American M1936 Musette Bag with GP strap

The original American M1936 Musette Bag was a canvas field bag from World War II, primarily issued to officers, paratroopers, and motorized units as a replacement for the heavier M1928 haversack.

The Multi-Purpose (General Purpose) Carrying Strap

Although the bag was designed to be attached to the M1936 suspenders as a backpack, it was often used with a detachable General Purpose (GP) strap for shoulder carrying.

• Design: The strap is typically 2 inches (approximately 5 cm) wide and made of olive drab (OD #3 or OD #7) cotton webbing.
• Attachment: The bag has metal snap hooks that clip onto the strap's D-rings.
• Versatility: This allowed the bag to be worn over the shoulder as a messenger bag, ideal for officers or paratroopers who needed to quickly move their equipment. Original Features
• Stamps: Original examples have a bold "U.S." stamp on the front flap. The manufacturer (e.g., Atlantic Products Corp.) and the year (e.g., 1942) are usually located inside the flap or on the back. This bag is very difficult to read.

Storage:

• Main compartment: Features an internal divider that can be divided into four sections.
• Exterior pockets: One small side pocket and one large flat pocket on the back, both closed with metal snaps.
• Material: Made of heavy cotton canvas with metal hardware.

Carrying Methods

• Backpack: Clipped to the rings of the M1936 harness.
• Shoulder bag: With the detachable GP strap.
• Vehicle: Strapped to the outside of tanks or jeeps using the built-in straps.