When I started service in the Bundeswehr in 1994 we had to carry this canteen on a pistol belt. It was noisy and a pain in the butt to drink from on the march and took the blueing off of the G3 rifle when it came in contact. The rubber gasket and the leather strap can be unsanitary and it was a constant battle against aluminium corrosion. Nobody really liked to drink from it. Mid to end 90th we got a canteen pouch made of Cordura. A later version of this canteen has a plastic cap with NBC adapter. I switched to bladder systems as soon as I wasn't required to carry this canteen anymore. Like any other metal canteen or bottle it has some value in mountain and arctic warfare and survival situations.

Hi John, the split in the rubber washer in the bottle top is not an accident by far. It was supposed to be taken out and be stored separately when not in use. You went through the slit with the tip of your pocket knife and levered the rubber out. Then cleaned and set it to dry. Off course no one ever did this. Thats why the water always tasted funny because of the sooth. But the whole thing was heavy rattling crab and I was glad to exchange it for the "new" german mess kit. I am even not sure if it was used in military service at all. I have been there in 1988 to 1989 and we had been issued the "new" one, which actually is more or less the old form. I think this kit has only been used in civil service (Katastrophenschutz) and technical units (THW). Nevertheless I used it as a boy and was permanently sucked. It was to heavy, was to loud and was to complicated, too. But nice to remenber the old Times almost 40 years ago.

I swear of all the canteens out there, this one has really gotten into my to buy list, even U.S.g.i. canteen gets outclassed by it, 1 cup and 1 put/bowl, pretty dang cool

This is still the standard issue canteen. But with a plastic cover that is usable with a gas mask. And in the German army they teach to put a sock around the bottle to keep it from rattling and from shining

Another great video John just love the scenery of your area

Thank you John. I now have a canteen, mess kit, bread bag addiction from watching your videos. 😂I have owned a Swedish M44 since 2000, but didn't get into collecting mess kits until this pandemic kept us locked down. I'm ex-military & have always collected surplus gear. Your excursions into the wild have been a lifesaver for people shut in. Now I have mess kits and, or, canteens from Poland, Hungary, Czechoslova, Russia (both types) East German, West German, Swedish, Italian, USA, Britain, Switzerland, France.... The list keeps growing. My M59 came in today and it's a mixed date kit, but everything fits perfectly. I really like the way the canteen cup handle works. It really locks it in place solidly when open. The kit is very compact also. I lucked out on Ebay recently when I found a Swedish M40 stainless steel set for 18 dollars. The seller didn't know what they had, because another M40 just sold for $147.50 with 24 bidders. Sometimes you get lucky. On the other hand, my Hungarian mess kit looks like they used it as a football, or soccer ball. Crazy dents all over it, but it still works. Your show & tell of these kits are very informative. Thanks again for the great videos. 👏👍

Hi John, I know I'm about 2 years late, but I've developed a few tips on using this gear. I got a pair from Sportsmans Guide, in the '90s for a good price One was OK, the other was a basket case. Liking a challenge, I went to work on the FUBAR one. I finally got the bottle to seperate from the lower cup by tapping the edges with a ball pien hammer. The lower cup had major dings, which I tapped out with a big brass punch bar on a wooden cable table. Into the bottle, which had a lot of little white corrosion dots, I put $1.59 in loose change and a bunch of pistachio and peanut shells. For weeks, while watching TV, I absent-mindedly shook the bottle. Eventually it cleaned up, and I chased it out with boiling salt water, then rinsed real good. [I still have to put a cork gasket in.] The leather retainer on the cap was broken. I replaced it with a rubber cap retainer from a small one Lb propane cylinder. I modified the upper cup with a 3/8'' [9mm] hole on the end of the handle, so I can clip a small 'biner on it and dunk it in boiling water if I want to, or -- handle sprung up -- use it on a long line into a deep well. On the lower cup, which everyone derides, I removed the strapping [ but kept it handy] and retained the screw. I cut a ~ 6;'' piece of 1 x 2 lumber and screwed a 1'' cut of 90* angle iron to the bottom of the wood. Use the supplied screw to tighten the end of the angle iron in the strap loop of the cup, and it's solid. This makes a wooden handle, so you can use it as another canteen cup. I've had no issues using it this way, but wouldn't attempt it in a fire, or on coals. On a camp stove it's fine. One day I had an even better idea, when I got a ferrocerium stick with a long 1/4'' dia. element and a 3/8'' dia. handle. I drilled a 1/4'' bit into the end of my cup handle for 3 inches, then chased the hole at 3/8'' for almost an inch -- and now I have a place for my firestick. One more thing I noticed about drinking hot liquids from the lower cup: the white silicon insulation, has the effect of making the rim of the cup not as hot as pure metal would be. Carry On.

Hi John definitely gonna try the hot choc mix,sounds good,take care and keep safe😷

Nice. I like these little kits

I really enjoy these hikes with show and tell. Many thanks, John.

Sehr interessant. Die Tasse hat es zu meiner Zeit nicht mehr gegeben. Ich diente 1983 bis 1987 und wir waren immer neidisch auf die Ausrüstung unser US Kameraden.

Always a pleasure thanks

Cool video, that was a neat camp stove. Thanks, enjoyed it!

Nice one again John. I only have the canteen bottle , the rest of my kit was in to bad condition for cooking tasks . Greets Martin.

Hey! Very nice video 👍👍👍 Sure i will watch more of your videos 😊 Greetings from Germany, your GermanRedneck 🤘

Nice canteen set john.congratulations! Its hard to find one nowadays especially an original in good condition like yours. And some that do sell them online dont have the locking mechanism and strap of the canteen or they dont ship here to where i am.still looking forward to getting one someday.

I have two of these. The first is the same as yours but the other has a heave texter on the paint. it also has a small rubber piece in the bottom of the holder to keep the canteen from rubbing and hitting the bottom. The first thing I did was replace the rotten red gasket in the lid. Not only did it stink but it gave the water a bad taste. I replaced it with cork.

Hi buddy I have just given you a sub, as I’ve just starts to collect old mess kits and cook kits. Just wanted to ask what do you use to get all the crappy stuff from the inside of a aluminium water bottle. Thanks from the uk 🇬🇧

I like it, more compact than my Russian mess kit. Nice review John.

Thanks for all the information, I struggled find any. Great video thankyou. My bottle is marked psl82 but my cups are blank.

I have a PSL-63 with the older strap and thicker aluminium mine has a split rubber too. Yours has the better thought out system. I am only missing my rubber stud at the bottom so it has a hole in the bottom. But it is more durable than the later models you have also a more tactical emaille finish. I bought it age ten on the market early eighties back than we had a lot of NATO surplus.

I have one of those kits. My cup is dated 72, the canteen is 69 the bottom didn’t have a date. I enjoyed the video and your hot chocoholic recipe is interesting.

Very nice! Thanks for taking us along. I really like the BW set.

Thanks John, I enjoyed watching. My canteen set is a conglomerate of years also. My cup is 1977, my canteen is 2001, and my strap says 1985.

I have (or had, I haven't seen it in years) one of those, and that canteen looks like it wasn't made for the bottom part of the case. Mine was matched with the case and fit tightly into the seal around the top that it didn't rattle. Rather, it fit tightly enough that it was a little hard to separate.

definitely on my to buy list, work perfectly with its respective mess kit, but going to get a US g.i. canteen, long handle cup included, also an Alice pack.

I have the 1960s one and it’s a little different the case for it, you have to tighten the straps etc.

Great review, tks. I have a near-identical example, which is a former model. My set is marked PSL 62 with a PSL 60 flask which would make it an early example. There are 4 main variations between the 2: The first concerns the strap, which has an entirely different catch, and only one button-hole on the leather part. The strap is also held in place by a rivet, and hence unremovable. Another difference concerns the stud on your example, which is affixed to the bottom segment. Mine is on the strap itself. The top segment also has a slip-through bridge for the strap to run through, rather than just a guide as in your set. As for the external finish, the hook and catch in my example are unpainted, and the body paint has a rough texture. The base has a plastic stud through the centre, making the bottom segment unsuitable for use over a naked flame. (Also due to the said piece having a rubber lining along the top - inner side, as you pointed out). The top segment, which like most of the other components is made from Aluminium may be used on both a burner or an open fire, but care needs to be taken to keep the handle away from the flames, and caution is required since the whole thing becomes very hot even just by conduction! As for Bundeswehr, it is an amalgamation of 2 German words, Bundes means Federal and Wehr translates to defence. This is the postwar designation for the German Armed Forces, which up to 1945 were known as the Wehrmacht, (defence force). Both terms refer to the combined services within the German Military.

Thanks for the video and the recipe!

Another Great video my friend! Had one just like it, but sadly list it with most of my mess kits and canteens in the Paradise " Camp Fire' we had last November. Saved my French canteen, cup and stove though and my Italian canteen........Yeah!!!!!! Anyway, Take Care John, look forward to your next video!

Love mine. I have 4. They're grey. PSL88

I used one of these a few times to boil water for coffee but had to give up on the thing as it gave a nasty taste to the water. I guess it is the partcular alloy used which does that. btw the water had not been in the canteen; it was fresh. Its a pity because I really like the size of this canteen cup.

its actually still used today

I got one in great if not new condition but could never find a new canteen to go with it. The one I got has a crack in the rubber seal and it bugs me.

I've got one for my collection. Never put water in it or put on fire to heat up. Rubber ring had me scared to cook in bottom section. Saw some YTs where folk used pots on stove. But they were carefull with the bottom section so the rubber ring didn't get burnt. Or they only used it to eat out of. This is one set I figured was only for chow line use. Not sure if I looked up how to use it or not. On a side note, have you ever used two USGI canteen cups with USGI canteen? By putting one cup on bottom of canteen and another one on top of canteen, you almost get this setup. Or almost like the Brit Crusader kit. Have to use a MOLLE cover or Brit water pouch to hold it together. PS, what was for snack? Crackers and potted meat?

That cutlery set is the same as mine. Thanks for showing it. I've always wondered where it came from.

I need to get a shelter half/poncho, do you got any of them?

Excellent video, John 👍 do you have any info on the textured version of this kit?

and important to know is to pull the lid out to clean it!

do you have any British kit John?

Yours in great condition, except that leather stripe.

Great video nice kit. Thank you.

Try "boon-dis-vair".

Can i buy? Where i can buy sir

I have it now john.just purchased one this afternoon for $35.00(usd) of all places here in a mil.surplus shop in Tokyo,Japan. There were only 2 of them and the other one was pretty banged up but the one i got was in almost mint condition and dated 1967.can't wait to try it when i get home.

Are these safe to use as some contain lead.

Thanks John for sharing our link on Facebook. Hope your viewers find our information about our various canteens interesting too

as usual nice video brother. keeeeeeeeeeeeep going 👍🏻

Great review,and very informative John! Thank you!

😃😃😃😃😃😃

Always enjoy your reviews John, ever since you reviewed the check bread bag, that has become my and my Daughters favorite pieces of gear, it holds my 10 piece kit, just perfectly, and two days of food, one of my favorite food sources come from Germany and used during WWII called Erbswurst, made by Knorr, now this cannot be purchased her in the US, but you can order it from eBay, and it takes about a month, it is a large tablet that renders down to green or yellow peas, I’m not a pea eater, but it is actually good, and have used this squirrel hunting, hope everyone stays safe. Kevin

На огонь ставить можно??

try bund-es-veer

used from 1960 to 1990s is not correct. in germany this thing is still in service of the army.

...so odd that the kit has a "canteen holder" that doesn't have multiple uses & it rattles; never seen anything like that. What were they thinking, lol?

looks a pretty cool design, i had one but the water always tasted funny even after changing the rubber in the bottle top, (i suspect mine had been used to carry fuel or something)

John, was a bottom of cup too burnt after the fire?

12:25 I bought same from china. Is not good. Holder not keep them together and it's bulky. Best model is japanese kit which have two hold tap into spoon and holes in other, in fork and knife. 16:10 I make own mix for avoiding sugar. Mostly I drink instant coffee with sweetener. Water hot enough to drink, not boiling hot. I wondering why not thermos bottles reach to military use.

Its still in use today in the german army. I still got one. So not until the 90`s. Anyway a nice video, Sir!

Seems a bit over kill on materials used just for a canteen.

Seen a few of these on eBay, but not in good condition, rather fancied one, if I could find a good one. Now I’ve seen this review and read some comments, I’m not so sure now, I had presumed the bottom tin was for cooking in, now I know that is not the case, I’ve gone off it a tad. If I did get one, it would be more to “add to the collection “😁!

I've seen these at gun shows. That has to be one of the worst designs for a mess kit. What were the Germans thinking?

Have one of these, but I've read somewhere they are from former DDR. I am a bit confused....

Really hard to find the best water canteen set : have to considering the price , the weight, versatility, plastic/alu/stainless in all the ways... eventually alu is the best material but give an awfull taste and is toxic by the time , stainless is expensive and heavy, plastic is lightweight and cheap but not resistant enough... that why your videos are good !

Yeah its still in use

the rubber cracking is a pretty common issue on these

Do you ever hunt / kill the invasive hogs ???

Hey John, now in 2023 we in the Bundeswehr use still the same set. To heavy and not liked because aluminium should not so good for health. Many of us use a lighter alternative like the Nalgene in the field. German army is really old school in many things. But there should be some mods short termed....

Yeah that canteen carrier as you call it is dumb in my opinion. No reason why that just shouldn't be a snug fitting aluminum cup with some way to remove that strap.

It looks as tho you have grass growing all around you but the you place your gear down in the muck!

Here's a link to a recording of the pronounciation 'Bundeswehr' just to help you out! upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/db/De-Bundeswehr.ogg Wikipedia is great for finding pronunciations

Часто фляжки в наборе помятые!Германцы ими орехи грецкие кололи чтоли??😢😮

I am leery of aluminum kits. I love this design though.

Dislike for bundeswehr

BAD design!!! too complicated and of little use (it is a waste to carry a metal canteen cover for a metal canteen), perhaps the thing was supposed to look a little like the gas-mask can of WW2... the whole thing is a no-go, and surely expensive to build also... strange if we think about the traditional efficiency of german products!

Tip for Americans. Type English, German, French etc words into translate and play it back. Saves embarrassing yourselves on pronunciation.

The most horrible canteen in my life 😂😂😂😂 lot of noise complex for fit.