Dimas,
The patches are certainly repairs... but factory applied... factory repairs on new masks. Gas masks are typically pressure tested after completion to insure they are air tight. If not, then they do not work properly. So a new mask may have one or more repairs. The small patches likely cover small pin hole leaks in the rubber. Just like patching a tire tube.
My observation was that these depot masks had more repairs than most others I have seen, so just a theory. I will add that people acting in an official or government capacity (non-militry, but non-civilian also) likely did not use the cheaply made civilian gas mask models, but possibly military models as well. Again just a theory
Mike


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