NVA/VC used ChiCom canteen?

[earlymb]

Hi all,

 

Does anyone know if the this type of ChiCom canteen was used in Vietnam?

 

Made of aluminium painted OD with a blue plastic/bakelite cap and a thin webbing harness with aluminium or very light alloy buckles. There are no markings of any kind anywhere.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Cap Camouflage Pattern I]

I have never seen one with solid provenance in a museum or private collection or still in a veterans possession, or in a wartime photo. I have seen a few alleged ones in collections but they have either had no provenance or very loose "provenance".

 

Personally I suspect they are most likely a Chinese civilian/militia canteen, of which there a million different variations, some of which are pretty close to military canteens with minor differences, which this would be in line with, and some which are radically different designs made of plastic with a cup over the lid, and often in funky colors like white, blue, or pink. But I have actually seen some of the latter type being used in Vietnam so I would not be terribly shocked if I saw one of these blue cap canteens. 

[earlymb]

13 hours ago, Cap Camouflage Pattern I said:

I have never seen one with solid provenance in a museum or private collection or still in a veterans possession, or in a wartime photo. I have seen a few alleged ones in collections but they have either had no provenance or very loose "provenance".

 

Personally I suspect they are most likely a Chinese civilian/militia canteen, of which there a million different variations, some of which are pretty close to military canteens with minor differences, which this would be in line with, and some which are radically different designs made of plastic with a cup over the lid, and often in funky colors like white, blue, or pink. But I have actually seen some of the latter type being used in Vietnam so I would not be terribly shocked if I saw one of these blue cap canteens. 

 

Thanks, only one showing up in a period colour photo or vet bringback will be 100% proof this variant was used during the war. Unfortunately I haven't seen either of these yet so I was hoping someone else has.

 

[Kia kaha]

this was recovered in Rhodesia in 1978, supplied by china to Zimbabwe Liberation Forces.

this book is available from-

https://schifferbooks.com/

[earlymb]

Thanks, that shows the blue cap was available in at least the late 1970's... We're getting warmer 

 

I know of that book but haven't been able to source one locally yet.

 

 

[danimal03]

hello,

So I do not specialize in Vietnam War items.  However, I am pretty sure I have seen a canteen with a blue cap years ago that was a reported bring back.  I was told it was a 'medic's canteen' and it was larger in size.

 

I just googled, "north vietnamese medic canteen" under images.  One with a blue top does pop up on a dealer's website with a purported Mike Force capture.  I did not want to steal the image as it is not mine.  But if you google the term in quotes, it can be seen.  cheers!

[earlymb]

Thanks, I did a Google search but nothing turned up. Can you post the link?

[danimal03]

No sweat. here it is

 

https://thedogtag.com/product/nva-canteen-blue-cap-apfg-157/

[ShibaLegend]

Very happy to see this thread because I just ordered a canteen from China and I got one of these blue cap canteens sent to me. I was going to post it but have had too much going on. 

 

When I get the chance I can post mine as it has Chinese writing on the carrying strap.

[earlymb]

On 5/9/2026 at 2:18 AM, danimal03 said:

No sweat. here it is

 

https://thedogtag.com/product/nva-canteen-blue-cap-apfg-157/

 

Thanks, my canteen is the same but for the carrier. The cap has a cord riveted to it while the other end of the cord is sewn into the carrier.