Folke Posted March 29, 2020 Report Share Posted March 29, 2020 I dont recall having seen this particular pouch in any books or magazines before. It is the Swedish pouch for the L-drum. I just aquired this example and it is the second one I see in all the years I have collected. It contained the NY, NY L-drum shown in the pics. Not for sale! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivan Posted March 29, 2020 Report Share Posted March 29, 2020 That is one nice pouch ! A bit more complicated than webbing pouches for the "L" drum. Guess the Swedes had lots of cows about ! Were they meant to be carried in pairs on a belt w/ suspenders or just a single drum ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalbert Posted March 30, 2020 Report Share Posted March 30, 2020 Folke, Wow! Are there any markings on the pouch? David Albertdalbert@sturmgewehr.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD. Posted March 30, 2020 Report Share Posted March 30, 2020 Folke,Thank you for posting about the Swedish L drum pouch, above. It is a first for me. I researched the 500 Colt Thompson guns purchased by the Swedish government in 1940 and never saw anything referencing a leather pouch for the L drums. My story about the Swedish Colt's can be found in Tracie Hill's, The Ultimate Thompson Book, beginning on page 289. I have also researched the Thompson guns and accessories at the Swedish Armémuseum and have not found any leather pouches for the Thompson L drum. However, there are pictures of several canvas L drum pouches. I would like to know how the leather L drum pouch or carrying case your have is connected to the Swedish military or government. I believe a few of the 500 kulsprutepistol m/1940's, commonly referred to as the kpist m/40, were provided to several police departments in Sweden. Could this pouch have been a police department item? I am very interested in the provenance so as to add to my story. All good stuff! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Folke Posted March 30, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2020 (edited) OK, guys, I dont have any more information on the pouch than what I stated in my first post. It doers have a marking on the lid, 3 D, which I assume is a squad/platoon marking, which leads to the assumption that it is a Military item and not for the police. It has been in a collection of Swedish weaponry for many years here in Norway and I just aquired it. As mentioned, it is the second one I have seen in 30 years, and the Swedish collectors does not know anything about it. I will post a pic of the 3 D marking later today. Edited March 30, 2020 by Folke Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Folke Posted March 30, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2020 Here is the marking from the lid! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandman1957 Posted March 30, 2020 Report Share Posted March 30, 2020 Folke, what led you to post Swedish? I know during the USMC campaign in Nicaragua, the Guadia National made leather pouches for the Thompsons. I know some are out there, but I have not seen one other than in photos. Perhaps its one of those? For other Forum members, if you have a leather Nicaraguan pouch please post it.CheersSandman1957 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Folke Posted March 30, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2020 Well - why would it be Nicaraguan? The two I have encountered have both come from Sweden and have been in the hands of respectable collectors. I have no reason to doubt them. But of course, anything is possible. But in this case it would surprise me greatly if it turns out this is not a Swedish item. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD. Posted March 31, 2020 Report Share Posted March 31, 2020 Folke,Thank you for the post and pictures. It is certainly an interesting piece of history. Please let us know if you find any additional information. The Swedish Colt's story is one of my favorites. Nice looking L drum too! All good stuff! Sandman,The pouch does look familiar but I cannot remember where, or if, I have seen a pouch like this previously. I too thought of Mexico and Nicaragua and have seen pictures of leather pouches from that area. Attached is a picture from the book, China Horse Marine, a subject that has been talked about on this forum in the past. The L drum pouch in the book is round. I have seen pictures of a custom leather C drum pouch made in Mexico that was also round. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Folke Posted March 31, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2020 Some more details on the pouch. In the bottom, there are two wooden inserts that keep the pouch in shape and from collapsing when the drum is not in the pouch. The inserts are fastened with brass screws. As shown in the pics. Also, permanently fixed to the pouch is a long leather strap that will help removing the drum. Very complicated when compared to the regular web pouches, but also typical Swedish over engineered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD. Posted April 1, 2020 Report Share Posted April 1, 2020 Folke,Thank you for the additional pictures. It is definitely an interesting piece. Especially since you know of another identical pouch in what I assume is in the same general area. Question: Is the L drum in your pouch the same Worcester Pressed Steel Co. (WPS) variation L drum as found in the other pouch? Based on the pictures you posted above, your L drum appears to be a later WPS variation. One reason for the initial skepticism of the forum members to anything new with little provenance are similar posting of other items. One involved a pouch that was touted for many years as being from the Connecticut State Police. http://www.machinegunboards.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=9601 It took several years, but the forum members finally solved the puzzle. Thank you again, Big Al. http://www.machinegunboards.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=21959&hl Please keep us informed if you find out any additional information. All good stuff!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandman1957 Posted April 1, 2020 Report Share Posted April 1, 2020 Yes that pouch is not like any photos I can find of any photos from Nicaragua. Looks like a very well made pouch! Here is a different L Drum Pouch from Nicaragua. Simpler construction and very different flap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Hammer Posted April 1, 2020 Report Share Posted April 1, 2020 Over the years people have found many pouches, some made out of leather that will hold a Thompson drum but they were not necessarily made with the purpose of carrying a Thompson L Drum, this could be one such pouch. It may have been made for some other item possibly during the war years.... Mike Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Folke Posted April 2, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2020 Folke,Thank you for the additional pictures. It is definitely an interesting piece. Especially since you know of another identical pouch in what I assume is in the same general area. Question: Is the L drum in your pouch the same Worcester Pressed Steel Co. (WPS) variation L drum as found in the other pouch? Based on the pictures you posted above, your L drum appears to be a later WPS variation. One reason for the initial skepticism of the forum members to anything new with little provenance are similar posting of other items. One involved a pouch that was touted for many years as being from the Connecticut State Police. http://www.machinegunboards.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=9601 It took several years, but the forum members finally solved the puzzle. Thank you again, Big Al. http://www.machinegunboards.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=21959&hl Please keep us informed if you find out any additional information. All good stuff!!!The other drum pouch was empty when I saw it. I will ask both these guys if they have any additional information. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpbcps Posted April 2, 2020 Report Share Posted April 2, 2020 (edited) Over the years, I have been in touch with Richard Karlsson, who is credited in Tracie Hills 'The Ultimate Thompson Book', by Tom David Jr.'s as a source of information for his 'Colt Thompson in Swedish Service' chapter in the book. Richard is a keen Thompson enthusiast and very knowledgeable about the Swedish Thompson guns, so when I first saw this post, I contacted Richard asking if had any knowledge on the leather L drum pouches, which he confirmed he did and informed me he had one. He has since sent me two photos he had on file, one showing the leather L drum pouch with his other Thompson pouches, the other a close up of Swedish Crown stamp on his L drum pouch, and he authorised me to post them here on his behalf. Richard also informed me that he believed all the drums received by Sweden, were WPS drums, with the New York address. Stay safeRichard Edited April 2, 2020 by rpbcps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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