{"product_id":"original-u-s-wwii-10th-mountain-division-matching-snowshoes-by-c-a-lund-dated-1945","title":"Original U.S. WWII 10th Mountain Division Matching Snowshoes by C.A. Lund - Dated 1945","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Items. Only One Pair Available. This is an excellent matching pair of U.S. WWII military snowshoes manufactured by\u003cb\u003e C.A. Lund\u003c\/b\u003e of Hastings, Minnesota, and dated 1945. Both snowshoes bear matching serial number \u003cb\u003e02311 \u003c\/b\u003eand retain their leather foot bindings, tie cords, straps, and U.S.-marked hardware. Snowshoes of this general type formed part of the specialized winter and mountain equipment associated with U.S. Army troops during WWII, including the famed 10th Mountain Division.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEach snowshoe measures approximately 12 3\/4\" x 28 1\/2\". The wooden frames remain in excellent overall condition, with their woven centers and leather binding components well retained. Both examples retain the leather foot covers or bindings and their tie strings, along with both leather straps. The matching condition and identical serial numbers strongly indicate that these have remained together as a pair.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe leather foot covers and tie string are intact on both snowshoes with both leather straps retained as well. The wood bars are marked:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eU.S.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eC.A. LUND\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eHASTINGS, MINN.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBoth snowshoes are additionally numbered \u003cb\u003e02311 \u003c\/b\u003eand dated \u003cb\u003e1945\u003c\/b\u003e. The foot trap plates are marked:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eU.S.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eDOVER\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eC.A. Lund was a well-established American manufacturer of skis, snowshoes, and other winter sporting equipment based in Hastings, Minnesota. The company was producing snowshoes during the WWII period, and surviving examples are known with U.S. military markings. The National Park Service also preserves C.A. Lund snowshoes manufactured at Hastings during the wartime period, confirming the firm’s active production of this type of equipment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSnowshoes were part of the broader family of specialized cold-weather equipment used by U.S. Army mountain and winter troops during WWII. This equipment is particularly associated with the 10th Mountain Division, whose personnel trained extensively in skiing, mountaineering, snow travel, and cold-weather operations at Camp Hale, Colorado. Camp Hale was established at more than 9,000 feet above sea level, with surrounding training areas reaching considerably higher elevations, providing the division with an environment specifically suited to mountain warfare preparation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe formation that became the 10th Mountain Division developed from the Army’s early experiments with specialized mountain troops. In March 1942, the decision was made to organize a full division trained for mountain warfare, and on July 15, 1943, the 10th Light Division (Alpine) was activated at Camp Hale. It was redesignated the 10th Mountain Division in November 1944 before deploying to Italy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe division entered combat in the northern Apennines during the winter of 1945. Among its best-known actions was the February 1945 assault on Riva Ridge, where specially trained mountain troops climbed difficult terrain to seize commanding German positions. The division subsequently fought through the Apennines, entered the Po Valley, and advanced toward Lake Garda during the final months of the European war.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese snowshoes are especially appealing as a matching, 1945-dated U.S. military pair retaining their original leather binding components and matching \u003cb\u003e02311 \u003c\/b\u003eserial numbers. The clear \u003cb\u003eU.S. \/ C.A. LUND \/ HASTINGS, MINN.\u003c\/b\u003e markings and \u003cb\u003eU.S. \/ DOVER\u003c\/b\u003e foot hardware give them particularly strong identification, while their compact military configuration places them within the specialized winter equipment used by American troops during WWII.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45542294716485,"sku":"ONSV26CNB041","price":350.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/48653BD9-C3BF-4A01-ADDC-8888A9F34FA7.jpg?v=1786565398","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-u-s-wwii-10th-mountain-division-matching-snowshoes-by-c-a-lund-dated-1945","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}