More On "Army Surplus" For Traditional Camping

My friend Nathanael Logsdon did an excellent video review on What Price Glory clothing for Traditional Camping a couple weeks ago where he referred to me as a "guru". (I thought I was just old.) He was referring to my knowledge regarding Army Surplus gear as used for Traditional Camping. Nate made on small error in his explanation of when "Army Surplus" is made available to the general public, so this video is to kind of clear things up just a little as to when "Army Gear" made available, and the difference between "Army Issue" and "Army Surplus".

[@jamesellsworth9673]

This provides a level of reassurance to reenactors who are serious about being period-correct.

[@sargevining]

Yah, there's a misconception that "Army Gear" could only be purchased by the Army and nobody else. Its the date of the design that's the important factor.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Super informative and great episode! Thanks so much, my friend!

[@sargevining]

Thanks for watching! Having fun.

[@jefflanham1080]

You know what I love about canoe expedition camping….you get the best of both worlds as far as gear to bring along, of which more traditional gear makes sense. I still use mu Optimus 111B white gas stove, a 1936 Coleman lantern, canvas baker tent and traditional packs…..it just feels better. Hoping to find a cedar-canvas prospector canoe to have as an option to my modern composite just to round things out. I enjoy the information in your channel and you’ve turned me on to some great information.

[@sargevining]

Yes, and unfortunately for me, rivers that are good for canoe camping are few and far between down here in TX. Thanks for watching!

[@alanrice39]

This is very interesting information, glad I discovered your channel

[@sargevining]

Glad you found us as well! Poke around in the Playlists, you might find more stuff you'll like. Thanks for watching!

[@user-hx9tp9cn2h]

Thanks for a clear explanation!

[@sargevining]

Glad I could help. Thanks for watching!

[@57WillysCJ]

Good clarity of information. I saw a copy of a Sears catalog from the WW1 period and you could set yourself up as a soldier right from their catalog. I wish I remembered the year and that I had picked it up as the price has really increased. As an aside I believe Coleman did a lot of their business with people who didn't have electricity before WW2. Many rural areas didn't even east of the Mississippi. West of it outside of towns even more so. A book that has nothing to do with this topic but you might find interesting if you can lay hold of a copy is Jack-Knife Cookery by James Austin Wilder fist published in 1929. Last date on mined is 1956 which I have feeling might be the last. Although some say that there way a paperback in the early 80s but I have,nt come across one. It took me a while to get one as I am tight fisted and $25-$150 was to much for me. I finally found an old library copy for $5. Are you going to learn a lot that's new. Doubtful but it's interesting and the guy had traveled a lot from 1875-1928 as wel as being Chief Seascout in Hawaii.

[@nomadmarauder-dw9re]

I remember going to a party at about 4 years old in Mississippi. The occasion was the electrification of a cousin's house. In 1959!

[@sargevining]

Folks are unaware that, especially in the late 19th and early 20th centuries there were a number of Fraternal organizations that wore military uniforms and used gear produced for the military of the time. There was no National Guard until 1916 and no Army Reserve until the middle 1920s. There were State and "Volunteer" militias (basically, privately funded military units). The State militias became the National Guard, and the "Volunteer" militias fell out of favor among the citizens after the formation of the Army Reserve which basically took their place. But there was a lot of gear on the market to service those organizations.

[@sargevining]

When I was in 4H camp in the 1960s, I met some kids from Northern NH that still had crank telephones that used an operator to connect lines. From the time I was born until 2nd grade, we lived in what would be called an "off grid" cabin that my grandfather gave to my Dad as a wedding gift. We'd live there from late April until late September and rent an apartment for the rest of the year so Mom and Dad could save up enough money to buy the house I grew up in. Best years of my life.

[@ROE1300]

👍 Always interesting commentary.

[@sargevining]

Thanks, and thanks for watching!

[@jefflanham1080]

…..also, I’m 53 and can remember kind of the last of the ‘army surplus’ selection post Vietnam war era where there was still a lot of gear (fairly cheap)from WW2 & Korea floating around in the late 70s-early 80s.

[@sargevining]

I see pictures on the internet of the interior of surplus stores from the 50s & 60s and I can smell them. What passes for surplus stores today is but a shadow of what they were in their heyday. Thanks for watching!

[@jefflanham1080]

@@sargevining indeed indeed

[@IdahoHillbilly]

Great Stuff!

[@sargevining]

Thanks for watching!

[@JaHa216]

Excellent information, as always. Made me wonder wether there was any specialised stores or gear for outdoor workers and if so how expensive and/or rare that was? Thinking of loggers, railroad builders, miners etc. Here in Finland logging industry was huge in the '20s and '30s, well still is. There were special stores catering to that market, though your average logger was part time and dirt poor...

[@sargevining]

In the video that comes out this morning I explain that most manufacturing and marketing was done regionally. There would be brick and mortar stores and businesses that cater to logging that would be close to where logging was done. Many of them would make certain things themselves, as well as order out of wholesale catalog businesses that catered specifically to those kinds of businesses. Thanks for watching!

[@ScottCarlson-cz7wj]

Good info, thanks. On my bikepacking bicycle, I have an actual M-1943 haversack hanging off the handlebars (bought at the goodwill decades ago for $5.) For cheap panniers I got (from the local logging shop) four rothco replicas to mount on the 4 corners of the bike. They may look the same but, the material and metal buckles are below military specs. Gets the job done anyway.

[@sargevining]

If you want replica gear made to actual specs, visit What Price Glory. Almost all of my "vintage surplus" comes from them. Thanks for watching!

[@michaelsodemann514]

2 weeks ago you made a video about your books. Next week I'm hoping you can make a video of your canned foods to your Right.

[@michaelsodemann514]

That'll be soooo much fun

[@sargevining]

I might just do that. Having a hard time finishing up the pack project I've been shooting. Thanks for the idea!

[@mcgregorpiper]

I saw Jerry’s FB post regarding the officer’s musette bag and now am binging on your videos. As a Cub Scout and Boy Scout during the 60s, probably all of our camping gear was Army Surplus. Is there a similar catalog for the 1930s?

[@sargevining]

Welcome to the Channel, and I hope you find your binging enjoyable. Bannerman's Catalog would be the primary source for military surplus camping gear of the 20th Century. Abercrombie & Fitch, Abercrombie's Camp, and Western Auto would show civilian gear, along with the advertisements found in publications like Sports Afield, Field and Stream and others of the period. Thanks for watching!

[@observationpostcharlie1365]

Igrewt video sir i still use alot of my old army gear i brought home from my service and some syrplus

[@sargevining]

"Bomb proof" is the best description. It ain't especially light, but it sure is durable. Thanks for watching!

[@observationpostcharlie1365]

My great uncle was a ys calvary soldier and was part of the punitive war by the way love your bumper music who is it by

[@sargevining]

Its some copywrite expired music I found a few years ago, but I can't remember who it is or what the title is, sorry. Cav gear is especially good for period trekking, especially the 1910 Mounted canteen. Thanks for watching!

[@mario_werren]

Hoi Villen Danke für Informationen. Villen Villen Danke Gruß Mario

[@sargevining]

Thanks for watching!

[@craigoldsen1667]

OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK 😅

[@sargevining]

Thanks for watching!