Surplus shoulder bag

[Draven]

Howdy folks!
Thought I'd show this off :D Not really a review yet as I can't use it til after christmas, but a preliminary as it were...

I, like many, grew up knowing that if you're after cheap kit that'll last a lifetime or longer, army surplus is often the way to go. And I did that for a while, but at some point I foolishly decided that I wanted something fancier. That inspired this:

http://neo-thought.parallel-worlds.net/bn.jpg
Some cheapo rubbishy shoulder bag from eBay. It has 6 pockets IIRC including the main compartment, eyelets on the front I used to attach junk to, I could hang just about everything from it and there was a compartment for just about everything I had. Well, as it happens, it was a bit too complicated for a simple fella such as myself, and I wound up using the main compartment for everything and using the rest for stuffing rubbish in :rolleyes: The canvas was thin and flimsy, the lining was just nylon, the strap was fixed, and there was no 'backbone' to it so unless you had a 1.5l volvic bottle in it, it just flopped around. The floppiness of the bag also allowed stuff to dig into my leg which was a PITA.

Enter army surplus. I found this bag while browsing eBay and couldn't pass it up - technically it's a christmas present from my dad, but I managed to bribe a looksee to take some pictures with a few cookies and chocolate eclairs :lol2:

It's french army surplus, the seller said he thought it was from the 60s. Pics:

http://neo-thought.parallel-worlds.net/fsbag.jpg
Canvas is good n heavy, quite coarse - should be good n hard wearing.

http://neo-thought.parallel-worlds.net/fsbag2.jpg
Strap closures are thick leather with good steel buckles. Stitching's good too.

http://neo-thought.parallel-worlds.net/fsbag3.jpg
Stitching round the shoulder strap buckle, also riveted... good heavy buckle again.

http://neo-thought.parallel-worlds.net/fsbag4.jpg
Holds one yellow pages and what I think is a thomson local. They're really just there to straighten out the leather, as it was flattened for shipping.

http://neo-thought.parallel-worlds.net/fsbag5.jpg
What leather? This leather :D This is the bit I really liked, the inside is completely lined with stiff leather to protect the contents, you from the contents and keep the shape.

http://neo-thought.parallel-worlds.net/fsbag6.jpg
Shoulder strap is removable, heavy steel clip again, and the leather holding the d-ring is again stitched with heavy thread and riveted.

http://neo-thought.parallel-worlds.net/fsbag7.jpg
Closure straps where attached to flap

http://neo-thought.parallel-worlds.net/fsbag8.jpg
Also has belt loops - I think this'll be great for those trips up cliffs where you don't want a heavy bag bouncing around, should be able to put it on the belt while still allowing the shoulder strap to take most of the weight. I might just make a leather 'adapter' so I can put a knife sheath here instead, kinda like on Nessmuk's 'ditty bag'.

http://neo-thought.parallel-worlds.net/fsbag9.jpg
I'm not entirely sure what these are for. The seller said that the bag could be worn as a rucksack, which I suppose you could do and I might give it a try - the metal fittings on the strap don't fit through the d-rings, though, so you'd need another one. I think it's more likely that these are to allow a rolled up sleeping mat or the like to be strapped/tied onto the bag, which I'll definitely make use of.

I forgot to take a pic, but the flap also comes down over the sides a little bit which should help keep water out when it's raining.

I'll be EDCing this to work when I get it at christmas, so I don't have to carry around a carrier bag with my work shirt and bottle of water, so I'll no doubt come back with more a more final opinion - but things are looking good :D And I love that army surplus smell.

Pete

PS: Forgot to add, this cost around £20 including shipping - about the same as the first bag shown!

[MartiniDave]

This is one of my favourite bags. I have found the loops on the back carry a Wildlife Hatchet or Small Forrest Axe very nicely. The only thing I don't like about it is the strap fittings can rattle a bit, but I plan to look at muffling them, maybe with some cord or similar.
For some reason mine has a green finish to the leatherwork.

Dave

[lamper]

Am I going mental or should there be some pics in this post?

[scrogger]

I see them ok and that looks like a pretty good bag . As you say should last a life time.

[lamper]

Okay, so I have gone mental.

Weird as this is only post I can't see the pic on!


EDIT:

just checked the page code and can see the links fo the pics, but they are blocked by our work firewall - odd as we are a gambling company and I can get to pretty much anything else.

So yeah, anyway, its me....

[Draven]

This is one of my favourite bags. I have found the loops on the back carry a Wildlife Hatchet or Small Forrest Axe very nicely. The only thing I don't like about it is the strap fittings can rattle a bit, but I plan to look at muffling them, maybe with some cord or similar.
For some reason mine has a green finish to the leatherwork.

Dave
Nice idea with the loops, my hawk fits them nicely :D Yeah, the same seller had them with green leatherwork - no idea why the difference!


I see them ok and that looks like a pretty good bag . As you say should last a life time.
Cheers bud :D


Okay, so I have gone mental.

Weird as this is only post I can't see the pic on!


EDIT:

just checked the page code and can see the links fo the pics, but they are blocked by our work firewall - odd as we are a gambling company and I can get to pretty much anything else.

So yeah, anyway, its me....
I can e-mail you the pics in a zip file if you can't get online at home mate! Pm if y'like!

Pete

[littlebiglane]

Kev at Endicotts has just got a shipment in - I picked up one last week...and they are certainly VERY robust and durable. Give him a tinkle and he'll give you a good price. And I expect not as much as £20!

[topknot]

That bag really shows how leather straps are stitched on properly.
Topknot

[tenderfoot]

yeah i have had one with the green lining for a while now.
I expect it will last a lifetime -very well made.
To use in rucsac fashion think like an old fashioned school satchel.
Remove strap completely from usual attachments,
thread the starap through both leather loops then reattach metal clips- but to the metal loops on the base. this gives you a sliding, adjustable, pair of shoulder straps which can be further adjusted using the length adjuster buckle on the strap.
A very neat bit of design
I was told they were French or Belgian 1950/60 ish and were used for despatches, hence the waterproof leather lining.Though this would also fit with use as a bread bag.
I reproofed mine with some aqueous nikwax made for leather/material. It softened the leather a bit and the canvas is now very waterproof

By the way good choice -the us arctic waterbottle but its worth putting a bit of tape round the white plastic on top of the bung to protect it as it can be brittle (? age) and can split/shatter if knocked

[Draven]

That bag really shows how leather straps are stitched on properly.
Topknot
That's good to know :D


yeah i have had one with the green lining for a while now.
I expect it will last a lifetime -very well made.
To use in rucsac fashion think like an old fashioned school satchel.
Remove strap completely from usual attachments,
thread the starap through both leather loops then reattach metal clips- but to the metal loops on the base. this gives you a sliding, adjustable, pair of shoulder straps which can be further adjusted using the length adjuster buckle on the strap.
A very neat bit of design
I was told they were French or Belgian 1950/60 ish and were used for despatches, hence the waterproof leather lining.Though this would also fit with use as a bread bag.
I reproofed mine with some aqueous nikwax made for leather/material. It softened the leather a bit and the canvas is now very waterproof

By the way good choice -the us arctic waterbottle but its worth putting a bit of tape round the white plastic on top of the bung to protect it as it can be brittle (? age) and can split/shatter if knocked

Cheers for the suggestions mate, I hadn't thought about either :D I'll work out a cover for the bottle top!

Pete

[hurrahbro]

I was told they were French or Belgian 1950/60 ish and were used for despatches, hence the waterproof leather lining.Though this would also fit with use as a bread bag.


I'll delurk.

Edit, found its true purpose.

It's a French "Musette porte chargeur FM mle 24/29 grand modèle", as used by the French in Algeria, French-Indochina war (as in the battle of Dien Bien Phu) etc. It is for carrying magazines and loose ammo for the French M24/29 Machine gun (a French Bren Gun) Hence the heavy construction.

There is also a smaller companion bag for the tool kit etc.

2 models, one with internal compartments, one with out. The lower D rings are for attaching further equipment related to the machine gun.

It was replaced in the 60's, so likely already 50 years old!

They have proved very useful for historical inspired airsoft, a few of the team I belong to were using them last weekend (we were the Viet Cong, which is about as modern as we go, we are normally WW2 free french). You certainly can fit an wholes days needs in one.

[EddBamber]

Thats a nice satchel there, i have one a little like it although mine is bigger and maybe newer but still old.

[apj1974]

Is that a Ukulele Banjo hanging on that bag?

Turned out nice again!

[littlebiglane]

http://www.endicotts.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=1 922

I posted above on this bag earlier that Kev said he awas getting these in. It seems like Mr Endicott has got his in and priced them up. I have one. The straps are very slightly mis-aligned. Not so it is unusable mind. But just is. If you felt the aching need to undstich and re-align. Personally its not a real problem. The bags are built like tanks tho'

[Elines]

Recently took receipt of one from Endicotts and very pleased with - it the misalignment is barely noticeable