Chinese Korean War Canteen 1951

Captured CHICOM Canteens – An Amazing Variety

During the Korean War, prior to leaving China, the CPV primarily were issued three types of canteens: surrendered Japanese WWII canteens; captured Chinese Nationalist Canteens and their own newly made copy of the Japanese WWII canteen. All of these canteens had plug top cap, an aluminum body and a web harness with integral shoulder strap.

1st Type – Plug Top 1950s

There are a few variations of the first type plug top ChiCom made canteen. The variations have to do with the color of the paint on the canteen body, green or brown, or no paint at all; whether there are red and gold painted ChiCom markings on the front of the canteen body or no markings; whether the webbing that passes through the plug top comes from the back to front or whether it comes from left to right; whether the metal hardware on the harness is painted or left unpainted plain aluminum; the color and thickness of the webbing; whether the plug top had Chinese factory marking on them or not; whether the canteen is flat or rounded on the bottom and the capacity of the canteen.

This is the standard issue Chinese Canteen from the Korean War. The front is painted and dated 1951.