Original Item: Only One Available. This is a scarce original U.S. WWII M1942 black porcelain enamel canteen complete with a correct 3rd Pattern U.S. Marine Corps “dog ear” carrier. These enamel-coated canteens were introduced during the wartime effort to conserve strategic metals, using a steel body protected by a porcelain enamel finish.

Early in World War II, aluminum was urgently needed for aircraft. Therefore, in 1942 stainless steel canteens were substituted for aluminum and alternative materials were investigated, such as plastic for canteens. Another idea for conserving the most valuable metals was to use a lower quality metal with a porcelain enameled coating.

The result was this, the M1942 Black Porcelain Enamel Canteen.  Unfortunately, this "experiment" was not successful at all, and there were numerous complaints from the field, as the chipped enamel inside from a dent would result in water contamination, and overall the canteens were just not very resilient. They were quickly removed from service, and replaced by the standard aluminum canteens that everyone is familiar with today. They are very scarce on the market, especially with the original carrier.

This set is in good condition, especially the canteen itself, which has no dents and some moderate chips in the porcelain enamel. It still has the original stopper cap, retained by the correct galvanized steel chain, though the washer is missing. It is ink-stamped on the bottom U.S. / U.S.S. CO. / 1942.

The canteen is held in their correct WWII Issue USMC "dog eared" carrier, which is in good condition although there are some imperfections in the canvas. This is the 3rd version of the carrier, which is identical to the 4th version, except that there is no "drain hole" in the bottom of the carrier. The carrier is very service-worn with verdigris on the metal fittings and some tears and holes in the material as shown, with a field repair in the front.

The combination of the 1942-dated black porcelain enamel canteen, U.S.S. Co. maker marking, original cap and chain, moderate enamel loss, and correct 3rd Pattern USMC carrier with period field repair makes this a particularly strong wartime set. The scarcity of the enamel canteen itself, together with the survival of the Marine Corps carrier, gives the group considerably more interest than a loose canteen or replacement cover.