WWI 1918 US Army Mess Kit Trench Art Named WT Savage New Mexico Co B Horse Elk P For Sale

**Rare Named WWI 1918 US Army Mess Kit Trench Art Pan Base — Engraved W.T. Savage (Albuquerque, NM Estate)**
Up for sale is an exceptional, museum-grade piece of World War I militaria and authentic American folk art: a U.S. Army field mess kit cooking pan base featuring highly detailed period trench art. Hand-carved and stippled directly into the aluminum body by a soldier during the Great War era, the design beautifully depicts a magnificent antlered Southwestern elk alongside a detailed profile of a horse.
**Historical Provenance & Markings:*** **Soldier Inscription:** The lower edge features a crisp, beautifully executed period stippled signature identifying the soldier: \"**W.T. SAVAGE**\". This item was recovered directly from a local estate in Albuquerque, New Mexico.* **Unit Markings:** The steel folding handle bar features an authentic period field quartermaster inventory stamp reading \"**1 B 13**\". This directly traces back to the historic **1st New Mexico Infantry / Battalion** before being mobilized into the 40th \"Sunshine\" Infantry Division for overseas service.* **Wartime Production:** The handle hinge is cleanly stamped with its official government contractor mark: \"**U.S. J.E.G. & CO. 1918**\".
This incredible combination of an identified New Mexico veteran\'s name, personalized animal artwork (likely depicting a military service horse and a native elk), a distinct unit stamp, and an exact 1918 date makes this a heavily researchable canvas for advanced militaria collectors. Please note that this listing is for the bottom pan portion only.
**Product Details:*** **Conflict/Era:** World War I (WWI / Great War Era)* **Artifact Type:** Authentic Named Southwestern Soldier Trench Art* **Soldier Inscription:** Hand-stippled \"W.T. SAVAGE\"* **Art Motif:** Horse and Antlered Elk/Stag* **Model:** M1910 / M1918 Field Meat Can Pan Base* **Included Components:** (1) Aluminum Skillet Pan Base with folding locking handle
**Condition Notes (Please Read Before offerding/Buying):*** **Incomplete Kit:** This listing is for the BOTTOM PAN ONLY featuring the historic artwork. The top interlocking plate tray, cup, and utensils are not included.* **Cosmetic & Art Condition:** Excellent antique condition for a field-used veteran artifact. The hand-engraved animal motifs and the \"W.T. Savage\" signature remain clean, crisp, and exceptionally legible. The aluminum surface shows a beautiful dark aged patina, scattered light field scuffs, and small surface scratches consistent with a century of age and military storage.* **Hardware:** The iron/steel folding locking handle mechanism is completely structurally sound and functions properly.* **Measurements:** The ruler shown in the listing images is strictly for size reference/scaling and is not included in the sale.
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