Well maybe but I think not and this is why.
Fact is that these pouches all have a kind of pull strap to lift the contents up, this does not work with loose cartridges so in case of being a cartridge pouch there must have been boxes of ammo in them.
I've tried several types and sizes of revolver and pistol ammo boxes and none of them fits well into this pouch, always plenty of space left but never enough for a second box.
None of the military gun manuals mentions the use of this type of pouch but the Rutsch book says it to be for the cleaning kit.
Further back at the time of the Revolver 78 there was a similar type of pouch that Rutsch says to be for the cleaning kit while H�¤usler says it being an ammo pouch.
The 1882 revolver holsters had a facility to store spare cartridges and for the pistols there was that second magazine so there was no real need for an ammo pouch.
Post war Swiss pistols got a similar tool kit and grease can and those are carried in either a cloth or plastic pouch.
This all gives me the idea that the pouch was intended for the cleaning kit and not for spare ammo.
An officer should not carry a messy grease can in one of its uniform pockets no?
Thanks,
Guisan.
