Rare WWI French Blue Enamel Canteen with Cork Stopper
 
*A pristine example of early 20th-century military field gear, used by French and American troops during the Great War*
 
Key Features & Historical Significance
 
Design & Functionality:
Blue enamel finish: Distinctive dark blue or horizon blue enamel coating, introduced in 1914 for Metropolitan troops and later adapted for colonial forces in khaki.
Capacity: Typically 2 liters (issued from 1915 onward due to trench warfare demands).
 
Materials & Construction:
 
Enameled steel body: Durable and rust-resistant, though often showing age-related paint loss or minor enamel chips, this example is in excellent condition.
 
Original cork stopper: Rarely intact due to deterioration; surviving examples (like this one) are highly collectible.
 
Provenance & Rarity:
French Model 1877 "Bidon": Used from WWI through WWII, with blue enamel versions being scarcer than later khaki-covered models.
Dual-use: Carried by both French and American soldiers; often held wine/water mixtures or coffee with tafia spirit