Looking at investing in a Gebirgsjager Rucksack. These are on sale at SOF but look very differant from most of the pictures I have which have one long short pocket at rear and 2 deep pockets at side(M1931 ?). were both types used? any info would be appreciated from Gebirgsjager guru's 
Have a look at these Tim -
[link]http://www.atthefrontshop.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=GGRGEB[/link]
[link]http://www.ebay.com/itm/230878285158?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649[/link]
cheers
Cheers mate, the at the front one looks lovely but not cheap. Will have to save a bit more money though
Depends on how much your wanting to spend Tim as some cheaper slightly more used options:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VTG-1940s-GER ... 1294wt_958
Also a lot of Gebirgs came from volunteers from the more mountain dominated countrys under german control so doesnt really need to be german issue can go with just climbing rucksack from that era. something like this:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1942-Swedish- ... 35cf2fd6bb
only i am sure yuo can get one that wont be quite as expenssive.
Cheers Keiran
The post war Bundeswehr rucksack was almost identical to the ww2 3 pocket mountain rucksack, except that the straps were webbing instead of leather. I used to have one back in the `80s and it even had the same dished buttons for fastening the inner pocket and detachable y straps for hooking on the belt.
They`re still available from sites in Germany.
http://www.troph-e-shop.com/de/bw-rucksack-import-m-koppeltragegestell-oliv.html
https://www.raeer.com/shopexd.asp?id=17501
Fantastic find fella, replace the straps with leather and I should have a decent looking M31 on the cheap
Ok so I have bought the Miltec pack, right size/pouches etc, and changed the webbing with leather straps and metal buckles. There seem to have been a few styles of straps I have gone for the 3 strap look for the main flap.
For the shoulder straps as a tempoary measure I have taken apart some y straps (they can go back together as y straps if needed). I decided to leave the original webbing loops that secure the shoulder straps to the backpack (even though the top ones are in the wrong position) as I dont have sufficient skill to sew load bearing straps 
Besides I want to be able to put the original padded ones back on so I can use it when hiking.
All in all though not perfect I think it is a reasonably looking M31 for a cost of just over £50
Nice!
I cheated even more and went for a Norwegian post war rucksack with a tubular frame. Good rucksack, but not very WWII Gebirgsjager close up.
Did Gebirgsjager just use rucksacks or did they use A frames as well ?
German
Russian
British
Japanese
I have never seen pics of them with A-frames (that I can recall at least). Generally speaking the pictures do not show y-straps either, it is straps from rucksacks. Hard to tell in some pics so I could be talking bollocks again. Safest bet is the belt with belt hooks to support it. Surprisingly comfortable, but a sod to get on and off.
Well I have just looked through my collection no A frames in sight and Y straps surprisingly rare. I believe the lack of Y straps is probably down to the straps on the backpack fit in the same eyes as the Y straps would therefore making it impractical to wear both. As often they would ditch the backpack for combat and fight in light order the belt hooks would be more than capable of carrying the weight.
The problem is if your like me and round in the wrong places, when wearing a windjacke or anorak (no belt hooks) everything heads south quickly making Y straps essential even though they were not common
