Marterius' last reply in the "which products would you like to see" thread, made me think of this new subject that might be of interest.

This covers pretty much anything, so feel free to provide us all with your input as to what surplus military gear you find useful in a hunting situation. Perhaps add a source and price range, if possible??

I'll start with a question and a couple of pieces of surplus equipment I have found really useful for hunting.

Question: are there any military style jackets/parkas that are waterproof (Goretex?) as well as reasonably quiet?? I was looking at some of the British jackets (that Marterius seemed to refer to), on some UK surplus websites. Yet, all the stuff I found with Goretex, seemed like it was designed as an additional layer to be worn outside the regular parka. And from the looks of it, they were all noisy too (i.e. a nylon as opposed to a polyester/cotton shell). Anybody know of a better product and where to obtain this?? I'm looking for something very reasonable in price, yet tough enough to stand up to outdoor life and repeated washings.

Now onto a couple of useful military items:
1) Swiss army poncho. Unfortunately not quiet, but has kept me dry while hunting endless times. One of my favourite items to keep in the pack. As most military stuff, the poncho is not exacly light, but it sure is sturdy. This poncho can be had for next to nothing (maybe CHF20) either in Switzerland, or I have bought one at Frankonia as well. I would not be surprised if larger surplus stores also had some of these for sale. If you don't like camos, I'm afraid this one is not for you. The poncho does not breathe, but it is large enough to wear over a pack and a rifle carried with the barrel pointing downwards. The shape is not like the US ponchos - intended as a double as tents - rather the shape in which the poncho is worn is sewn into the pattern, and there are two practical slots to stick your hands out. Poncho closes down the middle of the front with snaps.

2) I have a woolen cape from what appears to be a Eastern European country. I bought it at a surplus store (Becker?) in Germany. The cape is way thicker and heavier than any "commercial" cape I have ever bought. It is a tad heavy to carry, but it sure is nice to crawl into for those long, cold evenings on the stand. Since it is wool, it is very quiet. I like using it when hunting foxes in winter - when silence is of the utmost importance. The cape shape is practical because it can worn over other heavy clothing - something which a coat can not.

OK, now your turn...

- mike

The smock I talked about in Pete's thread is not surplus here in Sweden, I had to buy it new from a private firm as it is not army issue. But I guess you can find them as surplus in UK and perhaps other countries. Look at: http://www.arktisltd.co.uk/outerjackets.htm

It is model 1015.



Here you can se it in Swedish army standard camo:



As to Swedish army surplus, the winter cap is very good when it is really cold. My snow parka and trousers are also Swedish army surplus. Could as well be made from heavy white cotton linen, but well made. I also have a pair of Swedish army boots of the later model (M/90) that I use during the warm half of the year when a lot of walking is done - for instance while shooting grouse over dogs in the mountains.



I also have a Swedish army warm jacket, know as a "windcoat". It is long and very warm and perfekt when spending hours in a cold "hochsits". Much warmer then anything I have seen in the hunting shops but also too warm to walk any longer distance.



This is the modern model (M/90). There was a older version that we used when I was in the army: much colder and much heavier. The new one is so warm and comfortable it would probably be rather difficult to stay awake while doing guard duty behind the machinegun at night...





The older standard uniform M/59, in particular the shirts and the trousers, are good, heavy duty stuff. Nothing fancy but durable and rather comfortable and the troursers dry quickly. Good stuff to wear if you are going to shoot crows on the local counsil garbage dump.

The proper issue version of the smock Martin is talking about is known as a "Windproof" or "SAS Windproof"...They were much coverted bits of kit, but I prefer the civvie copy's like Martin's as they could be had with a waterproof liner, whereas the issue ones are just a windproof cotton.



I am always "tatting" around Army Surplus stores or similar stalls at Gamefairs or markets, but I buy little over the Net, so I can't comment where to get them from..



In the UK, we get a lot of German (East and West), Dutch and Swedish kit. I like the German Army lightweight cotton trousers and Dutch heavy weight shirt/jackets. Both come in what I call German Army Field Grey and can be bought either new unissued or Grade 1..They make good outdoor work clothes ect without looking too military..I always cut the shoulder patches off the shirt...



Britsh and Dutch Army wooly pully's are also a good buy fairly cheap and hard wearing...



We have some real decent Goretex Cordora gaitors which are not too noisy and they are available in plain green or DPM cammo. I wore a pair for quite a while till I left them somewhere or other...



Two bits of kit which maybe of interest if you can find them.



One is "Norwegian"..this is a large (20L?) insulated tea urn/food container sort of like a cross between a tea urn and a cool box.. The whole of the top comes off so it can be used to hold stew or something and as it as a tap like a normal tea urn, it can be used for hot drinks..being military it is quite robust and there is nothing really to go wrong it the seals around the lid are in decent shape.



I got one for a local pheasant shoot (it fell of the back of a tank!)and they use it to serve tea or soup for the beaters at dinner time...I have also used it at another club for a similar thing down at the Ranges..



The other bit of kit is as rare as rocking horse shit on the used market and is jelously guarded by those who are issued one (ie very hard to steal!)... It is known as a "BV" or "Boiling Vessel"..This is a small insulated electric water boiler fitted into armoured vehicles in the British army.



It clamps in and out and is big enough to hold four large (400g) ration cans...The top comes off and you can either use it to heat water for tea, or as I say, to heat ration cans. The beauty of the device is that as the lid clamps on firmly and the unit itself clamps into a simple stand/stelf in the vehicle, it will boil water/heat cans as your driving along...very important for the British Army!



Anyways, I would love to get one and fit it to my 4x4; I am pretty sure they are 24V but mine has twin 12v batteries

so I think it could be made to work!



Regards,



Pete

Mike,



All the issue Goretex jackets I have seen have been quite noisy...There were some surplus German/Dutch/Swedish (not sure which) liners on the market for a while for about �15 I think...They were meant to button into a parka or something...If you could get one of those, they could probably be made to work with any combat jacket..



With regards the poncho's, I picked one up not long ago made of a rubberised cotton for want of a better word. Its quite heavy, but does not make much noise unlike like the British Army nylon version...



Tell me, are these things left or right handed?

The reason I ask is that when I wear this, the lefthand side hangs lower and I assume its to cover a rifle slung upidedown off the left hand shoulder..I actually bought it for the material for something else (it was all of �5) but when I got it home, I thought it might be useful for sitting in a highseat, but I have not tried it yet...



I like the sound of that woollen cape for highseat work, are they easy to come across over there?



regards



Pete

Pete,
We have those isolated containers in Sweden as well. We use them in our fly fishing club to transport newly hatched trout fry.

I have never seen anything like that boiling vessle, sounds wonderful!

Regards,
Martin

Just a view from the other side of the ocean. Today I mostly wear the old U.S. BDUs and the standard BDU field jacket w/liner. Had to do something with them when I retired. Worn only when hunting they will probably last the rest of my life. If it gets really cold (for Texas) I have a couple of pair of old NATO wool field pants that are tough, durable and warm (and heavy) that serve well.

Frankly they are not what the average European hunter would want where things are a bit more formal than our style here, but they serve well in the backwoods American deer camp.

Gentlemen

Is there a well stocked surplus store anywere in Europe you can recommend? I can't find German flectar or the Danish camo in Sweden I also need a new German snorkel parka


The good thing with the Danish is that one only have to correct the arm patch's white cross with some yellow cloth pen


Marterius,
The special issue of the M-90 has "water proof" lineing. It doesn't work very well under hard physical exercise in cold weather. Did you get your smock from military shop?

/ JOHAN

Ouch, a tad more expensive than surplus gear... I know what you mean with "not as quiet as Loden or Tweed". Garments with membranes are extremely practical, but never as quiet, sadly. Thanks for that Martin.

- mike

mho

Indeed, there will be a shitload of links. Hopefully there will be something of value



I'm thinking about an arktis in flecktarn or Danish m-84 pattern



/ JOHAN

Johan,

Would that jacket be any cheaper bought direct from Artkis? I am pretty sure I can still get 10% the list price so take that into account too.

Regards,

Pete

Hello;
I used to be a great fan of surplus gear in my younger day, when it was cheap and plentiful. but nowadays it seems to be treated as a collectible or fashion item . I can buy better commercial stuff cheaper. As well, most of the european surplus clothing, with the exception of the Swedish, just can't cut our Canadian climate. Makes you wonder how they ever planned to fight the U.S.S.R.
Grizz