A great example of an original Imperial Japanese Army aluminium water bottle, manufactured in 1939 by Osaka Aluminium Co., whose distinctive globe trademark is clearly stamped on the bottom on the bottle. (see photos)

This piece comes complete with its original khaki web harness, which has the soldier’s name machine stitched in Japanese script. This has been translated as the surname “Hayashi”. I personally enjoy finding personalised items, as I feel, it adds interest and can possibly lead to further research. The harness is complete and in very good condition, although the leather part does show honest wear and age. The canteen retains approximately 85% of its original brown paint finish.

We also have another layer of personalisation-scratched into the canteen, “H.S.W.” that is almost certainly the initials of the Allied serviceman who captured it as a wartime bring-back. Many soldiers marked their souvenirs in this way to identify them among their kit.

Very interesting example.