How to tell them apart

when looking at old vintage gear it can be hard to know what your looking at as things my have changed over time. also more than one company may have made a item in the past and this will add to the question of how do i know if this is the one i am looking for. in this video i hope to address some of this when looking at vintage camping gear and help guide you to the proper choice for your needs.thanks for watching
collecting vintage boy scout mess kits can be a fun hobby . in this video i will show how to tell which model was made in the ww2 1940's time frame as well as the pre-ww2 time frame. i love camping and cooking with old time vintage camping gear and the boy scout mess kits of the 1930 and 1930's are a good addition to your collection.
#boyscout , #bushcraft , #camping , #woods , # secrets, #messkits,#collecting , # vintage camp, #woodsmen , #kephart , # woodscraft, #woodsman, #old school , # kephartdays, #nessmunk, #tramping, #hobocamping, #living history,

[@blackoracle69]

hope everyone has a great weekend

[@voraciousblackstn]

The BSA kits are great. I prefer the USGI set myself. "But it has no pot!" 2 canteen cups. 1 with a lid. 1 stove. I have a 65 dated mess kit that is stainless. Love it. Also have 3 canteen cups. 2 wire handle, 1 bar handle. I usually have 5 canteens with me. 2 on my pistol belt, 2 1 qts on my ruck and 1 2qt on my ruck. I normally only take 2 canteen cups, but can take the third if I'm out for a long trip. The BSA kit is classic though. It has been around longer than the military mess kit as it is today. Dates back to at least the Civil War. Older in a non-kit form. Rodger's Rangers used a similar kit, just no folding handle on the skillet and a larger boiler. That was the 1750s. Blackie, I really do get you I think. I started out doing re-enacting, went in the Army, now do camping. A lot of knowledge to be gained by looking to the past and to the military when it comes to bushcraft.

[@MichaelR58]

Good video Blackie , thanks for sharing , God bless !

[@blackoracle69]

have a great weekend

[@susanp.collins7834]

Blackie, my dear, sainted elocution teacher at the larney Catholic Convent I attended for twelve years would DIE! I LOVE listening to your lovely, laid-back, relaxed Southern drawl. But 'urp' for 'up'? Darling Mrs Maas would have KILLED you! Y'awl tayke cayair now!

[@Squirrel200]

Old school Rocks!

[@blackoracle69]

yep lol

[@jamesgroce1284]

Blackie, the 86 year old Scoutmaster enjoyed your presentation. Appreciate you.

[@blackoracle69]

Much appreciated

[@Stoney_AKA_James]

This brings back memories for when I was a Boy Scout in the 1970s!

[@blackoracle69]

awesome thanks for watching

[@stevenladrig9592]

Blackie I have a stainless steel one boy scout issue

[@blackoracle69]

nice

[@jenniferbauman4802]

Good video. Those are nice mess kits. God bless. From Glenn CATT in Massachusetts. They don't make em like that anymore. Every one gone wimpy.

[@blackoracle69]

thank you

[@williammaurer9450]

That's a beautiful steel skillet. WOW! Got my old 1950s Aluminum set, going to look for the steel version, didn't know there was one. I've got a small cool handle too, love it, but I want that steel BSA set. I agree: it's perfection, it's simple, it's bomb proof. You never cease to amaze, LOL. TY!

[@blackoracle69]

good luck they do show up on ebay from time to time

[@user-eg3yv3xr7s]

I remember these mess kits from when I was a boy scout. I'm 70 yrs old now and I haven't seen one of these kits since I was in the scouts. I know they're probably available on-line but I'm sure they're pretty expensive by now.

[@jerryhallman1742]

Blackie I always learn something from your videos

[@blackoracle69]

glad to help

[@larryeddings3185]

Excellent info, Blackie. Thanks for sharing.

[@blackoracle69]

My pleasure!

[@davidcarothers3311]

Another excellent video! Thanks again!!

[@blackoracle69]

My pleasure!

[@JohnBabb-sn4qt]

Thank you for the information, as always very helpful.

[@1969jmac]

Liking this mess kit and right now I have and thoroughly love the czech mess kit it does it all. Now I'll have to add this one to the mix

[@blackoracle69]

thanks for watching

[@marcschultz5869]

Awesome video

[@blackoracle69]

Thanks for the visit

[@timlacy2284]

Blackie , Outstanding Video and Information Thanks, I Greatly Appreciate you sharing your knowledge and wisdom and time. You Are A Great Teacher. Yes You Are The Master Woodsman and Buschcrafter. Have a great weekend.

[@blackoracle69]

You are very welcome

[@tomritter493]

Yup that steel one is a hefty bugger had one yrs ago. Ya it's a great set man like you said pan. Pot oven and cup plate all thier

[@blackoracle69]

all in one and it will take care of your cooking needs

[@tomritter493]

@@blackoracle69 it always has. For yrs that and my canteen cup were set

[@scottcatchot1598]

I have a few in aluminum, used it alot.

[@misolgit69]

something similar happened with the military issue canteens and canteen cups, they were originally aluminium but at one point it was decided that was not productive so they were switched to 'rustless steel' after a year or so production went back to aluminium when it was worked out that US had sufficient stocks in reserve, according to the article I read it was perfectly feasible to find men in one unit being equipped with all aluminium all steel or a mix particularly if they were in a relatively new unit or one that had been brought back strengthened and re-equipped because by then the retrieval and refurbishment program was well on its way with all sorts of equipment recovered from war zones brought up to standard and shipped back home for re-issue

[@blackoracle69]

thanks for the comment and for watching

[@smoothvern165]

Another great video! I hope to find a steel set. I had an old aluminum set when I was in the scouts. Great info!

[@blackoracle69]

Thanks 👍

[@mrkultra1655]

Thanks Blackie.

[@blackoracle69]

glad you liked it

[@krisdirkman2624]

I have my old aluminum one from boy scouts that after 30 years has started to get holes in it. Awesome set, time for me to look for a new one I think 🤔

[@blackoracle69]

Right on

[@samwilliams1142]

There is a video on KZbin which shows how to make a spot welder from part of a microwave transformer. Broken off handles can be repaired.

[@blackoracle69]

saw that

[@hiramhaji7813]

Great video

[@blackoracle69]

thank you

[@grampawterry8957]

I have both steel and alum . Carry the steel one most the time

[@blackoracle69]

i do to

[@jeffrichards5106]

Thanks for the information Blackie. I would like to find one of the steel sets. Appreciate the info. 👍

[@blackoracle69]

No problem 👍

[@fakenews7266]

If you remove a quarter of an inch around the rim of your steel "Plate" it will still fit in the skillet and will also drop inside of the skillet to make a fitted lid

[@blackoracle69]

thanks

[@splashpit]

Thanks for the info , stumbled into my feed.

[@blackoracle69]

Thanks for watching!

[@splashpit]

@@blackoracle69 I just bought the steel kit on eBay for $5.00

[@jons2447]

Thank you, Mr. Thomas! Been lookin' for some camping /prepping cook/mess sets for me & my wife. Got a cheap "Non-Stick" Coleman Family Cook Set but it's more for bugging in. If you know what I mean. Got a cheap Coleman tent too, a 4-person Skydome. Mostly just cheap junk but it should do until I can build or buy better. Main thing is blankets , sleeping bags, tarps, & maybe a pair of camping hammocks/bivys. Mostly want to get more tools & knives. Maybe a ninja sword. Have a GREAT day, Neighbor!

[@blackoracle69]

thanks for watching

[@RS4393]

I have 2 complete aluminum sets, 1 for me and the other for my wife. We can both cook something at the same time on one small fire. Great video.

[@blackoracle69]

That is awesome!

[@davegoodridge8352]

Reminds me of those WW2 steel pennies. I think they made during 1943 because copper was needed for the war.

[@blackoracle69]

yes it was

[@jelicoe]

Hey. What is the trick with those boy scout mess kit pots? How do you keep them from tipping over when lifting them by the bail?

[@baileybrunson42]

A home run yet again brother..!

[@blackoracle69]

thanks brother

[@conniewaite1371]

I found an aluminium set,complete with box it came in.probably should have kept it,but donated it to the boyscout museum.think I would rather have the steel set.most my pots are st.steel anyway.the founder of the scouts is here in Ottawa ,Illinois

[@blackoracle69]

nice find

[@sidhendragon]

Hey Blackie. I’m and old Navy vet. I have been enjoying your videos and how you share your wealth of knowledge. I have an unrelated question for you. I watched someone strike sparks off of an Ontario SPAX and start a fire using char cloth. I’m always looking for ways to reduce weight and increase the multi purpose aspect of what I carry. Are you aware of any tomahawks, hatchets or axes that will throw sparks with a piece of chert or flint ? I appreciate your advice in regards to this. Thank you for all you do.

[@blackoracle69]

any hard carbon steel will do it if you have a good 90deg edge to strike from

[@robertmiller2629]

I have the aluminum version of this set and like it a lot but the cup is plastic and I would love to trade it out for either a aluminum or steel cup. Can you tell me how to get one or what mite work as an alternative to either of them? also i am trying to find the silicone lip protectors that they make for metal cups. I have this set paired up with a small folading wood stove called a pocket cooker that works very well together.

[@blackoracle69]

any of the modern camping nexting sets would work if your looking for a more modern set as to the cup look on ebay often the old set will pop up with damaged fry pan or some thing and you can get the set for cheap to replace your cup

[@pappy451]

i have one of those aluminum sets . . . stamped with the GIRL SCOUTS logo . i never seen one before finding this one . wonder how rare it is .

[@blackoracle69]

not sure but i am sure someone collects them

[@keithmoore5306]

another thing to look for is dents aluminum dents easier than steel and you'll have a lot of small dings!

[@blackoracle69]

VERY TRUE

[@howardwhite9715]

Have a later version with the only difference a plastic cup; never leaves the truck.

[@blackoracle69]

nice

[@jamesparker6383]

weight should be a pretty good indication

[@blackoracle69]

yep

[@jamesreed6558]

I found an old one at a goodwill store. Not sure how old it is

[@blackoracle69]

if you look around you will find collector sites that may help you find a age for it

[@ROE1300]

Hard to believe someone cannot tell aluminum from steel when picking them up.

[@blackoracle69]

i was meaning when you looking on ebay and you want a steel one and you buy a aluminum one by accident. how to tell them apart

[@MrStanwillis]

Magnet?

[@blackoracle69]

yep that would help

[@Wendy-op3bu]

Magnet

[@blackoracle69]

that will do it