This is an original, and exceedingly rare, pre-WWII M1921 musette bag, with a single closure strap and leather padding on the bottom. These were the predecessors to the M1936, produced in the 1920s and were most common among Marines fighting in the Pacific during the early days of WWII. This particular example’s manufacturer stamping is illegible, however it is stenciled with the original owner’s laundry number, “S-4801”. After the war, six small loops were added to accommodate a carrying strap, these have been painstakingly removed in order to return it to its original wartime configuration, leaving only the stitch holes behind, which are only visible when looking in the interior compartment. This musette bag would display quite nicely when completed with a belt and suspenders.