Original Items: Only One Set Available. This is a very nice USGI Bring back set, looking very much like it was picked up off the battlefield some time after the fighting had stopped. Both items show weathering and are dirty in ways definitely indicative of sitting on the ground unprotected for a while.

The first item is a Japanese WWII aluminum canteen with original "Model B" wood stopper. This type of stopper replaced the earlier metal and cork version, and was made of a soft wood plug with a hardwood top. The canteen is arsenal marked on the bottom under the strap, and is stamped with 昭 / 一 / 七, which reads Showa Ichi Roku, or year "One Seven" (17) of Emperor Showa's reign, 1942. This is not the usual way of writing the date, but we have seen other examples with these arsenal markings dated like this. 1941-1942 is the correct period for a "Model B" wood stopper. There are also faded paint markings on the bottom, which are unfortunately illegible. The web harness is quite faded, and shows some tears as well as repairs from long service. Definitely an interesting piece.

The second item is a standard Imperial Japanese Army Brass Bugle, easily identified by the style of the bugle, and the large clamp that secures the tuning slide/lead pipe into the instrument. The mouthpiece is unmarked, however the bell of the bugle has 5 Japanese characters, which we have not been able to translate. The bugle shows the usual wear from service, with some crushing in of the bell, and is overall covered with dust and a green patina. It looks like the leadpipe became unattached from the other branches at some point, and there was an attempt to resolder it, but it was not done properly at all.

A great Japanese WWII Bring back set, ready to display!