The M-1910
Mess Kit
The mess kit, also known as the “meat can”, had been around since the late 1800’s, and was carried by troops in the Spanish American War. The M-1910 mess kit was similar in design but made of aluminum. The mess kit came in two pieces – The top half being an oval plate being somewhat concave, and having a ring on the outside used to pull the top plate apart from the bottom. The bottom half had a deeper pan with a rolled rim that the top half fit inside to “seal”. The handle folded over the top of the mess kit and clipped onto the lip of the bottom pan with the turned-down tip end of the handle. Prior to 1917, the mess kits had no markings or dates, but beginning in 1917, makers marks and years began to be stamped on the end of the handle facing vertically along the tip of the handle.
Due to the massive need for mess kits in the AEF, and the slow shipment of them to the front, the United States produced contracts with local manufacturers in France to manufacture mess kits, as well as other items desperately needed by the doughboys. The French-made mess kits were rougher with sharp edges, and heavier than the US made ones as they were made out of steel. Each mess kit was dated and said “France” on the tip of the handle. They are rare to find these days, with only a fraction of AEF-used mess kits being made in France during the war.
Utensils
WWI issued utensils remained largely the same as pre-war utensils. Most were marked “US” on the handle, with maker and date on the reverse. They were made of stainless steel and were of exceptional quality. Each utensil also came with a rough leather sheath which stored neatly into the mess kit pouch of the M-1910 haversack. These sheaths were un-marked and cheaply produced.
Some utensils were stamped “USN” or “USMC” instead of “US” on the handle, these were intended for issue to sailors and Marines.
*Cover photo courtesy of National Archives
American Militaria Reference
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