HISTORICAL PROFILE & PROVENANCE OVERVIEW:
Up for sale is a premium, investment-grade artifact of South African military heritage: a genuine, combat-used World War II-era Union Defence Forces (UDF) Cavalry Pattern Round Mess Tin.
While initially manufactured based on the classic British Imperial mounted services pattern, this specific specimen was officially processed, cataloged, and stamped for exclusive issue to South African troops. Tins of this style saw extensive service across major global theaters of war, most notably with South African armored car regiments, motorised infantries, and mounted units deployed during the North African Campaign (including the historic clashes at El Alamein) and the grueling subsequent push through the Italian Campaign.
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CRITICAL COLLECTOR SPECIFICATIONS & UNIQUE FEATURES:
1. Definitive Union Defence Forces (UDF) Property Stamping (Under Lid);
The absolute highlight of this artifact is located on the protected **underside of the upper lid**. Decades of micro-grime have been meticulously cleared away to reveal the official, deeply struck South African military acceptance mark: the iconic broad letter "U" surrounding the traditional War Department Broad Arrow (The "U-Arrow" Insignia). Because the steel stamp compressed the metal during factory inspection, and because its position *under* the lid shielded it from direct weather and fire, it formed a protective micro-climate that preserved the symbol perfectly. This mark under the lid elevates the tin from common surplus to a rare piece of South African wartime provenance.
2. Coveted "1st Pattern" Slotted Lid Engineering:
This specimen is a true 1st Pattern variant, easily distinguished by the dual vertical cutout slots stamped into the perimeter rim of the lid. This intricate engineering design allowed the heavy-gauge internal wire handle to remain extended outwards while the lid was sealed perfectly flush over the bottom cooking pot. This protected the soldiers field rations from flying ash, trench soot, or dirt while heating contents directly over open fires.
3. Original Active-Service Camouflage Paint:
The exterior lid retains substantial, highly visible remnants of its matte olive-drab/khaki camouflage paint finish. Unlike World War I variants which were issued in bare, reflective tinned steel, UDF field kit mobilized during World War II was routinely painted in non-reflective shades to eliminate light glint and maintain camouflage discipline in the field. This original finish provides a stunning visual timeline of the object's service history.
4. Side-Mounted Leather Strap Brackets:
Both exterior walls of the lower pot retain their original, heavy-duty side strap loops secured with factory rivets. These brackets were specifically designed to thread a narrow leather utility strap through the matching slots of the lid, buckling the entire unit together tightly so it would not rattle, fly open, or get lost while fastened to a cavalry horse's saddle D-rings, outside a rifle bucket, or attached directly onto combat webbing.
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PHYSICAL CONDITION REPORT:
- Authentic Battlefield Patina:This item is in honest, untouched secondhand condition with deep historical character.
- Cooking Pitting: The exterior bottom base exhibits heavy, localised fire-pitting and heat-induced carbon scaling, proving extensive real-world field use over military campfires and trench braziers.
- Mechanical Integrity: The folding heavy-gauge wire handle remains structurally sound, firmly anchored into its internal support bracket, and folds/unfolds flawlessly. The lid fits correctly over the base.
- Conservation Standard: This item has been preserved using purely non-destructive, dry mechanical conservation methods.
Absolutely NO harsh chemical rust-strippers, wire wheels, or abrasive sandpapers have been used, ensuring the original paint layer and the delicate lines of the hidden "U-Arrow" stamp under the lid are 100% intact.
This historical piece is sold strictly as-is, as a historical collector's artifact. Please inspect all high-resolution macro photographs carefully (especially the close-up of the underside of the lid) as they constitute the core visual basis of the item's condition.
