FRENCH WWI APPAREIL RESPIRATOIRE SPÉCIAL (ARS) GAS MASK For Sale

This mask was developed in 1917, and wasbased on the German model. The facepiece is a dark brown rubberized fabric that is dry and stiff, as usual forthese masks. The mask has the usual headharness straps plus the longer neck strap that allows it to be carried on thechest (\"alert\" position). The metal base of the mask isstamped “AG 126” and the filter can is stamped “114.” The carrying canister is not dented andretains the original mustard brown paint job.The base has a circular stamping “ŸSLGLE [not sureof this word] DES CIRAGES FRANCAIS Ÿ PARIS” with the date “1918” in thecenter. (The word “cirages francais”translates to French shoe polish, which could mean the canister was made bysuch a firm.) The base also has thepainted unit of issue “DMC 351e.” Both woven cloth straps arepresent. The longer one is marked withthe regiment (“DMC 351e R l”) followed by an oblong “ReceivingCommission” stamp. The receiving corps(at the top of the Commission stamp) is illegible because the stamp is wider than the strap. The center month/date of issue is alsoillegible, but below it is the year of issuance “1918” (it looks like 1916 inthe photo due to the folds in the fabric).The left and right flanking boxes contain the letter “B”, which are thecorps region and subdivision where the mask was made. The canister has flatbails as opposed to moveable ones on later masks. There are no extra lenses. The instructions are pasted into the lid, butrust stains have obscured some of the reading.These original masks are hard to find.

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