Belgian copy of Brit '37 Pattern webbing

Found this on TradeMe a NZ auction site. last picture has the ABL print.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/antiques-collectables/militaria/wwii-earlier/auction-963480125.htm

Just bought a nice E Tool with carrier.

The carrier is a US 1944 dated one re issued and fitted with Belgian belt hanger. The tool itself is unstamped and the head was painted matt black and fitted with some form of Biohazard stickers!!!!

Have removed the stickers and they removed the paint underneath to see its in its life had at least 2 different green repaints(fancy trying to remove all the matt black paint).

Most worryingly is half of the handle has been taped up with what looks like black pvc insulating tape and am itching to remove it but am guessing its there for a reason,to cover up some damage maybe?

what a great thread ,richard i too can not see the E tool carrier in the first kit picture

Hi, I have just joined.  I am Mike from Lincolnshire UK.

Several years ago I bought A Minerva Land Rover.  It had been with the ABL from 1952 to 1995.

I have started collecting kit covering that period.  When I am allowed to start posting Pictures (7 Days)  I will put some of it up.

Got several HiPower Pouches, Including a Gd/Rw dark blue one, (but only one HiPower to go in them).

I have a FN FALO Chest rig, but it does not exactly match the only photo I have seen of a soldier carrying a FALO.   Does not have centre pouches so it is easier to lie prone, than the one in the photo. So four FAl pouches on the chest rig, not 6.

I have several sets of webbing, (two E-tool holders at present,) Various pouches, M51 Gas mask, Large and small packs.  Some ABL some Zm/Fn, and other odds and sodds.  I will need help identifying a few items that I believe may be ABL but use/purpose or even confirming that they are Belgian  is beyond my present knowledge.

Anyhow enough for now, when I have been a member long enough to be able to put links to photo sharing sites, I will start to show you what I have got, and start asking questions.

Got a few deacts too, A HiPower, a Fal (but not ABL although the grips are) A couple of Vignerons, a Sten, and a couple of FN-49's,  Oh and a Blindicide.   I want to pick brains about what pouches if any the ABL had to carry Energa rifle grenades and Blindicide Rockets.

Post again soon, pictures will follow. Including a British made pack stamped MEC 1944 and modified and restamped ABL 1952 although the stamps take some real deciphering>

Some of my 37 pattern stuff (and other not strictly 37 Pattern but similar construction and era)

A couple of Hi Power Holsters to get started.

Chest rig (for FALO but I don't own one so presented with a C type FAL Bayonet)






Of all my HiPower Holsters this is the only one with a strap and press fastener for the spare magazine


SAFN and an AFN

The SAFN,

AFN and bayonet. (still trying to find a correct frog for this.

Back of webbing I use for Vigneron.

With M1 Vigneron

M1 & M2

Mi has peep hole, M2 has notch

M1 has unprotected fore sight, Mr has a hood.



Another E Tool pouch awaiting a webbing set.

That is some great Belgian kit and weapons!

Couple of M51 gasmasks


Gd/Rw Holster

Various packs

Some dog tags

Later I know, Chemical Agent testing kit (sadly no contents!)

Believe this to be a reissue of Btritish First Aid kit.

Is it possibly belgian (I bought it as such) and do the numbers etc mean anything to anyone?


Navy Blue pack


Some jack Knives

Some more Jack Knives. Sp far I have 6 knives all 1953 and all by different manufacturers.

Blieve this to be a reissue of British Kit Has MEC stampp 1944? But also has 1953 stamp I presume to be Belgian.


Various side loops have been sewn on, These use diffeentbhread to the rest of the sewing on the pack.
Khaki navy pack
Very similar pack but ABL

The small pack in blue webbing is Belgian navy (FN/ZM).

The large pack with the MvO stamp is Dutch. The early postwar Dutch webbing included lots of surplus WE 37, and then the Dutch began to make their own M52 version in green (see the posts on Dutch webbing in the Netherlands section). It is possible to find M52 components that are actually heavily blancoed original WE 37 pieces (packs, pack straps, and basic pouches).

That NBC case is new to me, although I have a very similar ABL shell dressing carrier. Nice clasp knives too!

Some pouches and some Energa training grenades. (two British? one Belgian?) I carry them in these pouches just to protect them, but I know the Energas would not be carried in these. Has anyone any info how ABL carried the Energa grenades?

Wolverine wrote:The small pack in blue webbing is Belgian navy (FN/ZM).

The large pack with the MvO stamp is Dutch. The early postwar Dutch webbing included lots of surplus WE 37, and then the Dutch began to make their own M52 version in green (see the posts on Dutch webbing in the Netherlands section). It is possible to find M52 components that are actually heavily blancoed original WE 37 pieces (packs, pack straps, and basic pouches).

That NBC case is new to me, although I have a very similar ABL shell dressing carrier. Nice clasp knives too!

Thanks for the info on the Dutch bag, Will loose that one from the collection!

ABL Demolition Kit.  Believe to be an American kit adopted by the Belgians.  The Instructions and ready reckoner are translated into dual French & Dutch, but many of the tools are marked USA and the instructions are based on using the US M112 Demolition charge.

Oh and a FAL,  Sadly not Belgian, but the fore grip, Pistol Grip and Butt are off an ABL FAL

Magazine loader is genuine ABL.

Antarmike wrote:

Wolverine wrote:The small pack in blue webbing is Belgian navy (FN/ZM).

The large pack with the MvO stamp is Dutch. The early postwar Dutch webbing included lots of surplus WE 37, and then the Dutch began to make their own M52 version in green (see the posts on Dutch webbing in the Netherlands section). It is possible to find M52 components that are actually heavily blancoed original WE 37 pieces (packs, pack straps, and basic pouches).

That NBC case is new to me, although I have a very similar ABL shell dressing carrier. Nice clasp knives too!

Thanks for the info on the Dutch bag,  Will loose that one from the collection!

Yes, you could that, but the right thing to do would be to collect more Dutch webbing!

I already have a few bits (sold to me wrongly described on Ebay, so I have FN 7.62 cleaning rod set, a water bottle and canteen similar to M71 item but marked KL , a Royal Netherlands Air Force trench coat, .... No If I add to collection it will be items that will cross over between UK kit and Belgian kit.

I have a cuple of 66 mm Laws lined up, One definitely British, looking at an Old spec deactivated Uzi but really want an FN licenced Uzi, and I have a possible old spec MAG, but I have to win the lottery or sell a kidney for that one.....

Antarmike wrote:I already have a few bits (sold to me wrongly described on Ebay, so I have FN 7.62 cleaning rod set, a water bottle and canteen similar to M71 item but marked KL , a Royal Netherlands Air Force trench coat, ....  No If I add to collection it will be items that will cross over between UK kit and Belgian kit.

I have  a cuple of 66 mm Laws lined up, One definitely British,  looking at an Old spec deactivated Uzi but really want an FN licenced Uzi, and I have a possible old spec MAG, but I have to win the lottery or sell a kidney for that one.....

Thought you had already won the Lottery Mike given all the amazing stuff you have,love it.

Here is a picture of the food carrier, along with the pack.

Thanks for photo, Do I assume it is thermos flask type construction?

Yes, it is a vacuum type design. At some point, I will take comparison photos with a Second World War example.

Here is a link to the twin carrier, also copied from the British type:

https://iacmc.forumotion.com/t9259-abl-ration-carrier

There is a british type on Ebay at present I believe

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/201556639151?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Antarmike wrote:There is a british type on Ebay at present I believe

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/201556639151?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

I can't say for sure, but that one looks to be taller than the wartime style. It could be a postwar type?

I thought I had an early dated canteen set cup, so I have been rooting through some stuff and found it.  The date and maker is on the steel handle, not where it normally is on the aluminium cup itself.

As we know the US set up a shop to make kit for the US army in Belgium, and that is how Belgium adopted US pattern Canteen sets.  I should have bought this when I saw it.  A Belgian made  cup for the Americans, made on the same machinery that would later make cups for the ABL.

Nice cups - but US cups will not fit Belgian canteens, and vice versa.