| Tims Surplus Blog Look here for posts on whats new in the surplus and militaria business, updates on what we have in stock, and maybe a few rants. |
We have moved the blog to a more user-friendly format over on Wordpress. Click here to see the new improved Surplus Blog! Jan 31 Why surplus MOLLE gear can be your best value in tactical gear. There have never been more people in the business of making tactical gear than there are today. 10 years of the GWOT, new technology, and the rapid spread of new ideas have spurred development like never before. There are manufacturers on the top of their game- like HSGI, Eagle, Tactical Tailor, Raine and Spec-Ops who make great gear, and make it in the USA. Their gear is great, but it is also pricey, proving that you do get what you pay for. There are vendors selling imported stuff that is of marginal quality, or just junk. If it says made in China, it falls in this category. The only thing this stuff has going for it is price. And there are all levels in between. Stuff made in the US that isn't so hot, stuff made in Korea that is good. It leaves a lot too look at when you are in the market. But there is one thing that most people don't look at, and they should, because it is a viable option that, for most buyers of tactical gear, it is their best value. And that is USGI surplus MOLLE gear. Why? In the last 15 years the issued equipment has come a long way. A USGI MOLLE mag pouch or shingle works, it holds the mags, it stays on. Yeah it may not be as high-speed as some, but it gets the job done, and at a fraction of the price. A USGI 100rd SAW pouch holds 20rd mags for an M14, HK-91 or similar rifles well. Just get an AR-15 and need a cheap, basic way to hold the magazines? One of the military issue 6 mag bandoleers will do that for under $10. Lots of our law enforcement customers are getting these for active shooter response, they put 4 mags in the first 2 pouches, then first aid gear in the last one. Cheap, rugged, simple and quick to grab and go. Why drop $200+ on a solution that won't do much more? Need a basic tactical vest, the basic riflemans set, as pictured below is under $40. It holds 6 mags plus a canteen, with plenty of space to add more pouches. All that for less than some vendors get just for mag pouches. Packs? The later generation USGI surplus MOLLE packs in desert, coyote or ACU digital are great packs, well made, and as rugged or more than the high dollar ones, at about 25% of the price. USGI Surplus MOLLE gear is: 100% American made Rugged Held to strict quality standards You know it is made from 100% MILSPEC fabric that meets all specs for durability and low IR reflective signature. And it is cheap. You get gear that is all of the above, but priced often even cheaper than the crappy Chinese imports. So you get the best of both worlds. If you don't see a color you want, you can also dye the USGI stuff to meet your needs- coming soon is a write up on how to dye/paint it and what colors work. So, before you buy cheap gear, or before you buy high end gear, take a look at the real USGI surplus stuff and see if it will meet your needs. If you were shopping for expensive gear, you can save a bundle and still end up with quality gear. If you were shopping for cheap gear you can spend the same amount and get stuff that is far better than anything imported. You don't have to go exclusively with surplus, surplus pouches hook to a different MOLLE/PALS vest just fine, and vice-versa. You can save hundreds of dollars, and still have a rig that carries your gear just fine. And you can put that money saved toward training classes, weapons, or other stuff that will return far greater dividends than paying 10 times the price for gear that is only maybe 10% better in how it works. You may not win any geardo fashion shows, but I bet if you are reading this still you don't care about what people think about your gear, only that it works. I could try and sell you a bunch of stuff that costs a lot more and tell you that unless you drop hundreds of dollars on gear to carry magazines and gear you will fail. Plenty of vendors out there doing that. But I would rather sell you what you what will get the job done at the best value for your dollar. These days, getting the best value goes a long way. DEC 1 Military Immersion Heaters Here is a great item we have been selling lately- US Military Immersion Heaters. These were designed to be used in the field to heat water for washing mess gear, but they have tons of other uses. They have no moving parts other than a drip valve, and will bring a 55 gallon drum of water to a boil if you turn them up! Made to run on gasoline, but I have seen them used on gas, diesel, coleman, and even a 50/50 mix of gas and used motor oil. Our customers have been finding lots of uses for them- several are heating the stock tanks they water livestock with, they can heat it up nice and warm in a short time and it stays overnight, so a little fuel is cheaper than an electric heater running all night. Others have used them for heating water to scald chickens and pigs when they butcher them on the farm. A group local to us is using them as greenhouse heaters- they get a 55 gallon drum of water up to a near boil in the greenhouse, and it radiates heat for quite a while and also adds humidity to the air. And several are using them to heat water at remote hunting cabins for showers and washing dishes. All in all, there are tons of uses for these- and like all surplus items, once they run out they are gone. Ours are 100% brand new in the crate, with the stove pipe and manual. NOV 1 Cheap Double Buckle Boots! All Sold Out Now Ok, our loss will be your gain on this. Our latest load of French Double Buckle Boots came in with mildew on them and with the hardware, namely eyelets, corroded. A bad deal for us, but the bright side is they clean up and repair nicely as the leather itself is still stiff and strong. A few eyelets from the local shoe repair store and some work on your part can make these a good reenacting boot, display, or loaner. For $7.50 you can't go wrong! OCT 27 Optimus Stoves All Sold Out Want a great multi-fuel camping stove? These Optimus 111 Hiker Stoves are the best deal anywhere. The ones we have are USMC surplus and I personally rebuild and test each one. They can run on Coleman fuel, kerosene, diesel fuel, and even regular gas (although I recommend that as an emergency choice only). These stoves are made in Sweden and are real works of art, with solid brass tanks. Go ahead a look at all the links on Google for the 111 Hiker and read the reviews, I know our price is the best out there. Look at the prices on the new production ones that do not even have the all brass tanks! For emergency use in your home and vehicle, backpacking, horseback riding, or any other use this is the best stove for your money! OCT 23 The new TRU-SPEC Tactical Response Uniform I just listed the TRU-SPEC Tactical Response Uniform or TRU on the site, and I have to tell you that these uniforms are some of the best I have ever seen. The Army Combat Uniform or ACU was a huge step up, and the TRU is the next step in that evolution. They took all the great features of the ACU and added even more. Velcro on all pockets, public safety colors, Velcro closure small pocket inside the cargo pockets that is perfect for gloves, and much more. How much attention to detail did they pay on the design of these? The front pockets have a doubled over reinforced edge designed to hold clip on knives and flashlights more securely and not wear out in the spots where you carry them! All that is added to the already great ACU design features: Ergonomically slanted pockets on the shirt and jacket, reinforced knee and elbow that also opens up to allow knee and elbow pads to be inserted eliminating the need to bulky external pads (no more wrap around pads cutting off circulation to your lower extremities!), a convertible mandarin collar that can be worn down or up when worn with body armor, slings or to protect from hot brass, and much more.I thought I had found the best when I wore my first set of ACUs, but these are even better. I have been wearing the pants now for about a month and have also given some to local EMS and law enforcement, and they all love them. If you are looking for just one set or to outfit a whole team or department, you need to look at these! OCT 21 Jungle First Aid Kits in now! We now have a great deal now on the US Military Issue Jungle First Aid Kits. These are complete and unused but are USAF surplus, they still have all the inspection tags on them. The empty case and plastic insert alone will sell for half of the $19.50 price we are getting for them.Jungle First Aid Kits. OCT 18 Let's start this Well this is a new idea, so we will see how it works. I hope this will serve as a way to let everyone know what new items we have in, what interesting stuff shows up, and maybe a few rants. I will start off by letting everyone know the most common stupid question we get in the store. Someone at least once a month picks up a dummy hand grenade and asks "are these grenades used?" |
