The Gas Mask Bag? No, A Camera Bag!

Growing up in the forties and fifties every town had an Army/Navy store selling military surplus about anything-you-could-think-of at baergain basement prices. Canteens, mess kits, pup tents, and where it was legal, guns and ammunition. College kids carried their books in olive drab back packs. Girls used the shoulder bags for purses. Photographers had a choice of a dozen belt pouches and shoulder bags. Floppy brim "boonie caps" in "jungle cammo" kept the sun and rain off your head.

The original tan canvas Leica bag was only $17.50 back in the mid seventies but an olive drab almost-lookalike was $2.95. I guess all the U.S. surplus from WW-II, Korea, and Vietnam is gone now but other countries are still unloading. This one in olive drab raindrop camo is from the Deutsche Armee.