French M-1877 Canteen

Characteristics and Design

• The two spouts: The most striking feature is the presence of two openings at the top. The large spoutwas sealed with a cork and used for filling the flask or pouring water into a cup. The small spout was sealed with a small wooden peg or a tiny cork and served as both a drinking spout and an air vent to prevent the liquid from 'glugging' while pouring.
• Materials: The flask itself is made of sheet steel (tin). To keep the water cool and prevent the flask from clattering against the rest of the equipment, it was enclosed in a wool cover (sleeve). This cover often featured the famous Horizon-bleu color or an earlier dark blue/brown shade. The canteen was carried by a leather shoulder strap.

Capacity and Variants

• 1-liter model: Originally designed for troops stationed in mainland France.
• 2-liter model (Modèle 1877/15): This larger model was initially intended for French colonial troops in warmer regions. Due to the extreme water shortages in the trenches, the 2-liter variant became the standard for the entire French army starting in 1915.
• Contents: Although the flasks were intended for water, many soldiers filled them with Pinard (cheap ration wine) to help endure the harsh conditions at the front.
• The flask continued to be further developed and remained in use well into World War II.