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Posted: 3/16/2008 5:03:58 PM EDT
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I picked up a couple of old military pouches at a flea market today. They look like a smaller version of the old M-14 ammo pouches. Cotton duck, slots with snap closures on the sides for grenade spoons, post and toggle closure. Inside the cover they have the following print: Case, Small Arms, Ammunition, M16A1 Rifle 8465-935-4871 DSA 100-68-C-1194 Does anyone know if these are authentic military? I will try to post some pictures later. Thanks. |
Blanco_Diablo, They look exactly like that except someone cut off the strap at the top. Also, mine look practically brand new (just dirty).  
Black-Tiger, They were only made for one year? Any idea what the market value of one without the top-strap would be? These are pretty much unused, I have a hard time getting my 20-round magazines to fit. Although I found that they will hold five M1 Carbine 15-round magazines quite handily. |
Correct me if I'm worong, but the M-1956 web gear was designed for the M14, thus the shorter pouches. Harder to find, yes, but still out there in great numbers. The 20 rnd M16 mags fit just fine, just more of them, so they used them. I would guess they just remarked them. (maybe for 1968?) The nylon 30 round mags which are designed to hold grenades as well are much more common, but I've never heard that the M56 pouches were made only in 1968. I believe they were issue UNTIL 1968. I've actually seen LESS of the 20 round M67 pouches than the M56. Seen a lot of the later 30-rounders. Wish I'd bought M14 mag pouches back when they were cheap. I carry my mags in canteen covers anyway! LOL. 
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The M-56 universal small arms ammunition pouch came out in 1956 and could hold M-1 Garand enblocs, M14 mags, M-1 carbine mags, and shotgun shells. As the M-16 was adopted standard, the Army realized that the pouches were too high for M-16 mags and most soldiers put a sock or bandage in the bottom to raise the height of the mags. The first attempt at this was the M-16A1 ammunition pouch which is what is pictured. They are exactly like a Univeral Ammo Pouch (M-14 pouch) except shorter. They were only made for about 6 months in 1968 and are damn hard to find. In reference to value, with the suspender support strap, a set in the condition pictured would sell for $85 to $100. Without, I would put them at around $65 to $85. Vietnam collecting has really picked up in the last couple of years. As mentioned above, they were quickly replaced by the M-67 pouch in nylon, but the nylon gear was issued in extremely limited numbers in Vietnam and the standard M-56 ammo pouch remained the most commonly seen for the M-16 rifle. As a side note, it bugged me to no end that Mel Gibson's Hal Moore was wearing a set of these "short" pouches in We Were Soliders. I am picky about it as that is how I make my living and Iknow they pay good money to have it right. |
No kidding, the movie was based on a battle of Ia Drang, which occured in 1965 and he's wearing those pouches, which were not made until 3 years later. How'd figured that happened? 
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Momil, Wow, not a bad return on $10 for the pair. Is there any online reference for what the contract numbers mean. Thanks for all the info. |
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MM Products M-56 Universal Small Arms Ammunition Pouch. G/G+ $8.00 VG $15.00 EXC $20.00 About 1/4 of the way down the page |
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