This is an original World War II U.S. Army mess kit, commonly referred to as a meat can, clearly marked “U.S.” and dated 1944. This type of mess kit was standard-issue to American soldiers and formed an essential part of their daily field equipment.
The set consists of the oval aluminum mess pan with its original folding handle. The handle is correctly stamped “U.S.”and shows the correct wartime construction and wear. The aluminum body displays honest field use, including surface scratches, discoloration, and patina consistent with prolonged wartime service.
Mess kits like this were used by U.S. Army personnel across all theaters of war, including Europe and the Pacific, for preparing, heating, and consuming meals in the field. Items dated 1944 are especially evocative, as they were issued during the peak years of Allied combat operations.
