The M.29 was an Italian designed mask adopted by the Belgian army. This design and its later iteration were in service for more than twenty years. The design was also used by Pirelli on the industrial type L gas mask, which was almost identical.
During the Spanish Civil War, Sacic facepieces were repurposed and adapted to use an inlet-outlet piece and a kit similar to that of the later AG 20.
Important note on the nomenclature: this mask has been and is still being commonly referred to as M.1931 among collectors. This designation is incorrect.
Mask overview[]
The M.29 faceblank was made of moulded beige rubber, textured on the outside and smooth on the inside. Inside the mask there was an internal divider made of synthetic sponge, which separated the faceblank in two parts, reducing dead space and helping to prevent fogging while wearing the mask.
The faceblank had the following parts attached:
- The head harness, with six elastic straps, adjustable from the pad
- Crimped eyepieces with triplex glass, 50mm wide
- Inlet-outlet piece, with a tube for attaching the hose, an inlet valve over it and a flutter valve under it (the latter with a guard for protection)
- The corrugated hose, through which the mask would be connected to the filter, which was stored in the bag
Filter[]
The filter was tucked in the bottom of the bag, it was connected to the mask through the hose and when unused had a large cap covering its inlet.
M.28[]
The M.28 filters was made to be used with both the M.29 and M.28.
M.31[]
The M.31 filter was introduced in 1932, it was built mildly differently and it had two prominent studs going across it for reinforcement.
Kit[]
The mask comes with its filter in the M.29 issue satchel, which was carried on the hip. This bag has a string through which the filter's cap is attached. Although sometimes this kind of bag was replaced with the later M1934 satchel. The exhale valve is covered by a small cloth to protect it from damage.
Inside the bag, there is also a small pocket that is used to store a stick of anti-fogging soap wrapped around some cloth, sometimes put inside a metal cylinder for protection.
Markings[]
The M.29 was made mainly by Pirelli, but some of the production shifted to Sacic and Bergougnan. On the left cheek of the facepiece, there is the company name, the date and the size in roman numbers. In later production, Pirelli samples were marked with a "1" in a circle.
Spanish Civil War use[]
main article: Spanish-issue Sacic gas masks
A number of modified M.29s were shipped to the Republican army during the Spanish Civil War. They would have the inlet-outlet assembly replaced with one akin to the AG 15, with a hose and rubber straps.
Extra gallery[]
References[]
- http://users.skynet.be/flexaret/index.html?x=89&y=16
- https://www.gasmaskking.com/
- Alejandro Giner Vidal’s collection