Description
A mess kit is a collection of silverware and cookware designed for use by military personnel for food and military rations. While functionally similar to a one-man civilian mess kit, military mess kits are designed to be even more compact, using their space as efficiently as possible. Thus lids will almost always be used for preparing, cooking, and/or eating, and usually come in two or three pieces. As such, it may sacrifice certain features, or use other features to complement it. When in a large camp, it is common for soldiers to use either normal dining ware, or a multi-compartment mess tray similar to a TV dinner tray, but much larger.
The US Army’s flat ovoid M-1932 wartime-issue mess kit was made of galvanized steel (stainless steel in the later M-1942), and was a divided pan-and-body system. When opened, the mess kit consisted of two halves: the deeper half forms a shallow, flat-bottom, ovoid “Meat can, body”, designed to receive the “meat ration”, the meat portion of the pre-war canned Reserve Ration. The “Meat can, body”, with its folding handle extended, can double as a crude skillet. The “Mess kit, plate” (lid) is even shallower, and is pressed to form two compartments, with a center divide wide enough to accommodate the folding handle. The plate also has a very secure ring that is held in place by friction. t was slightly smaller and was constructed in 2 parts, with a small removable shallow top lid. This lid served as plate or frying pan. Originally they were made in aluminum, but were changed to steel as the war progressed to save on materials. It normally came with a leather strap to secure it to the bread bag.
Made of steel, this mess kit is in NICE used condition! Though there are some marks, scratches, and slight wear due to the age, it is still very solid! Dated 1943, with the manufacture name, “LEYSE” on the handle. Would make a FANTASTIC addition to any collection or display!