- Bayonets -- (I have a pretty good collection -- but there were others I couldn't afford as a kid...)
- Bayonet blades -- $.25 or 5/$1.00 --- Good steel for knife blades / great throwing knives...
- Ka-Bars and Fairbairns -- Pricey for a kid, then; relatively priceless, now...
- Lifeboat Survival Ration Cannisters -- Canned "Fruit Pemmican", Horlick's Malted Milk Tablets, huge, vitamin-enriched chocolate bars, and hard, imperishable, slightly sweet "wafers" (bread/crackers) -- (Beat the heck out of Trail Mix when wandering the boonies...)
- Shelter halves and pole sets -- Still enjoy setting one up as a lean-to, with a fire out front...
- "Bags" -- all kinds -- The kids call my "archaeology go-bag" with all my essential hand tools, etc., my "War Bag". It's actually a WWI (ONE) gas mask bag -- and the fabric is finally (after a century) beginning to fail...
- Ponchos -- especially the camo ones...
- ETC., Etc, etc... -- ad infinitum...
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Nowadays, my favorite "modern war surplus finds" are:
- "Woobies" -- (Lightweight, camo "Poncho Liners"") -- Warm when cold, cool when hot, & cram into nearly zero volume. (I have one across my lap, right now!) The kids call mine my "Linus Blanket" (Ask any modern GI what "the best piece of US gear ever issued" is...)
- Nomex USAF "Sage Green" Pilot's gloves ~a buck each -- Great driving/work gloves. It's hard to have too many pairs...
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Thanks for posting this. Nostalgia Time!! '-)
TXnMA
