View Full Version : Army surplus
Does anyone know a good source for army surplus kit?
This place
http://www.ishop.co.uk/ishop/866/shopscr33.html
looks very cheap but seems to sell in bulk... (10 '58 pattern water bottles for £15 plus VAT - but I only want one!)
donkeyporge
09-01-2004, 11:50
This place is my fav:
http://www.strikeforcesupplies.co.uk/1.shtml
Then this
http://www.silvermans.co.uk/Silver/docs/topframe.htm
Then this:
http://www.stringtownsupplies.co.uk
All very prompt on delivery :-o
giancarlo
09-01-2004, 11:53
They have a sister site which sells singles:
http://www.the-outdoor.co.uk/
Not used them myself though (i think)
Got a whole list of them on here... will try post them later (if that's cool with Tony?)
Cheers
Carlo
Stuart - are these the crusader mugs http://www.ishop.co.uk/ishop/866/shopscr147.html
looks like the same mug that Woodlore sell for approx £18.50
It looks the same and has the marks on it for different measures and is stainless steel.
so what's that £12.50 mark up ??
cheers
john
The Woodlore ones are new while the others are grade 1 used. Strikeforce Supplies are cheaper tho! :-D
looks like the same mug that Woodlore sell for approx £18.50
It looks the same and has the marks on it for different measures and is stainless steel.
so what's that £12.50 mark up ??
cheers
john
Hello check this http://www.fieldandforces.co.uk/
Good price an d service.
Enjoy
they certainly look like the crusader mugs but i can't see the markings in the picture which would confirm whether it is a real one or not
the best thing to do would be to ring them and ask them if they are real crusader mugs or copys
Hello check this http://www.fieldandforces.co.uk/
Good price an d service.
Enjoy
Does it matter if there not real crusader mugs?
I work it out to be £2.35 per mug when you include the vat.
thats for a stainless steel mug with measuring marks!! They might be grade 1 but I think you'd be hard pushed to tell the differance between grade 1 and new if you clean them up, they sure are cheap!! Has to be a bushcraft bargin.
cheers
John
Sorry - forgot to say that link I mentioned is a wholesaler and minimum order is £250
Mind you, if you can get an esbit stove and fuel for 75p, a water bottle for £1.50 and a mug for £2.35, some shops must be making a good profit.
I've had a mug & waterbottle on order from http://www.the-outdoor.co.uk/ishop/853/shopscr147.html for a month, and they've told me today that they're expecting some in "next week". These people are the retail bit of Field Textiles the wholesalers. Downside is the £7-50 standard delivery charge - ouch. Still you can always add plenty of army surplus kit to your order - and anyway, I reckon a genuine British Army grade 1 steel mug and waterbottle for 16.49 is still a good deal!
These mugs are like rocking horse dung, so get an order in PDQ if you're interested in one.
Ted W
donkeyporge
16-01-2004, 13:53
Is the 58 Waterbottle the same as the NATO Waterbottle?
Stuart - are these the crusader mugs http://www.ishop.co.uk/ishop/866/shopscr147.html
The Crusader mugs are teflon coated alloy
The "Mears mug" is stainless steel. Other than that the dimensions etc are the same. Hope this helps :-)
I always thought the Woodlore mugs were the original crusader mugs. The new teflon coated ones have only been out a while. This is stuff that Stuart knows like the back of his hand, Oi Stuart :-D
the 58 pattern (1958) is the older ... the newer ones are 85 I think.
Is the 58 Waterbottle the same as the NATO Waterbottle?
Great Pebble
16-01-2004, 22:32
The '58 bottle is still on issue, it's black, hefty and holds a litre. I've seen it described as a NATO waterbottle by some dealers.
However what you'll also see described as a NATO bottle is the Dutch/American type (they're dimensionally identical), it's green, comparatively soft and holds a quart.
Both have associated cups which are not interchangeable.
Both have also been copied by the far east "toy" market, haven't seen one of the 58 copies yet, but the quality of the copy of the US/Dutch bottle is execrable.
Nick in Belfast
Stuart - are these the crusader mugs http://www.ishop.co.uk/ishop/866/shopscr147.html
The Crusader mugs are teflon coated alloy
The "Mears mug" is stainless steel. Other than that the dimensions etc are the same. Hope this helps :-)
The Crusader mugs come in two types Black teflon coated and standard (non coated)
The black ones are not alloy, they are plain stainless steel just like the normal ones but with a teflon coating
mears sells the standard non-coated version
what is refured too as the 58 pattern canteen is the current issue
the crusader mug is designed to fit onto the bottom
Great Pebble
17-01-2004, 15:12
If the latest issue of Combat & Survival is on the ball there's a new stove on the way for the British Army which also fits to the '58 canteen, along with the mug. Gel-fuelled kinda thing.
Nick in Belfast
I Know I was involved in designing it!! :-D
runs on most fuels: sticks, meths, alcohol, etc but its was designed to run on green heat gel fuel
We suggested to the MOD that they use green heat fuel because when it burns it only gives off Carbon dioxide (not much either)
so it is safe to use in snow holes and confined spaces
Great Pebble
17-01-2004, 18:07
Looks good, but it's going to be a bit of a squeeze into the pouch... :wink:
Although I do cook in the cup occasionally, on hexi folder with the mug fitting, I'm loathe to do away with my mess tin.
Is the green heat stuff good?
Nick in Belfast
It just fits into the issue pouch with the canteen and cup, there currently redesigning all the load carrying systems
the greenheat stuff is very good
ditchfield
17-01-2004, 19:12
I've got a tub of that green heat stuff at home. I was wondering what to do with it. Now I know.
It's environmentaly friendly too, as the name suggests.
its made from the by product of refineing sugercane
Great Pebble
17-01-2004, 20:03
I'll have to try it, although a drunken deal with a large, bearded Belgian chap at Beltring last summer has left me the proud posessor of about 200 packets of French made Hexamine.
ick in Belfast
Anyone got any pics of this new stove/cooker.... is it like the old hexi stove with a well for the gel fuel?
:-)
Ed
Great Pebble
18-01-2004, 15:34
Haven't a pic but it looks like the bottom third or so of one of the mugs, with a notch cut in the sides and holes drilled to allow it draw. Very simple, no working parts. The mug just fits on top.
Nick in Belfast
donkeyporge
18-01-2004, 15:44
In one of his books, Ray Mears mentions a lid for the top of the Crusader mugs..To keep off insects whilst cooking, does this lid come with the Mugs or is it a seperate item as I haven't seen it for sale anywhere?
Great Pebble
18-01-2004, 16:00
Never seen a lid, or even heard tell of one. The plastic "lip" to protect your lips from buring certainly exists, I've seen them (but never managed to get one). A lid is a new one on me.
Nick in Belfast
donkeyporge
18-01-2004, 16:35
On page 11 of BUSHCRAFT halfway down the second paragraph
"The lid will keep off flies and other insects" ?
Great Pebble
18-01-2004, 16:48
Well now I've heard tell of one , or read at least :-D
Nick in Belfast
RAPPLEBY2000
19-01-2004, 00:00
tin foil is the usual suspect for lids on cooking pots, pans and mugs.
there is such a thing as a mess tin lid, teflon coated no less! prehaps it was an editorial error? :oops:
the plastic rim as suggested has had a wobbly past some like it but most hate it, mostly because it dosen't fit exactly the mug it was intended for "85 pattern mug" thus leaking hot drink on you!
alot of people don't bother and just use electric tape on the rim!
The lip rims are awful ... they leak drink all over you. In fact, they were replaced because of soldiers getting food poisoning from not cleaning them well! :yikes: I once put my mug (in show off mode) on an open fire and the lip rim caught fire! :oops: :shock: ... I replaced it with the crusader mug and never looked back.
The new pattern mug is lighter and easier to heat up ... although I cannot find any mention of a handle and I've spoken to a guy who used to work the stores. As far as he knew there has never been a lid to the mugs (a mess tin lid was introduced though).
if you have a stainless steel mug of whatever variety, and the rim is too hot to drink from, just give it a splash of cold water. you needn't bother with silly plastic rims or tacky slide-y insulation tape.
if you have an aluminium mug, throw it in the bin and buy a stainless steel one, or better still, titanium.
there's a great bit in the ray mears and ewan macgregor in honduras film where ray makes them a nice cup of hot chocolate each. rays is in his s'steel mug, ewan's was in an aluminium mug. i was wincing before the ally mug touched ewan's lips. :yikes: :mrgreen: ewan's next comment was "would someone like to kick me in the balls as well?" it must've been a hard day. bless...
:lol:
cheers, and.
Powderburn
19-01-2004, 23:19
there's a great bit in the ray mears and ewan macgregor in honduras film where ray makes them a nice cup of hot chocolate each ... ewan's net comment was "would someone like to kick me in the balls as well?"
I have that episode on tape, and the hot chocolate bit is not on it. The Travel Channel must have edited that segment out for our sensitive American ears. :roll: :o):
The black ones are not alloy, they are plain stainless steel just like the normal ones but with a teflon coating
mears sells the standard non-coated version
what is refured too as the 58 pattern canteen is the current issue
the crusader mug is designed to fit onto the bottom
Sorry Stuart...I was looking at the one here which states it's alloy
http://www.army-surplus.co.uk/Merchant2/4.13/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=1&Product_Code=95CM&Category_Code=ED
You will probably find that the 'special alloy' its made of is nothing more than stainless steel with a teflon coat..... it called marketing :-)
Stuart knows his stuff.... he worked (past tense) for the company that makes these. He sourced the materials and the company to do the teflon coat..... sooo if he says it stainless steel.... it probably is... he spent alot of time with this product ;-)
:-)
Ed
I recently bought a black crusader mug from elsewhere, it said on the site it was teflon coated stainless, it feels and weighs about the same as stailess. I've brewed up in it and it certainly doesnt have the heat transfer issues that the aluminium ones have.
The black ones are not alloy, they are plain stainless steel just like the normal ones but with a teflon coating
mears sells the standard non-coated version
what is refured too as the 58 pattern canteen is the current issue
the crusader mug is designed to fit onto the bottom
Sorry Stuart...I was looking at the one here which states it's alloy
http://www.army-surplus.co.uk/Merchant2/4.13/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=1&Product_Code=95CM&Category_Code=ED
Um yes their Talking compleate rubbish, if i could be bothered i'l send them an e-mail about it....... but i cant
sounds like they have an over excited product salesman
He sourced the materials and the company to do the teflon coat
I was only involved in designing the cooker to go on the bottom of the crusader cup, the actual cup as designed years before I joined the company, but i did spend a lot of time (far too much) surrounded by crusader mugs
I stand corrected :oops: I know the mug was designed years before but I thought you were involved with the teflon coat upgrade.... my mistake.... sorry.
Ed
Ahh bugger I wasn't sure so I bought the US army stainless mug (only a fiver too !!) :-)
Further to my posting on 16 Jan, I just received my order from outdoor supplies/field textiles. They now have the stainless steel mugs and they are genuine British Army surplus...... but the one I got was crushed! In fact, of the 4 things I ordered, 3 are wrong in some way! :-x
The test of a company is how they deal with problems, so I'll let you all know how I get on.
Ted W
as a sort of alternative to the milspec stainless steel mug, you could get a great s/steel pint measuring jug from tescos for about six quid. i bought mine a while ago.
i found it to be the perfect size for the water bottle pockets on my northface bumbag, small enough to fit in, big enough to house a standard bike cage size water bottle 8-)
cheers, and.
They now have the stainless steel mugs and they are genuine British Army surplus...... but the one I got was crushed!
So was mine that arrived today, not unusable, but bent out of shape.
I contacted Field Textiles/Outdoor Supplies yesterday and they were very helpful. They've promised to send out replacements (properly packed!) today - so I'll update you on receipt. Also, because of the hassle, they told me not to bother sending the reject stuff back – so anyone want to make me an offer on the following British Army Surplus items:
1 stainless steel waterbottle mug – a bit squashed but probably usable as long as you don’t want it to fit under your waterbottle, or it might be possible to bash/pull it back into shape (cat price £5-00)
1 pair new & unused Gore-Tex socks, black, large (cat price £10-00)
1 pair new & unused woollen gloves, green, one hand large, one hand medium (cat price £3-00)
Incidentally, for anyone who lives near or uses the A14 at Thrapston, I’ve found Home Guard (01832 734630) to have a good selection of army surplus & outdoor stuff at very good prices, e.g. Snugpack pile shirt for £65. Worth a look if you’re passing.
Ted W
Why don't you have a look in the yellow pages and nip down to your local Surplus shop. I always find it easier to look at stuff and hold it and check it out, and see what it's it like.
No P&P and you get it straight away, and normally once you get to know them they can usually keep an eye out for stuff that you want when they go to their "wholesalers".
Great Pebble
03-02-2004, 17:19
:-P I do like the inverted commas on wholesalers......
Mek!
Why don't you have a look in the yellow pages and nip down to your local Surplus shop. I always find it easier to look at stuff and hold it and check it out, and see what it's it like.
No P&P and you get it straight away, and normally once you get to know them they can usually keep an eye out for stuff that you want when they go to their "wholesalers".
:shock: my local army surplus shop tends to only be able to collect a mass ov oversized equiptment, or totaly worn out weekend soldier sort ov stuff...although they did sorce me a Berghaus Roc III rucksack( now for sale due to me being to tall for it) going cheap... from that big outdoor store in newcastle... :wink:
Great Pebble
05-02-2004, 15:33
my local army surplus shop tends to only be able to collect a mass ov oversized equiptment,
Buy it.
Virtually everything you'll get from surplus wholesalers is in small sizes, getting a hold of large sizes is very difficult and they attract a premium from chubby surplus collectors. Checl out e-bay and look at the prices vice sizes, could make yourself a tidy sum.
Nick in Belfast
Well, I finally got the replacement items in the post today :-D . This time they were all OK, but it's taken me 3 goes at chasing the company up to achieve it not good enough! :-x The people were very nice and helpful but failed to live up to their promises and seemed to suffer amnesia as soon as they put the phone down at least I had to explain the whole thing every time to the same young lady :roll: .
Would I use Field Textile/Outdoor Supplies again? What do you think? (That means No, actually! :-P )
Ted W
donkeyporge
15-02-2004, 10:57
Recieved my Mug from STRIKEFORCE within 2 days in absolutely mint condition :-D
I have had a few items from them and being the cheapest company with the most efficient service...would only shop there..If there range was bigger.