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Helmets
Bulgaria used German M.16 and Austro-Hungarian M.17 shalhelms. They were painted blue-grey.
What to use:
Repro or Original repainted
Messkits
M.1899
Most common was Austro-Hungarian M.1899, tinned or enameled. (See Left and bottom.)
Other
Some German M.15 messkits got to Bulgaria, but not common enough to suggest.
What to use:
(M.1899) Militarie Replieky or KuK Replika
Gasmasks
The M.15 Gummiemask or M.16 was the most common in the Bulgarian army. Actually there is no photographic evidence that they used any other model.
What to use:
(M.16) Militarie Repliky or KuK Replika(NOTE all other reproductions are completely wrong!)
Canisters and Bags
German M.15 and M.17 canisters were used, as well as gasmask bags.
What to use:
Use repro German canisters and bags. Make sure straps are are correct ww1 model!
M.1909 Reserve Ammo Carriers
The Bulgarians wore an additional ammo box on a strap from the right shoulder to the left hip. Produced by Bulgaria and by German companies for Bulgaria.
(Left Originals in my collection, right is a German maker stamp inside of one of the carriers.)
Photo taken by me from my collection
what to use:
Contact me
Coats
Bulgarian M.1899(left&right) is almost the same as Russian M.1909 model. Only difference is that the epaulettes are sewn on and it has six buttons and collar tabs. German coats were used as well, but M.1899 was considerably far more common. Coats were rolled in Russian fashion if they were not being worn on the tornister. The color is darker than Russian grey.
Bashlyk
The Bulgarians a wore identical one to the Russian model.
Papkha
Winter fur hat, not Russian model.(right)
What to use:
(M.1899) Convert Shusters Russian M.1909
(Bulgarian Buttons) Contact me
(German Coat) Gavin Miltaria, Shusters
(Bashlyk) Shusters, Military-ussr.in.ua
(Papkha) Custom made
Bread Bag
Typical 19th century canvas bag. Must be custom made. I may start reproducing these myself. Very similar to a Napoleonic era bag. Similar to Serbian model.
What to use:
Contact me
Spades
The Bulgarians used all German/Turkish models of spades. As well as all Austro-Hungarian models. Some captured Russian M.12 spades are seen too. There were Austrian made spades just for the Bulgarian army, which are almost identical to Austro-Hungarian M.1910.
Carrier
The Bulgarian model carrier is almost identical to German model.
What to use:
(Spade) Use a original spade of the above models.
(Carrier) Contact me
Canteens
Bulgaria used captured Serbian drum canteens from the 1880s into ww1, but was really only common in 1915. Most common was the German M.93 and Turkish M.09 canteens, which are almost identical to each other. Other canteens like German M.15 were pretty common, as well as M.07s, but these were much more rare. These were worn on a D-ring on the belt or a harness. Some captured Russian canteens seem to be used.
What to use:
(M.1893) Khaki Depot
(All) Restore Original
(M.07) Nestof(not suggested)
Tent half
Russian models tent halfs were used early war, but from 1916 onward German models were the only ones used. Russian style pegs were used for Russian tent half, German model pegs and bag were used for German tent half.
What to use:
(Russian) Shusters, tent and pegs
(German) Nestof, not sure for pegs
Granade Bags
For grenade bags use Austro-Hungarian model, larger than German.
What to use:
Can be easily custom made
Tornister
In ww1 Bulgaria used a very large variety of packs. The first model pack used by the Bulgarian army was the M.1898. This was introduced in 1898 when the Bulgarian army was modernizing. These seem to have rare through out the history of the Bulgarian army. They seem to haver mostly been used by patron regiments pre-war, not often seen being used by a average infantry regiment. Even in the Balkan wars these packs seem rare. The standard soldier simply rapped his coat or blanket around himself. Once the Balkan wars kicked off, thousands of Turkish M.1909 tornisters were captured. These became the standard issue pack till 1916. When Bulgaria joined the war these were quite common. However because all Bulgaria relied were what captured packs they had in storage, numbers of packs dwindled quickly. The Germans quickly started sending large shipments of most M.1916 tornisters and some M.1895 tornisters to Bulgaria. The M.1916 pack became most common issue pack of the Bulgarian army from 1916-1918.
Top, middle, bottom
M.1898(Top)
Seems to be made of a cloth or sorts, has a stout frame. Straps are sometimes leather, sometimes cloth. No hooks, has a connecter that goes across chest. I only know of one war time photo of this pack being used, very rare.
M.1909(middle)
Made of mills material. No frame, straps are identical to German. Seen from 1912-1918, though less and less common as the war progressed.
German Tornisters(bottom)
Mostly M.1916 ersatz, sometimes fur M.1895, but very rare. M.1916 is your best choice, seen from 1916-1918.
What to use:
(M.1916) Nestof
(M.1909) Contact me
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