Following Pearl Harbor, as the U.S. ramped up war production, various shortcuts and substitutions were adopted to expedite equipping troops. One such measure was producing canteens from lower-quality metal coated with porcelain enamel to conserve aluminum and stainless steel for critical uses. Introduced in 1942, the M-1942 porcelain-enameled steel canteen proved problematic in the field, with chipping enamel contaminating water and the canteens quickly becoming battered. As a result, they were soon phased out, making surviving examples rare. Approximately five million were produced by five manufacturers in 1942, most going to Marines in the Pacific, though the majority of issued canteens were non-enameled types.
Condition of the canteen is very good. It has 3 fairly small areas of finish loss, but no dents or flaking. No makers stampings.
