Talking about Army Surplus store

[Pops1967GTX]

The army-navy surplus store was the go-to place for looking to find a good deal on any kind of product.
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I visited my army surplus store lately looking for a few ammo cases. I noticed they just aren’t what they used to be. That the quality & quantity of the selection of products isn’t the same. Times are a changing. It didn't even smell the same.

 

[Darter6]

Loved going there in the 70's. For winter we would buy the long blue Navy coats that went past the knee.Heavy but worked great during cold PA winters.Cost was $10. Didn't think any stores were still around.

 

[66383]

Yeah, that tarpaulin smell from the tents.

 

[69 GTX]

Yeah you could close your eyes and tell if you walked by one of those stores. Still like going to them, although not as good as they used to be for deals.

 

[oldbee]

No matter what you say about the gov’t; the surplus stuff lasted forever! Used to wear my dad’s old Navy deck jacket half unzipped in winter it was so warm.

 

[YY1]

I have quite the collection of medals, rank and insignia from circa '75 through the early 80's.

Back when it was actually surplus from the armed forces.

My favorites are a couple of marksman pins and a 3rd armored div patch.

I believe I also have a Vietnam service ribbon with bronze clusters.

I recently picked up a $1 marksman style pin at a yard sale that says "driver".
Was not aware of that one.

 

[69 GTX]

I still have my Dads duffle bag. From the 50's I noticed it had three other names on it that were blacked out, so it maybe 40's vintage. I also saved his name ribbons of his fatigues, they were white with black letters.

 

[beanhead]

View attachment 662559

The army-navy surplus store was the go-to place for looking to find a good deal on any kind of product.
​

I visited my army surplus store lately looking for a few ammo cases. I noticed they just aren’t what they used to be. That the quality & quantity of the selection of products isn’t the same. Times are a changing. It didn't even smell the same.

I've noticed that too. Used to be mostly WWII/Korea/Vietnam era though, nowadays I see mostly newer 90s and up type stuff. A lot of them are selling cheap reproduction gear along with the real milspec surplus..

 

[snakeyes]

most now sell junk and trinkage..............

 

[snakeyes]

most of all the old surplus places are long and so is the product going into one of them today is like going to a flea market junk and garbage ,you might have better luck going into a barn find

 

[snakeyes]

I think these guys have been aroung since the 50 s https://www.harrysarmysurplus.net/about-harrys-army-surplus.html

 

[BeeKool]

The Fleet & Farm store near me sells Surplus Army/Navy material from several nations.

I personally think much of the stuff is overpriced.
The US stuff especially.
I also think that much of the US clothing is inferior to that of the German or UK surplus that they sell for less $$$$ right alongside it.

 

[SteveSS]

Maybe you guys can help me. We had a real Army Surplus store in my little town. We bought GI helmets but didn't know they came with a liner so playing Army we had these big pots flopping all over our heads. Question; They had these little bomblets you could buy for cheap, Again we were kids. The could fit in your hand. The bomb part was lead and the fins were tin or steel. What were they? Agree on the smell.

 

[snakeyes]

those where pot metal and I believe you put caps in them and they made a explosion sound

 

[snakeyes]

 

[snakeyes]

 

[snakeyes]

 

[Pistol Pete]

Wow, I forgot all about those !

 

[SteveSS]

No, I had those too. I was told at the time they were flesh tearing little bombs about the same size as those cap bombs. They're was no explosion to them.

 

[Budnicks]

I haven't been into one for probably 3 decades now

thanks for the memories guys