought one from Noel Howard at MBA Costume in London in 1999 or 2000. He was the supplier of the original trilogy. It stayed with me for 15 years and took it all over the world. Sadly it got severely damaged and had no choice but get rid of it. The good people at Wested Leather helped me get another original, and I am very grateful for that. Recently I bought one of their replicas and they are just amazing. And earlier this month I bought another original one from a fellow Indiana Jones fan. But I am pretty sure I will leave the originals at home.and go on adventure with the Wested replica.
potentially silly question but would these hold up day to day, holding stuff like a notebook and a water bottle or is it more of a "relic" for indiana jones costumes goodness? i have a bread bag from the army that kind of looks like this but its smaller and the straps are secured in a buckle system rather than snaps, which is kind of annoying. button snaps for the win=
Those are really expensive, and if you just want a bag that is similiar to this, try finding the Czechoslovakian Gas Mask Bag (there are more types, so just dont get angry at me). Here in Slovakia you can get 1 for 3€ or so.
And only getting more expensive by the day as supplies dwindle. Definitely a ton of cheaper alternatives out there. I've seen a lot of pristine slavic surplus 🔥
@@WeFightTheDark Few days ago my first Polish Bread Bag came, and I probably never saw a better bag. Also Polish Faser MC1 Gas Mask bag is great, and cheap, I got mine for 1.88€
Need to be wary of the original ones as they are 80 years old, the stitching has likely succumbed to dry rot and will literally turn to dust once under any degree of stress from use. It's extremely rare to find any without that issue. Most will have to literally be re sewn if they are to be used as an every day bag. Or buy a new made replica instead!
@@Canadian_Craftsman Just posted some :) I have the black Satchel 13 for the same reason but haven't converted it yet. They have a leather shoulder pad for the Jones series but the strap itself is still canvas sadly.
The broad arrow and number is likely to be the stamp from the War Office inspector who approved the bag for use. The broad arrow was/is the mark of the British Government to denote that it’s “Government Property”
@@WeFightTheDark I was in the Ministry of Defence Police and every darn thing had the broad arrow stamped on it 😂
My Mk 7 has “R.M.A.” 1942 and the broad arrow with “49” stamped on. Interestingly, some of the ink from the “49” has transferred onto the bag, so I guess the inspector was stamping thousands and was rather slapdash?
Back when I was in grade 11 (many, many moons ago) I took part in a 3 day long American Civil War Re-enactment field trip. There was a group of professional re-enactors who had come up from the States who also helped in the event. For 3 days my fellow classmates and I were 'enlisted' into the Confederate army and we ate, slept and lived as soldiers. It was one of the most fun things I ever did during high school and I will never forget how awesome it was to take part in such a historical re-enactment...
nice! I love old canvas bags (and cooking stoves) and have many. Just one observation: WWI was "the dawn of chemical warfare" (first German attack, 1915 against "Spahi" French colonial troops). In old photos and films one can see Brits and Imperial troops wearing such bags (hanging from the neck) Americans also used them, Germans instead used the well known corrugated tin cylinder (I guess after 1916, when they also adopted the new helmet). And of course this Mk VII from WWII was the continuation of the British model (replaced later with a "square" green bag carried fixed on the hip like the modern ones)
Absolutely correct! Technically they're two different generations but since WWI and WWI were so close together I lumped them together in my statement about the design as a whole :). WWI revolutionized it and WWII took it even further. It was obviously used much earlier but during those two wars it took on a life of its own. Sadly we are seeing a resurgence of it here and there which is a bit scary but most still know better than to use it.
I have my grandfathers who was a Sgt in 61st Highland Anti Tank Regiment. It sailed from Gourock around the cape of good hope, up the Suez canal, El Alamein, Tobruk, Wadi Akarit. Didn't make it to Sicily but went up Nan Beach Juno Normandy D+1. It went through Caen up to Arnhem battle of the Bulge and the victory march at Bremerhaven 8th of May 1945. My father used it to carry his lunch in and so did I. The bag is now 81 years old and still looks great. It now sits in the 61st H/A/T archive along with his medals.
@@WeFightTheDark Thank you, as a tribute to him and the regiment the bag is about to make the journey again👍
Gas mask bags come in handy. When I was in, we had the M17 gas mask with the world's most difficult to change interal filters. Take that thing out & you have a pretty good bag that's usually waterproof.
I just picked up a couple of these from some old wear house depot find. One had a frayed up strap so I removed it and replaced it with a leather strap just now. Can't wait to take it out.
They are super duper neat pieces of history :)
Just got one from What Price, it's a WE&S, marked 1941. Strings intact. Just installed the leather strap.
Indy and Steve Irwin, heck yeah, check out the Bush Tucker man if you haven't already. Another iconic adventurer with an iconic hat as well.
Hello, cool video! I just thought that I would pass some info along. Soldier of Fortune sells a canvas shoulder strap that is new made by Kay Canvas. They are 50 inches long with brass hooks on each end. They should be long enough for you to be able to wear it down to your hip like Indiana Jones does, but being tan in color, the bag would still have the look of a World War 2 bag, but should be close enough in color to match the bag. They are going for about $15.00, not including shipping. FYI, that disk on the side of your bag was used to rap the string around, but, if need be, by giving the bag a hard pull, come off in order to remove the bag quickly in an emergency.
@@WeFightTheDark Happy I could help!
Snap! I carry one of these all the time.
Bought one from Noel Howard at MBA Costume in London in 1999 or 2000. He was the supplier of the original trilogy. It stayed with me for 15 years and took it all over the world. Sadly it got severely damaged and had no choice but get rid of it. The good people at Wested Leather helped me get another original, and I am very grateful for that. Recently I bought one of their replicas and they are just amazing. And earlier this month I bought another original one from a fellow Indiana Jones fan. But I am pretty sure I will leave the originals at home.and go on adventure with the Wested replica.
Great video. What’s the watch you’re wearing?
Very interesting. Thanks for sharing.
potentially silly question but would these hold up day to day, holding stuff like a notebook and a water bottle or is it more of a "relic" for indiana jones costumes goodness? i have a bread bag from the army that kind of looks like this but its smaller and the straps are secured in a buckle system rather than snaps, which is kind of annoying. button snaps for the win=
Those are really expensive, and if you just want a bag that is similiar to this, try finding the Czechoslovakian Gas Mask Bag (there are more types, so just dont get angry at me). Here in Slovakia you can get 1 for 3€ or so.
And only getting more expensive by the day as supplies dwindle. Definitely a ton of cheaper alternatives out there. I've seen a lot of pristine slavic surplus 🔥
@@WeFightTheDark Few days ago my first Polish Bread Bag came, and I probably never saw a better bag. Also Polish Faser MC1 Gas Mask bag is great, and cheap, I got mine for 1.88€
Awesome man!
Need to be wary of the original ones as they are 80 years old, the stitching has likely succumbed to dry rot and will literally turn to dust once under any degree of stress from use. It's extremely rare to find any without that issue. Most will have to literally be re sewn if they are to be used as an every day bag. Or buy a new made replica instead!
Just went to your Instagram for the pictures couldn't find em!!✊️🔥✌️💚
I occasionally clean out my Instagram on occasion but if you have a specific request let me know :)! I've got my bag up on my bookshelf at the moment.
@SenecaSerpent I was really curious with the leather strap.. I caved in and bought a nutsac 13 now kinda want a leather strap with it
@@Canadian_Craftsman Just posted some :) I have the black Satchel 13 for the same reason but haven't converted it yet. They have a leather shoulder pad for the Jones series but the strap itself is still canvas sadly.
@@WeFightTheDark YESSS same just got the black myself should be here anyday so stoked!!
Matthew 7:1..😌
When I saw young men wearing strapped bags Indiana Jones popped in my head..This is a nice bag they should be worn