37 Pattern pouch, modified claimed to be Belgian ABL, but is it?

Ebay purchase bought on spec hoping it might be something unusual,  Can anyone identify.

Seller claimed 1957 Belgian ABL.

The pouch has clearly been modified,  the original attachments on the back have been removed (unpicked) and evidence of this shows inside the pouch and on the back.

The new attachments fitted do indeed match position and style of a Belgian pouch. They are sewn on with a white thread that does not match other stitching on the pouch. which is the same colour as the pouch itself.  The two brass wire hooks to fit into belt pockets do not match each other, possibly indicating that they also are being reused from stripped down webbing?

The back vertical seam on either side has been restitched with the same white thread, but the front vertical seams retain the green thread.  I presume the back seam was un picked to give access to so on the new attachments?

The stamping is unclear, the date might have been overstamped.   I might be kidding myself but the top line on the join between the bach, and the "lid / top flap" might say A B L? The is no visible or discernable stamp to suggest previous country it may have been issued to.

The pouch seems to be in unissued condition.  

I have seen no other basic pouches in ABL servive that use press stud / popper fasteners.











My gut feeling of what it used to be, based on where you can see stitching has been removed, and the fibres of the canvas have been disturbed and pulled out,  is  "Stores Ref. CN/AA 1515 Web Equipment, Patt. 37, Pouch, utility, front, with waist strap" This pouch is deeper than "basic 37 Pattern pouch" and will hold three Bren magazines rather than just two.



Image courtesy of Karkee Web.

The pouch certainly appears to be modified, but it does have Belgian factory markings under the flap. I would say that this used to be a Belgian-made utility pouch that was converted into a standard basic pouch. We know that Belgian-made utility pouches exist in air force blue, so what not khaki as well?

I have a pouch that is nearly the same as yours, except made by TAWO.

Probably a whole pile were modified together - either in an army workshop, or by a contractor. The reason that white stitching shows all around the rear panel is that it had to be opened up to stitch on the new fittings. A lot of work!

Note also that air force utility pouches have the same type of press stud. Maybe the air force converted a bunch of these two, which may explain why only one type can still be found intact (the front pouch). I see them all the time, but never any rear ones.

Thank you Andrew, relieved to know it is ABL, I still feel converted from Pouch, utility, front, with waist strap.

The stitching on mine matches stitching for the belt.




Chhers Mike

Agreed. You can see the construction lines on the bottom rear of my pouch where the tunnel loop or strap used to be.

Interesting! I haven't seen this adjustment before, but I have seen some ABL post-ww2 "untility pouches" in airforce/marine webbing on a webshop, but I don't know if I am going to find it back.

I keep finding this one (the front utility pouch):

I am looking for the rear pouch (ie, it just has the tunnel loop, no strap).

I found them back !

https://camolots.com/products/bg203?_pos=2&_sid=e66b1feed&_ss=r

Yes, that is the type I keep finding. Where are the partners?

By the way, that surplus dealer is dishonest and very expensive. I don't recommend.

This is all I found, but they must be somewhere ;
I will have to search my surplus spot.
Unfortunately I haven't been there yet because of that nasty virus.
And thanks for the warning for that dealer, I already had such a hunch and indeed, far too expensive.

Well, if you find any, I would like to hear about it.