French Army Cup - Quart Modèle 1865

The drinking cup that belonged to the French M-1877 canteen (the famous Bidon Modèle 1877 from the First World War) is the Quart Modèle 1865 (or its later variant, the larger colonial model).

In the French army, this type of drinking cup was standardly called a "quart" because its capacity was exactly a quarter of a liter (250 ml).

Features of the Quart Modèle 1865

• Material: Originally made of tinned sheet steel (fer battu or tôle étamée). During and after the First World War, it was also produced in aluminum.
• Shape: A simple, round cup with a flat bottom and a characteristic metal handle (either riveted or welded).
• Use: French infantrymen (the Poilus) did not slide the cup directly onto the canteen, as is common with many modern military cups. Instead, it was fastened to their equipment with a strap or cord, or carried loosely for drinking water, coffee (le jus), soup, or wine (le pinard).

For soldiers serving in warmer climates (such as the colonial troops in North Africa), a larger model cup was available alongside the larger 2-liter canteen, often referred to as the modèle colonial or the quart de grande contenance.