USMC Canteen Covers
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The Marine Corps was issued their own canteen covers manufactured at the Philadelphia depot. Pre 1917 covers used USMC eagle and anchor buttons and after 1917 lift the dot fasteners were used. The canteen covers will be marked "USMC" in one of the flaps and sometimes the date.
USMC Button Canteen Cover
This USMC Canteen cover is dated 1914 and made by the Philadelphia Depot, where many USMC uniforms and accouterments were made. The cover has two USMC Eagle and Anchor buttons, and no "US" printed on the front. The canteen cover's hanger is iron, unlike the brass hangers on the Army issued cover.
When this cover was in my collection from 2007-2008, it's condition made me wonder if it may have been an early battlefield pickup. The buttons were corroded and one had fused shut. Numerous stains are on the cover along with a rust stain along the front. Also the iron belt hanger was rusty and had become immobile in the webbing sewn to the cover. This item now resides in a collection in France.
Detail of the USMC Eagle and Anchor button.
The USMC Philadelphia Depot marking and 1914 date, found inside one of the cover's flaps.
Wartime USMC Canteen Cover
The wartime version of the USMC canteen cover had lift the dot fasteners as the Army issue covers did in 1917-1918. This covers lacks a date as many USMC items did and only has a USMC marking in one of the flaps. It should be noted how the belt hanger is placed higher on the back of the cover than the hanger on Army covers.
Detail of the cover's USMC stamp.
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