The first metal flasks have been known since the time of the ancient Greeks. Prior to that, containers for water and other liquids were made of pumpkins and coconuts, calfskins and pig stomachs, wood and clay. However, some of these materials are used for the production of flasks to this day.
For a long time, there were no uniform standards in terms of water accessories in the Russian army — each soldier used what they could. In the 18th century, a reference of sorts was eventually found: the vessel was to be made of double tin and have a capacity of one shtof (1.22 liters). A hundred years later, white sheet iron began to be used for soldier’s dishware, and flasks were provided with four lugs soldered at different sides to be attached to the backpack. Soon, another modernization followed, with a bracket and a wire handle introduced.
In the second half of the 19th century, tempered glass flasks and wooden bottles (known as “baklagas”) became a part of a soldier’s gear. While the former were soon found unsuitable, the latter remained in use for some time. They were made of aspen, ash or beech wood, had a capacity of “5–6 charkas” (0.6–0.7 liters), and could keep the water inside drinkable for a long time. When aluminum equipment was introduced at the end of the 19th century, wooden containers ceased to be produced but were still in use until there was none of them left in stock.
Aluminum containers had many standards, differing in size, shape, type of plug, fastening and casing, of which there were at least 20 varieties. Despite their convenience, soldiers often had to switch back to heavy glassware, as aluminum was in priority demand for the military industry. Accordingly, in Soviet times, a regular army flask was made of glass, the aluminum one being a privilege, available only to paratroopers and scouts.
In March 1932, a new standard was approved for metal flasks with a capacity of 0.75 liters and 1.0 liters, which became mandatory. Flasks could be made of aluminum, tin or brass. The key distinctive feature of the new flasks was that they were closed with a screw cap with a fine thread, which had five turns. After the war, as the manufacture of aluminum flasks was resumed, the thread became three turns larger.
For a long time, there were no uniform standards in terms of water accessories in the Russian army — each soldier used what they could. In the 18th century, a reference of sorts was eventually found: the vessel was to be made of double tin and have a capacity of one shtof (1.22 liters). A hundred years later, white sheet iron began to be used for soldier’s dishware, and flasks were provided with four lugs soldered at different sides to be attached to the backpack. Soon, another modernization followed, with a bracket and a wire handle introduced.
In the second half of the 19th century, tempered glass flasks and wooden bottles (known as “baklagas”) became a part of a soldier’s gear. While the former were soon found unsuitable, the latter remained in use for some time. They were made of aspen, ash or beech wood, had a capacity of “5–6 charkas” (0.6–0.7 liters), and could keep the water inside drinkable for a long time. When aluminum equipment was introduced at the end of the 19th century, wooden containers ceased to be produced but were still in use until there was none of them left in stock.
Aluminum containers had many standards, differing in size, shape, type of plug, fastening and casing, of which there were at least 20 varieties. Despite their convenience, soldiers often had to switch back to heavy glassware, as aluminum was in priority demand for the military industry. Accordingly, in Soviet times, a regular army flask was made of glass, the aluminum one being a privilege, available only to paratroopers and scouts.
In March 1932, a new standard was approved for metal flasks with a capacity of 0.75 liters and 1.0 liters, which became mandatory. Flasks could be made of aluminum, tin or brass. The key distinctive feature of the new flasks was that they were closed with a screw cap with a fine thread, which had five turns. After the war, as the manufacture of aluminum flasks was resumed, the thread became three turns larger.
