Austro-Hungary, Empire. A Rare First World War Cartridge Carrier, c.1917

(Patronentasche). A rare, large-sized First World War Austro-Hungarian Army cartridge carrier, constructed of a pressed dark brown leather shell securely reinforced along the seams with heavy stitching, closing with a retractable flap lined on the exterior with a partially-intact white fur liner, in turn secured in place with two leather straps which meet magnetic metal studs affixed to the bottom, opening two reveal two compartments each hidden with brown leather flaps closing with identical strap and stud closure, the uppermost compartment featuring ten individual card stock cells for the accommodation of ammunition clips, with the lower compartment featuring an additional set of dual cells and a pair of magnetic metal stabilizers, the reverse of the exterior featuring three dark brown leather straps for uniform suspension, the flap bearing a number of partially-legible maker and depot marks with a manufacture date of “1917”, a rare example of late-war Austro-Hungarian field gear demonstrating clear signs of fatigue consisting with wartime field usage, in overall very fine condition.