Contract Blue Denim Duffel Bag

Also known as the “M1917 Denim Barracks Bag,” duffel bags like this one were originally issued to soldiers to promote cleanliness among soldiers and to keep one’s belongings separate. When the United States declared war and entered WWI, initial supply shocks made the original cloth that was used to create the two precursor models of duffel bags scarce. These were the M1896 Barracks Bag which was comprised of Olive Drab Cotton Duck Cloth, and the M1905 Barracks Bag which was made of a Cotton Duck Cloth that was pure white in color. Because of these cloth shortages and the existent Cotton Duck cloth being used for other vital war equipment, The U.S. Quartermaster Corps authorized Barracks Bags to be comprised of denim, a cloth material that was far more abundant and commonly produced in textile mills on the advent of the American declaration of war in order to meet the demand of the Quartermaster Corps for these bags. The bag often served as a lighter and easy-to-carry alternative to the Trunk, another item often used for transporting and separating a soldier’s belongings. These Barracks bags often carried the soldier’s life in them including their uniform and all of the personal belongings they would’ve needed at the front. Sailors in the Navy would end up using bags of similar look and material all the way through WW2.

The Contract Blue Denim Duffel Bag measures roughly 22″ x 28″ inches and was a sack comprised primarily of denim cloth and a small white rope to close the bag as well as a makers tag, ironically like the ones seen on US Service Coats from the time. These bags could come with no name however since these items carried the lives of the soldiers they served, many have far more personal backgrounds and touches to them. Many have the soldier’s name and potentially regimental info applied to them which could be painted on or have a label that was sewn on.