M31 "Coconut" canteen (Kokosnuss-Feldflasche)

WWII German 1942 "Coconut" Canteen Complete with Canvas Straps (H.R.E. 42). A spectacular, highly collectible original World War II German M31 "Coconut" canteen (Kokosnuss-Feldflasche). Officially patented as the Ritter model, this innovative canteen features a wood-press/bakelite composite insulating body to keep beverages cool in the field. This specific early/mid-war example is 100% complete with its original olive-drab canvas webbing straps—a configuration famously issued to the Deutsches Afrika Korps (DAK) and later used on all European combat fronts. Complete with its matching black bakelite screw cap, a aluminum cup retaining nearly all of its original factory olive-green paint, and a fully marked Ritter attachment clip, this is an elite-grade example of essential Wehrmacht field gear.

This Item
The iconic composite "coconut" outer shell is in beautiful, lightly used condition. It is completely free of cracks, deep gouges, or separation along the seams. Canvas Straps & Hardware: The original olive canvas webbing straps are fully intact, clean, and completely unbroken. All original metal and leather reinforcement tabs are present and securely stitched. The canvas reinforcement elements are clearly stamped with the manufacturer code "SHB". The small metal drinking cup is in choice condition, retaining nearly 95% of its original, wartime olive-green factory paint with only minimal edge friction wear. The black bakelite screw-top cap is flawless with no cracks or cross-threading. The spring-loaded attachment hook functions perfectly, still bearing its original paint and clear Ritter patent markings. The canteen body is deeply and clearly stamped with the matching manufacturer code and wartime production year: "H.R.E. 42" (Heinrich Ritter, Esslingen 1942).