Original U.S. WWII USMC Set of Two 1944 Dated Thompson .45 Submachine Gun Magazine Pouches by Russell Mfg. Co.

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a lovely original set of two 1944 U.S.M.C. Thompson .45 Submachine Gun 30 round Magazine Pouches. The Thompson was used in World War II in the hands of Allied troops as a weapon for scouts, non-commissioned officers (corporal, sergeant, and higher), and patrol leaders, as well as commissioned officers, tank crewmen, and soldiers performing raids on enemy positions.

The canvas pouches are in very good condition with great snaps and they are both stamped:

U.S.M.C.
R.M. Co.
NOm - 45412
1944

One of the pouches had faded markings, but both are marked the same. Russell Manufacturing Corporation of Alexander City, Alabama, was founded in 1902, as a textile and clothing manufacturing business. It was a relatively small company, until the WWI need for cloth and yarn helped the company grow rapidly, and while affected, it survived the great depression and started growing again. It established an athletics division named the Southern Manufacturing Company to manufacture team apparel. When WWII came around, Russell Mfg. Co made all types of web gear, including many pouches as well as the pistol belts they attached to. After the war, Russell went back to manufacturing sports apparel, which is how it is mostly known today: Russell Athletic.

Genuine U.S. Marine Corps WWII dated material has become very hard to find on the market today. This set of pouches is in very nice condition, with only a bit of wear and staining from the decades from storage. They will only appreciate in value over the years to come.