WW2 Japanese Pair of MOLDED Rubberized Canvas Arisaka Ammunition Pouches

Here is a pair of rare WW2 MOLDED Rubberized canvas Japanese ammunition pouches.

Many collectors erroneously call rubberized canvas “last ditch” or “made for the jungle.” However, rubberized canvas predates the attack on Pearl Harbor by almost three and a half years.

The outbreak of full scale war in China in 1937 caused an exponentially expansion of the Japanese army and navy. Because thick, US cowhide leather, the preferred material, was not readily available in the vast amount needed, rubberized canvas was approved as a leather substitute in 1938 by the Japanese military high command.

Production began almost immediately to fill huge orders needed for the military.

Production never stopped during the war.  It actually continued continued into early 1945 when latex became unavailable due to the US Naval blockade of Japan.

Rubberized canvas equipment was made from three layers of canvas with the canvas either on the exterior or interior.

The three layers of canvas were either: 1) bonded by latex between each layer;  or 2) injection molded with the latex on the exterior,  as here.

The canvas on the exterior is much more common than this molded version.

One pouch is dated Showa 18 (1943) and was marked Nagoya Arsenal as shown under the flap. The flap moves freely.

The second pouch is stiff. However, with a hair dryer applied for less than a minute, the lid will open and the loops will open up to accommodate your belt.