Four Bees: Swiss Mess Kits, Schweizer Essgeschirr Kochgeschirr Gamelle, Sigg, WW1, WW2, Post-War, Cold War

I've been organizing the bunker, and came across my stash of Swiss Mess kits. Since I was dragging them out, I figured it was probably time to show a couple off on the blog, so here we go.

Before Swiss Link, burned down last November, I ordered up a big pile of these Swiss mess kits. These were some of the last of the Swiss surplus kits available in the USA. I'm glad I did, because the rest of their inventory turned into a puddle of molten aluminum during the inferno that was the "Camp Fire" in Paradise, California. These amazing mess kits, just got even more rare............

These Swiss mess kits were some of the largest mess kits that were used after WW1. The German model 1910 mess kits, and the Swiss mess kits, were nearly identical. The only real differences were the lid handles and metal strap loops. After WW1, Germany redesigned their mess kits into a smaller version. Switzerland did not. They kept this same, large mess kit, and issued it out from the WW1 era, through the 1990's.

The mess kits we'll be looking at today, all date in the 1980's and 1990's. Many were made by the still famous, Swiss company Sigg, and all are stamped with the Swiss Cross.

Black seems to be the predominant post-war color of the Swiss mess kits, with green being used during the WW2 years. I also understand that there were "Swiss Gray" colored kits produced in the 1950's to 1960's. The only difference that I can find between the "war years" kits, and post-war kits, is the stamped dates, and paint colors. There is one interesting difference with some of the Swiss, post-war kits, and that is the bail lugs.

The standard bail lug on nearly all of the Swiss mess kits is the "stud-lug style". This was used since they they were first produced over 100 years age.

In some of the later, post-war kits, there was a change to the post-war "German Style Lug".

All of the mess kits in my possession that have these German lugs, seem to have been made by a company that used the stamp JE.

The German style bail lugs allow the bail to catch at about 90 degrees on one side to assist with pouring. The stud-lugs allow the bail to rotate 360 degrees. As to which is better, all depends on personal preference.

As with all of these "German Style" mess kits, the lid fits on the top of the lower pot two ways: cup down, or cup up.

One very unique thing that sets these Swiss kits apart, is the distinctive handle. The only other country to use this style handle is Norway, and I believe that Norway copied the design from the Swiss (the Norse made their mess kits in the 1950's - 1970's). I'll do a comparison between the Swiss and Norwegian kits in my next posting.
You can see the Norwegian Mess Kit here:
https://sharky-fourbees.blogspot.com/2015/06/norwegian-mess-kit-kokekar-fra-det.html

The handles are designed with two holes. These holes allow a stick to be inserted to make a handle extension for cooking over a fire, or as an insulated handle when the cup is hot. This really gives this kit an advantage over the others when using it as a campfire cook pot.

These Swiss kits hold an amazing 2 liters of liquid! When it comes to actually cooking over a fire, the Swiss kit is my go-to mess kit. They are the perfect size to cook for two.

There is a single strap loop riveted to the handle.

The official Swiss strap buckles around the kit, with a stud-fastened, secondary attached, strap-tab that allows the kit to be attached to the pack or bread bag.