I had the unique opportunity to pick a couple of these up a few weeks ago, at a price that could not be passed up!
These "mess kits" are known in French as "Le Bouthéon", or roughly translated as "camp pot".
These are HUGE! They hold approximately 5 liters of liquid!
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| US $20 bill for size comparison! |
These pots were issued out, one to a "squad" of French soldiers. These first appeared in the French military kit back in the 1880's. The pot was used primarily to transport hot food from a field kitchen, to the front, for the soldiers to eat. There were may trips made with hot coffee, soup, or stew, in these pots. From what I understand, the food was often cold when it arrived back at the squad, and had to be eaten cold, or re-heated.
The lid of the pot is equipped with a socket on the side that was used with a field-made handle for cooking, over a stove, or fire.
Originally these pots were made in a tinned steel, and later, starting in the 1930's and during WW2, in aluminum.
My particular pots are the aluminum, WW2 versions.
The most notable of my two pots is dated 1945 on the bottom, with the maker's name of "MMT" from Tournus.
MMT is for the manufacturing firm of Manufacture Métallurgique de Tournus.
The second pot is marked as made by "MNS", with no date.
The 1945, MMT pot has the stenciled letters: C A, with a M under them. The C A means "Corps D'Armée", or Army, in plain English. The "M" most likely indicates a company, but I am not sure about that.
These camp pots were used by the French Army all the way into the 1980's, and possibly later.
They were normally carried, strapped to the back of the field pack.
If you are looking for an amazing "bushcraft pot" or field pot for your field kitchen, then grab one of these beasts when you can! You won't be sorry!
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