Salt-and-Pepper Swiss Army surplus - Will we ever see that quality again?

[David Conwill]

Back when I was in high school, all the military surplus catalogs were filled with 1950s Swiss Army Surplus - personally I had an overcoat, a rucksack, a couple bread bags, and a pair of winter gaiters.

It was great stuff, hard wearing and felt like it would last forever. My brother had a Swedish Army rucksack of slightly less quality. It's all gone now, and when I look through military surplus websites and stores it's all cruddy nylon knock-offs of Vietnam-era gear.

Just today I was lamenting that I couldn't find another pair of those gaiters and a salt-and-pepper rucksack like I had in high school (the pack got run over by a car, and goodness knows what happened to the gaiters).

Do you think the good military surplus is all gone, or are there stockpiles of good quality stuff somewhere waiting to still be released?

-Dave

 

[Creeping Past]

Swiss wool gaiters

Swiss army rucks:

Tall

Large

Small

It's out there...

If gaiters are hard to find, you could think about wearing puttees, doughboy style. They're a lot better than you'd think for keeping foreign matter out of your boots. And they're easy to get hold of. They look good, too.

 

[GHQ1]

Swiss quality

Funny this should come up . .since like you . . .I very much like the Swiss gear . . In the last few days I've spent the net trolling for Swiss surplus . .and it's not plentiful like it was . . . One outfit makes a REPRO of the Swiss S&P gas mask bag for $20 . .and I found new originals for $10!

Trolling on Ebay is OK if you craft the right search to exclude watches, knives and new Wenger/Victorinox nylon . . .

The usual suspects still have good gear but the days of finding the large Swiss S&P packs for $15-20 may be over . . The small packs are still available it seems but oddly WITHOUT shoulder straps in some cases (see SwissLink) . .or jury rigged with other Euro nylon/canvas suspenders . . .

If you're looking for the LARGE Medic's backpack (like the tornister but not fur covered) . .I'll point you in the right direction . .

Check also Sportsmansguide and gijungle - they have those fabulous canvas & leather ammo boxes for $20-25 ea . . .I got some from gijungle and they were darn near unissued . .

Some guys retask vintage militaria to add value or new uses . . but Redford's company (Song &) Sund@nce simply jacks the wallet (if you're so inclined):

SWISS ARMY BLANKET
#44321 $298.00
Steeped in alpine tradition and suited to high-altitude elements, our vintage Swiss Army blankets are the real deal—impenetrably warm, pleasingly soft and seamlessly crafted of wool and horse hair. Drawn from recently discovered stock, each blanket is marked with a unique issue number and the signature white cross on a red stripe. Made in Switzerland. 78-3/4"L x 55"W. They also offer the large S&P ruck for $125.

 

[fishmeok]

Long Live The Guide- though they don't seem to have as much stuff as they did a couple years ago. I live in the Twin cities and go to the retail outlet a lot, it's in the back of their shipping warehouse and is full of returns, stuff that didn't sell, etc. Great Place and the closest thing to a real surplus store left.
Cheers
Mark

 

[DutchIndo]

Try " Fatigues Army Navy " they have some on their website (Salt and Pepper Packs). I second the Sportsman Guide but they cheesed me off recently. I have held off buying from them out of protest.

 

[David Conwill]

If gaiters are hard to find, you could think about wearing puttees, doughboy style. They're a lot better than you'd think for keeping foreign matter out of your boots. And they're easy to get hold of. They look good, too.

Lots of good info, thanks to all. I do have to comment on this - perhaps I just don't know how to wrap them, but how do puttees keep stuff from your boots? And where do you get them?

-Dave

 

[Creeping Past]

Puttees, wrapping, for the use of:

Here and here.

As you'll notice, they wrap around the top of the boot, and thence up the calf, and keep stuff out that way. These woollen wonders work surprisingly well in wet, muddy conditions. And afterwards, just let them dry and flake the mud off or rinse them through in tepid water and air dry. They're a lot easier to use in wet, muddy conditions than canvas leggings/gaiters.

But there are two sorts, long at 9 feet (each one!) and short (about 4 feet).

The longer ones work best for me.

I've bought some long ones from Schipperfabrik in Pennsylvania, good quality wool ones.

What Price Glory sell the short ones and these are also good quality.

Surplus stores will generally sell the shorter version, which was used by the British army up until the Falklands war, at least, or so I've been told. The longer ones were WW1 and post-WW1 issue.

 

[David Conwill]

Gosh those Schipperfabrick 9 footers and a pair of their feldgrau breeches would work great with my green-plaid pea coat. Of course, suddenly I feel like I'm lacking in the boots department!

-Dave

 

[Creeping Past]

For boots, try the excellent repro WW1 British army boot from William Lennon (UK).

I've not got a pair of these, but I've seen them close up and they're great.

 

[H.Johnson]

As you'll notice, they wrap around the top of the boot, and thence up the calf, and keep stuff out that way.

Surplus stores will generally sell the shorter version, which was used by the British army up until the Falklands war, at least, or so I've been told. The longer ones were WW1 and post-WW1 issue.

Unless you are 'doing cavalry', in which case they go the other way.

I have to say that the results of that demonstration would get the wearer a 'rocket' from the SM!

They are still technically on issue, but I haven't a clue what they are used for! It means they are cheap in surplus shops.

 

[H.Johnson]

For boots, try the excellent repro WW1 British army boot from William Lennon (UK).

I've not got a pair of these, but I've seen them close up and they're great.

And you can attend Stoney Middleton Well Dressing while you are at it. Coincicentally I was in this shop a couple of weekends ago (walking Frogatt Edge). They have some good stuff.

 

[maxnharry]

Funny this should come up . .since like you . . .I very much like the Swiss gear . . In the last few days I've spent the net trolling for Swiss surplus . .and it's not plentiful like it was . . . One outfit makes a REPRO of the Swiss S&P gas mask bag for $20 . .and I found new originals for $10!

Trolling on Ebay is OK if you craft the right search to exclude watches, knives and new Wenger/Victorinox nylon . . .

The usual suspects still have good gear but the days of finding the large Swiss S&P packs for $15-20 may be over . . The small packs are still available it seems but oddly WITHOUT shoulder straps in some cases (see SwissLink) . .or jury rigged with other Euro nylon/canvas suspenders . . .

If you're looking for the LARGE Medic's backpack (like the tornister but not fur covered) . .I'll point you in the right direction . .

Check also Sportsmansguide and gijungle - they have those fabulous canvas & leather ammo boxes for $20-25 ea . . .I got some from gijungle and they were darn near unissued . .

Some guys retask vintage militaria to add value or new uses . . but Redford's company (Song &) Sund@nce simply jacks the wallet (if you're so inclined):

SWISS ARMY BLANKET
#44321 $298.00
Steeped in alpine tradition and suited to high-altitude elements, our vintage Swiss Army blankets are the real deal—impenetrably warm, pleasingly soft and seamlessly crafted of wool and horse hair. Drawn from recently discovered stock, each blanket is marked with a unique issue number and the signature white cross on a red stripe. Made in Switzerland. 78-3/4"L x 55"W. They also offer the large S&P ruck for $125.

Would love to know where to find the large Medic's backpack.

 

[GHQ1]

Hidden in plain sight

Would love to know where to find the large Medic's backpack.

Right here . . . . . Awesome Vintage Backpack Ebay Item number: 280304393465

Ends Jan 26, 2009

SwissLink had these medical packs in 2000 and they were about $30 . .In fact I found my Swiss Link price list from 2000 . . .Large S&P ruck was $14 . . (now $50) . ..Medium was $12 (now $20 with no straps or $50 with straps from LoadUp) . . .They also offered a Mountain Rescue S&P Pack for $16 with 3 pockets on the outside . .and Schmidt Rubin rifle pack for $14 (now 40-50 if you can find one) . . .Vinyl ruck was $12 and the jumbo vinyl ruck was $14 . . . New Swedish wool cargo pants were $9 . .used $8 . . .

Bread bags haven't changed much . .$2 then . .and at the Guide . . 10 for $20 . . A pair of these 2 buck bags went for $90+ on Ebay as bike saddle bags . . .

Anybody have any odd Swiss bits for sale or trade?

 

[GHQ1]

PHOTO: Swiss WW2 Vintage K31 Backpack

WW2 Swiss ruck with breadsack and munition bag

 

[Cigarband]

Swiss Army Greatcoat

I bought one of these from Sportsman's Guide about ten years ago, and it still looks sharp. Everytime I wear it I get compliments. I also had the Swiss version of the German M-43 cap. But some basta*d stole it. Warmest hat I ever had.
I'd love to find another one, the new repros cost an arm.

 

[mclmm]

There's a few bits and pieces here: http://www.swisslink.com

I'm liking the Tri-fold attache/garment bag for USD$4.95

 

[JohnG97]

Is there anyone that could please help me to find out what this bag is. I bought it not to long ago because for some odd reason I just love old military leather and canvas sucks. If anyone has any ideas please let me know!!