The evolution of german fieldgear 1933-1945
The german Y-straps
One iconic backbone of the german field gear, it is also one very often faked object. This section is a tips & tricks section regarding the german Y.straps or "Koppeltragestell"- On the left is a picture of the markings of an original Y-straps well documented. Always compare what is considered against a documented original, scarce but they do exist. This section will evolve underway.
Offered on a european well known dealers website are these "tropical" webbing Y.straps. There is something wrong in this picture. Look at the condition of the hook.that is well rusted and worn. Compare it to the bluegray stitching. If this y-straps has been stored in the same conditions as the hook, why is the stitching so well preserved? With all that rust, there would be moisture involved an discoloration of the seams should be present. It doesnt match up. This is clearly a modified object.
Y-straps from a dealer. Look at the differences in the stitching and colour. The manufacturer is highly unlikely to use different types of thread sowing the D-ring. (if the manufacturer were german in ww2). Many fake objects use original ww2 material put together to form a new object from old materials. The add does not mention any repairs or postwar modifications og restauration of the object.
The czech variant
Under communist control, materials and resources were scarce so there are y-straps made by the czechs post war from german ww2 material. They exist in many variations so the clue is to compare to an original one. The czechs then continued production of the german ww2 look a like Y-straps. The main difference is the use of pebbled leather and different metal fittings. Some are also seen with brass D-rings. At the end of ww2 the germans started making casings of steel so brass is not a material they used for D-rings. Picture left shows Zcech post war y-strap.
The zcechs also made a canvas version. The stitching and hooks are very different from the authentic german ww2 version. The type of webbing used by the zcech are also easy to identify.
Picture of the web version to the left. Many of these czech has been shoepolished black on the front and had original ww2 german hardware attached. But the pebbled leather on the inside is not easy to remove or hide. Be aware that some czech y-Straps also have smooth leather. The fakes are often blackened with shoepolish. Picture to the left is a czech Y-strap altered to be original german ww2 issue. The pebbled or fish scale leather is a typical zcech feature.
Picture to the left shows czech "reworked" y-straps sold by a dealer(Bevo) as original wehrmacht afrikakorps from british webbing. Underneath how they look as original czech before they reworked them. Note the kind of webbing and the distance from the leather O-ring reinforcement to the first D-rings. On originals this should be significantely shorter.
The austrian variant
The austrians continued production of the Y-straps in leather after the war. The main difference is that the austrian used padding. The backstrap end was also different. "backstrap replaced, wartime repair" occurs when they try to sell it off as authentic. The traces of the removed padding can also be seen. They had double D-rings on the back for the battle pack. If one has been removed, it will show that the leather loop for the D-ring is to wide. The stitching on the back of the y-straps are made in a square on the austrian version. Often original german ww2 Y-straps with austrian backstrap can be seen. The austrian backstrap is very similar but doesnt have the same teardrop holes. Some has circular holes with a "slit". Pictures to the left shows a comparison of a austrian backstrap sold in a faked y-strap and the correct backstrap. The teardrop style of the german ww2 backstrap is clear once compared side by side.
Picture on the left showing Y-straps found for sale as original at an european dealers website (original, never been cleaned it states). Note the backstrap hook and strap construction. It has holes with slit in it and the square sticthing around the hook on the end of the backstrap. This is typical austrian backstrap features. It is original, but not original german ww2. The Y-strap backstrap has gone missing an have been replaced by an austrian one. The description from the dealer doesnt mention the backstrap beeing replacement post ww2. This feature on the Y-strap is most often seen on early ones, the rbno ones seems to have the straight backstrap with straight sticthing and the X stitch on top.
A common fake encountered
A common fake encountered is the czech reworked Y-strap. The picture left shows "100% original german Y-straps" offered at a online marked for militaria. One can see a good example of the czech pebbled or somethimes called fishscale on both the backstrap and the leatherflap for the metal o-ring. Also the stitching is wrong. The backstraps are, as mentioned, often missing and beeing replaced by czech or austrian ones but these Y-straps are different. The pebble leather are on the oustide of the czech straps. So what they do is to flip the entire strap around so the outside becomes the inside. The smooth, now outside, are dyed black. On thise example it can olse be seen as the hook on the backstrap is the other way around.
Another Y-strap found for sale as good condition original german Y-straps. The back strap is a Zcech postwar strap identified by the distinct fishscale pattern (see the dried up original below, it cannot be mistaken). The holes on the straps is also circular with a slit. Original have teardrop holes. Y-straps missing the backstrap are "repaired" by using zcech straps. Also seen as a replacement strap is the straps from M34 Tornisters.
Another tips & Tricks
Looking ath the wide shoulder straps on late war model, the stitching is visible. This feature came after 1943. If an Y-strap marked with other year or makers mark other than R.bnr, be aware and flash the red light.
Be aware that leather is a living material. Picture left shows inside of an original Y-strap. It can be mistaken as pebbled leather, but compare to the picture if czech pebbled leather further up. This leather to the left is not pebbled, but dried up and cracked.