Traditional Australian Bush Load-out (Circa 1947 to 1954)

[@clinnyboy]

Calling in from the States here. I really like the way you Aussies carry that swag and dilly bag. I've used all sorts of packs, colonial era bed rolls on a tump line and making up a roll and folding it over your shoulder and across your body ala U.S. civil war style but the swag roll just seems the most comfortable. I use an old Russian tarp/poncho for shelter, two wool blankets, aluminum fry pan and small pot. I have an old shower curtain for a ground cloth and a small sheep skin and some antique dinner ware from an estate sale. We have a lot of junk/2nd hand stores here so getting this stuff isn't hard. What I've done to counter the weight of this as I'm 67 now is I just don't go so far out. I'm lucky in that I can have my wife drop me off a mile from town and walk a short distance and I'm all alone. Lots of standing dead wood and fresh water too. Too many bugs most of the summer but early spring and right now (late Aug/thru Sept.) are the best times to go.

[@TurtleBushcraft]

Very nice kit. thanks for sharing your traditional stuff atb John

[@Howlingdingobush]

+Turtle Bushcraft Thanks Turtle

[@papuchu]

i love that can cup with the wired stick handle so old and seasoned, got to make one of those

[@johndoogan3712]

I really liked this video which brought back those treasured memories of my times as a Boy Scout in the 1960's. Well done 👍.

[@ScottishWanderer]

Great video Al

[@Howlingdingobush]

+SCOTTISH WANDERER Thanks mate..

[@czechmate9591]

Great video. Very interesting

[@Howlingdingobush]

+SOUTHERN CROSS SURVIVAL Thanks mate..

[@Intellibear-Evan]

Fantastic video. Thanks.

[@Howlingdingobush]

+Evan S Thanks bro

[@daleskidmore1685]

A great selection of gear and a well researched look into what was used in the past. I found some vids on YT a while ago including one on a Bushie who cut and roughed Jarra sleepers for the railways which showed him setting up camp as well as the work he did. There was still a lot of surplus canvas and gear around in the 60s and 70s that was used for car camping over here. It is at a premium price nowadays.

[@Howlingdingobush]

+Dale Skidmore Where was that vid mate??For sure the prices of that gear now are mad..

[@biggles1024]

That was both interesting and informative. Some of that gear brings back memories for me because my late father used some of it as a young man during his many fishing trips in the bush. Thanks for posting this video. Cheers, b.

[@Howlingdingobush]

+biggles1024 Thanks mate

[@sosteve9113]

i like the traditional ways very much,i had almost the same backpack thank you for showing atb steve thumb from me

[@Howlingdingobush]

+so steve Thanks Steve

[@Zedoutdoors]

That is one seriously impressive collection Al, can't imagine the work it's taken to collect all that from different sources ~Peace~

[@Howlingdingobush]

+Zed Outdoors I am like the Indiana Jones of car boot sales...Thanks Zed

[@jamessd7677]

Really don't know how they all managed in those days, all that weight, they did though, and, we're only talking about the post WW2 guys! Makes you wonder about Burke and Wills and Sturt and so on and so forth, those fellahs were real explorers and pioneers and knew a trick or two that maybe we've all forgotten about. Love that old traditional aboriginal Aussie survival bushlore bushcraft skills stuff, they learnt that over forty thousand years or more, can't be beaten, the old explorers got a lot of their ideas and skills from them. Thanks mate.

[@Howlingdingobush]

Hard men back them...thanks bro

[@jamessd7677]

Nae worries pal, nae worries. Still cannae get over yer accent, still as strong as the day you left Scotland I guess, ha, ha!!! thanks mate.

[@CedricAda]

awesome video! such a good collection

[@Howlingdingobush]

+CedricAda Gear and Outdoors Thank bro...

[@MTwoodsrunner]

Really enjoyed this Al you have inspired me to make a similar style video and i promise to get on that soon! For me back in the sixties it was pretty much canvas, leather, steel and aluminum...usually military surplus. Great stuff as always...Dave

[@Howlingdingobush]

+MTwoodsrunner Look forward to it...

[@shannonbtanner]

Great video!

[@Howlingdingobush]

Thanks

[@camojoe83]

I like the old stuff. That pack, especially. This summer I have been carrying a 1942 rucksack most often on short trips. An old surplus coleman single burner and a mountain cook set from the 50's covers my 'too heavy and too big' kitchen ware section.. It seems a shame not to use the stuff, it still works fine after 60-70 years so it should last on another overnighter. And it feels more rewarding sometimes to employ that old gear again. Its like that old sleeping bag is as greatful for being used again as you are glad to use it. Now if we could just get stories out of it around the campfire..

[@Howlingdingobush]

You need to shoot a vid bro...

[@OKBushcraft]

Joe Blazer I would be interested in seeing a video on your equipment in use too.

[@camojoe83]

Alright guys. I'll try and get one together, but you cant make fun of me for the shitty editing. There will be none.. Lol! I'll take some of it out on a hike this weekend and try and turn out an MRE overview as well. Got some canadian rations that are coming up on their time.

[@Howlingdingobush]

shooting vids in the bush is hard...Sounds good

[@BadweatherC]

great vid interesting insite to that time and era for your country. one note your folding knife looks to be a Mariners knife used by sailors. the large spike was used to open hemp rope to be spliced in or out. looks to be similar to the one I have and eye on used by German sailors. can't wait to check out more of your vids Australia's always been on my bucket list.

[@Howlingdingobush]

+BadweatherC The folder is vintage"Italian navy"from the 50's or 60's.??It is almost Identical to the folder used by the Australian army and other Commonwealth army's.In the British army this knife was(and still is) caller the "Jack" kinfe

[@amonster8mymother]

I had one of these packs I found about 20 years ago, used it all through University. I lost it but I've been looking for one. I think it was a knockoff, the only difference being it had a handle on the top. Great video. Hello from Canada. ;)

[@Howlingdingobush]

amonster8mymother Would make a good book pack..Thanks mate

[@peteremerson4150]

Cool good video

[@Howlingdingobush]

Peter Emerson Thanks bro...

[@shannonbtanner]

When I was growing up we drank water strait from the steam...We never worried about sterilizing it....I think that's a modern day thing with Pollution and such...My Grandfather taught me to live off the land and it wasn't until many years later that boiling water and sterilization came into play

[@Howlingdingobush]

+TrueTexan There was water sterilizing tablets early as WW1..Man made pollution is different issue from natural bacteria in the water.For sure a lot of folk would of just drank from the local stream..

[@jamesaritchie1]

Some of the best outdoor gear is still made of canvas and leather, and a fair number of people and even large companies, make it. I don't think there's much they had during those years you cite than you can't still buy. It's a good deal more expensive now, but it's also brand new, and usually very high quality.

[@Howlingdingobush]

I think you are missing the point a bit..You can gear like old school gear like frost river packs in the states. But I was putting some gear together as it would of been at that this time in Australia...The last days of canvas and leather in mainstream outdoor gear..

[@oldigger7060]

Well done! I enjoyed watching you video. However, much of this stuff was still on issue in the 60s. I was issued with a full set of 37 pattern webbing when I commenced National Service training in 1965. When I was posted to Infantry most of it was replaced with US 58 pattern stuff, which was a bit of a mixed blessing. You simply couldn't carry all the stuff we needed with it (we didn't have frequent resupplies like the Americans did) and the big 37 pattern packs and basic pouches were reissued before heading of to sunny Vietnam. Those old rain capes were worth their weight in gold. We had ours replaced with stupid nylon rain coats which we couldn't wear over webbing and were to bloody hot to wear under it. We just got wet whenever it rained, which was every day. Most of us would have killed for a reissue of those capes (the most modern equivalent would probably be the Swiss Army "Alpenflage" cape. You should persevere with your cape! It may surprise you.

[@Howlingdingobush]

+oldigger For sure the old WW2 (37 pattern) gear was still being issued in the Vietnam war.The point I make this that surplus gear was cheap as chips after the war and was often used by bush walkers or the general public,etc..I have too look out the old rain cape and go again.Thanks for watching!!

[@oldigger7060]

+Howling Dingo Yes, I remember the gear in the disposals stores. I remember throwing a tantrum because my mum insisted on knitting me a beanie for those cold school mornings when all I wanted was an el cheapo woollen surplus army cap like everyone else had! To make matters worse, the hand knitted beany had corners that looked like bunny ears. At least it gave my mates plenty of amusement!!! There wasn't much else to choose from in the way of outdoor gear except for Paddy Palin's stuff, which was probably dearer. That pack you show looks like a great bit of gear. Probably easier to get at stuff than the old Swedish M39 "bucket" style pack, which is very similar. I still have one of the last copies of Paddy's old bushcraft book, reprinted in the early 80s. A mine of information, although much of the gear is like the stuff you are displaying. What a guy he was! I believe he was still walking in the bush in his 90s.

[@Howlingdingobush]

+oldigger Somehow the M39 fits me better that the Paddy pack!Yes same basic A frame design..I have a few mums hand knitted horror gear story's of my own..lol

[@jelkel25]

In many of the Commonwealth countries I got the impression (didn't go to all of them) a lot of this type of gear was in use into the 80s. Just because the modern stuff existed it doesn't mean you had the money, inclination or shop/mail order to buy it. There was a lot more hand me downs from family, surplus and second hand and you didn't have to drive 6 hours each way to get it or pay huge postal costs. Bomb proof in 1952 was often still bomb proof in 1982! You put the heavy stuff at the bottom of the pack against your back (when possible) and you wrap bits of cloth (old towel?) around the parts of the frame that dig in you.

[@Howlingdingobush]

For sure look a India..

[@ClintonsK]

Solid load out Al... Sad in a way that we've moved to such a disposable race ... All about one use and throw away whereas what you've shown are made for life solid kit...

[@Howlingdingobush]

+ClintonsK “the Bear” One thing is for sure that old gear was made to last...

[@acaciabinervata6084]

Didn't know they used this stuff in Scotland

[@ClintonsK]

Al that outhouse of yours being tin must bring in the odd reptile .... .??

[@Howlingdingobush]

+ClintonsK “the Bear” Yes we got a few big ones...One blue tongue lizard like to creep in the house

[@ClintonsK]

blue tongue skink? used to have a pet one

[@Howlingdingobush]

+ClintonsK “the Bear”We call small lizard "skinks"...Blue tongue is bigger, 30cm to 60cm long

[@acaciabinervata6084]

A Bluey is a type of skink

[@turtlewolfpack6061]

That is a sweet load out indeed! I personally dont care for the American half shelter. The Polish version is much nicer and more multi use as is the West German, East German and Russian.

[@Howlingdingobush]

TurtleWolf Pack Thanks for the heads up..

[@maritimespook]

Cheers my friend ! New Sub !! Great Vid.....Spook

[@Howlingdingobush]

Thanks bro

[@Freedomring-uk6yd]

Gd vid thx ...please stop saying 'alright'

[@Howlingdingobush]

Alright..