Soviet Rubberized Canvas Field Belt (Enlisted), M69 Pattern
Standard-issue Soviet enlisted field belt with an olive-green painted steel buckle and a rubberized canvas. For everyday and field wear rather than parade dress use.
Images
Specifications
| General Information | |
|---|---|
| Name / Designation | Standard-issue Soviet enlisted M69 field belt with painted steel buckle and rubberized canvas web strap |
| Country of Origin | Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) |
| Branch / Unit Use | General issue for Soviet ground forces (enlisted), widely distributed across the Soviet supply system |
| Time Period | Produced 1969 to 1991 under the M69 (Obr.69) uniform regulation reforms |
| Materials |
Strap: cotton canvas or webbing that has been rubberized for durability and moisture resistance. Buckle: painted steel. |
| Markings | Reverse clasp bears a small boxed stamp, a Soviet production mark. Ink stamp markings on the belt are worn and no longer legible. No date is visible. |
Historical Summary
Belts of this pattern are commonly associated with the Soviet M69 uniform reforms, introduced in 1969 and used through the late Soviet period. The design lineage is often traced back to earlier Soviet belt patterns from the 1930s, with later standardized forms remaining in service into the post-Soviet era.
As a practical item for everyday wear, field examples like this typically feature painted steel buckles and durable straps intended for repeated use with work uniforms and field gear.
Collector Notes
- Field vs parade belts: Parade and dress belts often appear with brighter metal finishes and a more formal presentation. Field belts commonly appear with painted steel buckles.
- Strap variants: Some examples are plain webbing, while others are rubberized or coated for wear resistance.
- Surplus circulation: Belts of this type were exported or later circulated via Warsaw Pact supply chains and surplus markets, which is why they appear widely in Cold War collections.
Provenance
Collector-held example documented for the Relics & Rifles archive. Specific issue history is not recorded.