The scarce, khaki-colored Marine Corps issue pouches for Reising magazines were quite similar to the common five-cell pouches issued for carrying Thompson submachine gun 20-round magazines. However, the Reising pouches featured slightly longer cover flaps, and the snap studs were positioned slightly higher than those on the Thompson pouches. While Reising magazines are too long to fit into Thompson pouches, 20-round Thompson magazines can fit into pouches designed for Reising magazines. The Marine Corps procured these pouches from The Russell Manufacturing Company of Middletown, Connecticut, under contract NOm 35935. The 1942 date pouches would have been issued to marines, paramarines and tank crew for the Guadalcanal campaign and other early war amphibious operations.
The pouch is in excellent condition and is clearly marked “U.S.M.C.” over “R.M. CO. / 1942” which is the only maker of USMC Reising ammo pouches. A scarce piece of Marine Corps gear that would be phased out after 1943 in favor of the M1 carbine and the Thompson submachine gun.
