Russo 4 cell mag pouch

[cujo019]

Can’t find too any up to date info (or any info at all really) on this 4 cell mag pouch I have. 

I am looking to sell it but unsure of its value. It is 1000% original.

[rpbcps]

PM sent

[Colt Chopper]

Very nice

[Dpedersen]

Is this a Thompson pouch or is a UD pouch? I keep staring at this thing and looking at the example in vol. 7 of the encyclopedia and have trouble telling the differences. Can someone with more knowledge in these pouches weigh in please! For all of us to learn!!

Edited April 8 by Dpedersen

[TD.]

Dpedersen,

I am far from knowledgeable on Thompson canvas items. To me, the most desirable Type XX four cell pouch is the earliest one from MILLS marked with the MILLS bullet trademark logo and the FEB 1921 date.  

The first I heard about a four cell RUSCO Type XX magazine pouch was years ago in The Ultimate Thompson Book by Tracie Hill. 

I assume this same pouch is pictured in The Encyclopedia series by Tracie Hill. It is probably part of Tracie's vast canvas collection. If so, I am sure he would make it available for inspection for those attending the Hill family All Thompson Show & Shoot later this year (another reason to attend!!!).

Your reference to a four cell UD42 canvas pouch is spot on. I saw one for sale at Folke Myrvang's tables at the Show of Shows (SOS) in Louisville in February 2025. I remembered he had several of these pouches at the 2024 SOS. This is the last one. Folke told me it is unmarked and there is no doubt it was for the UD42 submachine gun. I did not lift the snaps because of its worn condition. 

As an author and avid enthusiast, I collect information on all things Thompson. I obtained a copy of the French September 2015 MILITARIA magazine because of an excellent article on canvas magazine pouches used during World War II. Also included was information on the UD42 pouch. I did note the pouch in the article is unmarked. I wonder if this was because the UD42 submachine gun was dropped behind enemy lines for partisan or guerilla forces use and the US Government wanted all the associated equipment unmarked or sterile (all conjecture on my part). I don't read French so perhaps something is written in the article about the lack of markings.  

While at the SOS I also had the opportunity to examine the four cell RUSCO pouch that is the subject of this thread. It was not on the table for sale. The owner just wanted my opinion. I told him what I have posted here. It was interesting that the similar pouch, above, on Folke's table was just across the aisle. We did make sure that a Type XX Thompson submachine gun would fit in this RUSCO marked pouch.

  

Is this a UD42 magazine pouch or a Thompson submachine gun magazine pouch? I really don't know. What I do know is this type of pouch is hard to find and usually expensive when found. We have a lot of very knowledge people on this Board. Comments everyone! 

[The Moor]

The color of the pouch in your picture and the color of the pouch in the subject's picture are significantly different. Is this just the lighting?   The RUSCO marking looks almost identical as evidenced by the lines/line above and below the letters. Pic of a clear RUSCO marking.