Hey everybody. First, I’d like to thank you all for reading SHTFblog.
Thanks!
There are a few things I’d like to mention today, but nothing of major importance (the sky is falling! the sky is falling!) What? It isn’t? We can take a day off from the doom?
Sweet!
First, the spam blocker. If you reply to one of the posts here and it doesn’t show up right away you can either do one of two things:
1.) Wait.
2.) Email me at jarheadsurvivor@gmail.com or shtfblog@gmail.com and I’ll check the spam folder as soon as I get your message.
The reason I say wait is that I usually check the spam folder a few times a day and when I do I release the good comments. It’s a pain wading through the bad comments, but you guys are worth it. On a side note, if you ever want to know where to get the best Viagra or some sneakers, or who knows what, email me and I’ll forward it on.
Honestly, you’d be amazed at the spam we get!
Second, I’ve been looking at military surplus gear online and I’ve got a couple of friends who are willing to go in with me on it. My question to you is if I get some of this equipment would you be interested in seeing it posted online here for sale? I might like to have a couple of extra canteen cups kicking around, but not sure what I’d do with four-hundred. I don’t intend to do this on a regular basis, but if I get a good deal on something I’d be willing to pass it on to you if you’re interested. Right now I’m looking at some sleeping bags (military sleep systems) rated down to -40 F. Other items include anything from canteens and canteen cups to ILBE combat packs.
Before I put gear on here I’ll test it and provide an honest review of it, whatever it may be. I’ve used a lot of gear in my day and I feel qualified to give you a decent review of whatever it is I might find.
Third - Thanks to everybody who de-lurked yesterday! I know there are many more of you out there and it’s really nice to see you guys come out and say hello! I would encourage you to contribute your questions and comments to the blog.
If you have questions ask them as I’m sure other readers out there have the same ones. Comments are welcome any time! We don’t know everything and I’ve learned a lot from you guys telling how you do things, or prep, or store food, or whatever.
So let me know what you think about the surplus gear and sound off with any other ideas.
Thanks again and sound off below!
-Jarhead Survivor
Hey JArhead, shoot me an email before you uy with models etc an what prices are I may be able to beat the prices for you. I live in a TARGET RICH EVIRONMENT where the mkt is so saturated with surplus that theprices are RIGHT:)
Thanks Spook! Man, I haven’t heard from you for awhile. I was beginning to think you’d finally gone underground!
We’re not all underground… some of us still have shovels in hand. ;)
PS: Thanks for the recommendation you sent – I still have a mountain of work to put in before my little project is ready for prime-time (especially after seeing how badly Rawles’ just-released book got pounded on… ouch).
You bet, OQ. Nice to see you back again.
the real stuff is usually more appealing to me than commercial/ backpacker stuff. the main problem is cash. (I’ve already spent all of mine…) you’ll be on the hook for it, until you can re-sell what you don’t need. the next major hurdle is “shipping”. whether I drive up to get it, or give you my “shipping address”, whatever remained of my OPSEC is gone. (and yours is badly compromised)
having a surplus store, could be a good new revenue stream for you, if you can contain your costs. “Jarheads Dive Shop & Surplus”; kinda has a nice ring to it. the most inexpensive way to open shop, would be to get a booth at the local “farmers market” until the business takes off.
Maybe, “Jarhead’s Military Surplus and Dive Shop” – kinda has a nice ring to it eh? I’ve got a friend that reads this blog and he used to run a dive shop. As a matter of fact he has a dive business and I used to work for him as a diver. Once in a great while we still get together and do a dive job, but there’s already enough dive shops here at the coast.
But military surplus on the other hand…. there are a few places up here, but nothing with true military surplus in my immediate area. Might be worth looking into.
I agree, dive business is even better than dive shop.
true MILSURP is getting hard to find here too. two of the guys I buy from are at farmers markets. the “Army Navy” stores usually just have “Rothco” and maybe some “Propper”. entirely adequate for paintball, but not the “real mccoy”. A steady supply of MILSURP seems to be a problem.
East PA is overall a good place to buy gear. I have Cabellas, a couple LLBeans, Eastern Mountain Sports, Claytons, and REI, not much more than an hour away. Gander Mountain, and “Colemans” Surplus a few hours further. lots of gunshops! numerous “thrift shops”. (Sportsmans Guide, and Cheaper Than Dirt are as close as my keyboard, if the credit cards weren’t maxed out)
…and i don’t get out to many dives anymore. (my wife keeps me in, the nights i’m not working)
The thing about working as a commercial diver is that I find it ruins the sport diving for me. Every time I go out with some friends these days it drives me crazy because it’s so damned boring! Give me a boat to bring up or a hull to inspect. Anything other than looking under rocks for sea creatures!
I think it would be pretty neat to try that sometime though.
I’ve only ever done SCUBA in the swimming pool.
“Jarhead’s Military Surplus and Dive Shop”…sounds like a sweet combination to me…and an e-store for the time being, would save you a little cheese and allow you to get the “paperwork” started at least. Plus, you could hook us brothers up with some of those great deals…I could use a few cups too.
Maybe you would consider trades at some point?…I am starting to strategize and customize medical preps for individuals and families. We are not talking about band-aids and Aspirin here. You give me a list of your specific needs, threats, number of individuals to protect, etc. and I help you with the right gear and education (minus prescription meds for legal and ethical reasons of course). But I tell you how to speak to your family doctor to get those prescriptions and even some homeopathic treatments as well (if you are in to that haha).
I think the med kit is something preppers are sometimes intimidated by. They tend to buy a kit and check it off the list, without actually checking if that piece of gear can save their life. Like any of your other preps, the med stuff should be tested and customized to your specific needs…this is where it gets intimidating (and confusing). If anyone has any questions or would like some help with their medical preps please just let me know…I’ll get you ready for combat-surgery! As our saying goes “We heal with cold steel”.
Hey Doc. I think you’re right about people being put off by the medkit. Let me think about how I might be able to utilize your particular talents and I’ll get back to you. Thanks for the idea.
Whatever you need let me know, it would be an honor to help. I’m always checking the blog for updates, just usually doing some lurking myself.
Hey Doc – if you’d like to do a guest post about first aid stuff let me know. I’d love to have your expertise in a medical/first aid kit post.
Jarhead,
Always interested in a good deal on surplus GI stuff because I know I will be able to depend on it. May not be the lightest or prettiest, but dependability trumps those every time.
Hey Waterboy – that’s the thing about MILSURP. It’s not the lightest gear around and it’s certainly not the prettiest, but it works and that’s what’s important to me.
I have a civilian sleeping bag rated for -15 that I bought for around $200. It’s lightweight and it works ok, although when I slept out at around -6 I got pretty chilly. The military bags will be heavier and I’ll have to test the new models to see if they work ok.
The old heavy extreme cold weather green bags they gave us back in my day in the Corps (early 80′s) kept me warm as toast at -40 degrees in Minnesota, but I think they weighed about 15 pounds apiece! Good if you’re going to pull it on a sled or truck it, not so fun if you have to carry it.
Yeah , I took a chance and bought the Molle II large rucksack with gen 4 frame and 2 sustainment pouches . Got it 2 days ago and its a good size , they say its supposed to hold 5000 ci or 200 lbs , I cant attest to either one as I have not taken it out yet , unlike the earlier issue rucks , this one has the sleep system compartment built into the main ruck instead of a separate pouch component . I vote for that review . The one I got is brand new in multicam ……..I’m a flecktarn guy if I have a choice but only the Germans use it , Hate ACU .
5000 CI is huge! That’s bigger than my winter pack.
Thats what it says ..BUT ….looking at it that may be a bit deceiving , its current issue ruck , however I think they are counting the sleep system compartment at the bottom , like a lot of modern military packs , it gives you the option of separating the sleep system area with a zippered flap . So if you just wanted it to be a big freighter and unzip the internal separation flap , you have a giant bucket like the ILBE . But with the internal flap zipped up and putting your sleep system in there , I would guess its about 3000 – 3500 ci in the pack area …….It comes with 2 sustainment pouches , 1 on each side ……they might also be counted . Either way , it looks like a decent pack …..and you cant beat the MOLLE system for add ons .
T.R. – that sounds about the same size as the civilian packs I use. My biggest one is probably 4000 ci and I can pack a lot of gear into it.
I just recently got into the MOLLE gear and I really like how tight it stays on the pack. Seemed kinda tough getting the attachments on, but maybe that’s cause I’m a noob with the stuff.
I hear ya , I resisted it for a long time , but once I started using it ( and learning how ) I’m pretty sold on it . One thing I like the most about it is that it allows you to customize your gear the way you like to use it .
UPDATE : it does carry 5000ci , the ruck itself will hold 4000 ci , they do indeed count the sustainment pouches , each at 500ci , giving you the 5000 total ….again , if you decide to use the separator flap and put your sleep system in …..the pack area just got a lot smaller . I would say the sleep system will take up 1/3 of the 4000ci . of the ruck . This is right out of a FM.
T.R.;
Since your a flecktarn guy, I need some assistance with acquiring some Bundeswehr Wüstentarn Gear since I operate here in the desert southwest. If you know of any domestic commercial sources (all the sources I’ve seen are either in Germany or the UK) that has or can get Bundeswehr Wüstentarn I would greatly appreciate it.
Unfortunately , your almost stuck with European sources , The chinese tibetan flectarn colors are fantastic for the southwest low desert area ( I live in AZ ) . Most of the flectarn I see is the standard woodland version , I dont see a lot of use for the tropentarn if your not in the middle east . Believe it or not , try some of the big paintball suppliers , Some are actually very good quality exact reproductions of modern US Molle gear in foreign camo patterns . if you check ebay , make sure your settings are set for worldwide . Good luck
KC , you kind of threw me off about wustentarn . I looked it up and its tropentarn …………..I’m tellin ya , forget that stuff , the tibetan flectarn the chinese use is spot on for the american southwest ! you will disappear . I think its called officially plateau version 3 or 4 . bet google tibetan flecktarn and see what I mean about the colors .
here ya go for an example of tibet tarn . I think you will understand why it looks spot on for the southwest .
http://www.strikehold.net/2009/04/11/chinese-type-03-plateau-camouflage-tibet-tarn/
I’d be interested. Shipping and payment would be a concern though unless you have e-store capabilities through the site here.
If there’s enough interest I might make a “store front”, but it would be pretty limited.
“Prioriy Mail” Flat Rate Boxes.
If it fits, it ships.
Priority.
I recommend MILSORP to all my Boy Scouts and parents- very durable and at surplus prices, a value product. yes, unfortunately, heavy and not so easy on the eyes.
Good way to test market the idea before spending a bunch of cash…BTW, this is the best site I look at and I keep my fingers in 4-6 sites. Keep up the good work.
Thanks Ace! Good point about the Scouts.
You can find all the woodland flectarn clothing you want from US suppliers , but when you get the least bit exotic like wusentarn or tibetantarn ….you almost always have to get it from overseas …..thats been my experience anyway . kinda sucks .
I would buy, always looking for stuff to add to the gear selection. Picked up a ILBE a month ago for $70 but now trying to find the cover and waist belt for it. Never can have enough gear! Our Army surplus is ok but lacks in quality stuff have to jump on it when they have something!
Ours is ok ….thats about it , the problem with this one is they sometimes try to pass off chinese knock offs as surplus . I called them on it a few times . I asked them if its the real deal ……why it doesn’t have US on it or the inside defense. contractor tag or stamps .
Count me in as interested in it. In fact I have been looking at getting a few military sleep systems for the last couple of weeks.
Just make sure you can sleep in a mummy bag , I’m too restless for them because i move around too much , and I have long legs that tend to like a bit of room . So the standard rectangle is all I can sleep in . just sayin
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