1872 Meat Can and Hanger Pouches from WPG and F Troop Company.

[FTrooper]

Lots of people have been asking about some of the other 1870's stuff this collaboration will net...here are a couple of frequently talked about items in the final  production stages as we speak. The 1872 meat can and the hanger cartridge boxes.  

The meat can images are of the first pre-die prototype to make sure they could do it well before they spent the money on the dies. The other image is the first die stamp sample all pictured next to my original.  

The 1872 pouches (both types) are the pattern prototype which will be polished up in small details. They are photoed next to the originals. These will come with the .45-70 leather "finger" inserts which are easily removed by us .50-70 shooters by undoing just a couple small stitches.

Other items of note. proper Bracher propeller vents for 1876 hats (and 1876 hats).  1874 cups. M1870 bayonet frogs, M1875 holsters with the swivels. M1876 Prairie Belts. to name a few.

Chris Fischer
F-Troop

[FTrooper]

Last picture.

Chris Fischer
F-Troop

[Pitspitr]

Chris,
Do they have a price estimate on the meat can?

[FTrooper]

No prices yet. Jerry does not like to set prices until the items are in his hands and paid for.  The good news is almost everything he has done is coming out to be about 1/2 of what we would have suspected them to be!

On that note, I just got work that they indeed have moved on to making the dies for the M1874 and M1885 mess kits!  This is perfect for Indian Wars guys and Spanish American War...no more need to use original nor WW1 ones!

Chris Fischer
F-Troop

[Pitspitr]

On that note, I just got work that they indeed have moved on to making the dies for the M1874 and M1885 mess kits! 

Will they be making the Type I (slotted handle) M-1874?

[River City John]

I like the looks and appreciate the level of authenticity.

Someone educate me, was it meant for carrying the meat ration, or cooking the meat ration? Both?

RCJ

[Pitspitr]

The 72 was meant for carrying the bacon in, drinking your coffee from,(the body) and eating your beans from(the lid). It was really poorly designed for all that.

The 74 was designed to carry your bacon in and for use as a skillet and plate. (You've seen me use mine that way) It wasn't the best design for carrying the bacon though because in hot weather it leaked bacon grease all over the rest of the contents of the haversack

[Scattered Thumbs]

The 72 was meant for carrying the bacon in, drinking your coffee from,(the body) and eating your beans from(the lid). It was really poorly designed for all that.

The 74 was designed to carry your bacon in and for use as a skillet and plate. (You've seen me use mine that way) It wasn't the best design for carrying the bacon though because in hot weather it leaked bacon grease all over the rest of the contents of the haversack

Thanks. Like RCJ I was wondering about it's use. He just beat me to the question. 

[pony express]

That answers my question, too. Seems like drinking coffee out of a rectangular cup would be ......odd. I'm guessing the 1874 one was similar to the WW1 and WWII mess kits we are  more familiar with?

[River City John]

Thanks for the lesson, General.




RCJ

[Pitspitr]

That answers my question, too. Seems like drinking coffee out of a rectangular cup would be ......odd. I'm guessing the 1874 one was similar to the WW1 and WWII mess kits we are  more familiar with?

kinda

[pony express]

A short visit here: http://www.history.army.mil/html/museums/messkits/Field_Mess_Gear(upd_Jul09).pdf cleared up any meat can confusion for me.

[River City John]

Great reference. Thanks, pony.



RCJ

[FTrooper]

The slotted handle Type I M1874 is a bit of an enigma. They find type II replica at 1876 Sioux War sites, so if the type I ever got passed the experimental phase and issues is in questions. As a result WPG is going to do the Type 2 and the later "1885" style for the Span Am guys. 

The 72 meat can was an odd duck to say the least. It was never designed to officially replace the cup and plate as a "mess kit". Though has noted it was declared that it all could be used as such in a pinch. In reality it was more akin to the WW1 bacon cans just for holding meat rations.  Either way its a neat item!

Chris Fischer
F-Troop

[Garret]

This is great news!  The images look really good.  I know the '72 Meat Can is a bit odd looking, but it's so cool!  I've wanted a replica ever since I first saw a photo of an original.  I'll be awaiting the appearance of this, the '74 Meat Can and the Hagner Pouches.  I'm also glad to hear about the swivel holster. 
Great work Chris!  These pieces are going to be great additions to  anyone's kit that purchase them.  Any idea when we might see them appear?  Will they go direct to ebay like the '72 belts?

All the best,
Gary

[FTrooper]

Yes, I think the stuff will appear on ebay first.  Some items have already sold out and restock in in the talks.  A couple items are lingering so we shall see. The 1874 swivel holster prototype images were sent to me and they look good.  WE hope most of this stuff will be in by summer. Jerry Lee is still trudging forward on other items.  Some of the metal items are delayed while dies are made and the Mills belts (especially the Span-Am) are taking a little longer than expected but that is because he is trying to have the loops woven into the belt like the originals rather than just sewn on (first time in 100 years this is going to be done).

Chris Fischer
F-Troop

[FTrooper]

UPDATE!  Some of the Hagners and meatcans are on his ebay site! They are lovely!

Chris Fischer
F-Troop

[Pitspitr]

UPDATE!  Some of the Hagners and meatcans are on his ebay site! They are lovely!

Chris Fischer
F-Troop

Do you have a link to the meat vans? I'm not finding them.

[1860Henry]

I looked at his listings on eBay, his eBay store, and his website, but couldn't find them either.

[Niederlander]

I couldn't find them either.  (Hagner pouches are there.)  Maybe they sold out already.