The British Army of the Cold War

[WYATT666]

SOAF SF and later regular army were also issued the AUG and AUG carbine - as per my Father's old photos!

 

 

yep after the sas and BATT's had sorted the army out lol

[Azubi]

Is it me or is it difficult to find issued DPM that is correct for 1989? All the DPM I find on ebay looks to be Soldier 95 and likewise for the surplus stores I have found online. As it stands so far I haven't been able to actually visit any surplus shops due to be in Saudi but I am back in the UK in a few days so would a trip to several surplus stores/stalls/warehouses be worth it or will I just keep on seeing S95?

[WYATT666]

Is it me or is it difficult to find issued DPM that is correct for 1989? All the DPM I find on ebay looks to be Soldier 95 and likewise for the surplus stores I have found online. As it stands so far I haven't been able to actually visit any surplus shops due to be in Saudi but I am back in the UK in a few days so would a trip to several surplus stores/stalls/warehouses be worth it or will I just keep on seeing S95?

 

 

you will find old style dpm in shops i know of 3 shops now and theres loads on ebay you might be searching wrong

 

for example:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GENUINE-BRITISH-FORCES-1980S-WATERPROOF-DP-TROUSERS-/130444194315?pt=UK_Collectables_Militaria_LE&hash=item1e5f14720b

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BRITISH-ARMY-SAS-JUNGLE-SHIRT-JACKET-OLD-SCHOOL-ALLY-/180577519603?pt=UK_Collectables_Militaria_LE&hash=item2a0b4247f3

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MINT-RARE-FALKLAND-1968-PATTERN-DPM-COMBAT-SMOCK-JACKET-/160495577344?pt=UK_Collectables_Militaria_LE&hash=item255e482900

 

theres a few but they are there you just gotta look lol

[Blue4]

68 & 85 pattern gear is becoming harder & harder to find.

 

It pops up on Ebay every so often but can sometimes be quite pricey... I had to go on a diet to find some 68 pattern trousers that I could actually fit into! 34" waist seems to be the largest common size when the stuff is actually available. Most jackets in the lighter 68 seem to be size 1 or 2 (no good for me - I need a 4.)

 

I put it down to 68 the 85 patt becoming the "builder-cam" of the 1980's.

 

However you may be lucky and find a surplus store wuth some old stock mixed in among the 95... Otherwise is just a case of looking whenever you get a chance...

[White_Rabbit]

Lavenham army surplus in suffolk has quite a lot in stock too, aswell as a few sets of the old tropical DPM

[WYATT666]

68 & 85 pattern gear is becoming harder & harder to find.

 

It pops up on Ebay every so often but can sometimes be quite pricey... I had to go on a diet to find some 68 pattern trousers that I could actually fit into! 34" waist seems to be the largest common size when the stuff is actually available. Most jackets in the lighter 68 seem to be size 1 or 2 (no good for me - I need a 4.)

 

I put it down to 68 the 85 patt becoming the "builder-cam" of the 1980's.

 

However you may be lucky and find a surplus store wuth some old stock mixed in among the 95... Otherwise is just a case of looking whenever you get a chance...

 

 

its all about look look and look again aswell as having some luck and dropping on i get alot of my kit from dropping on

[Blue4]

well I've found balls-all out here in Bucks lol.

 

If anyone knows of a source close to MK I'm definately interested (would love to trade my 'green' 68 size 4 smock for a lighter version in the same size

[col.parsons]

Is it me or is it difficult to find issued DPM that is correct for 1989? All the DPM I find on ebay looks to be Soldier 95 and likewise for the surplus stores I have found online. As it stands so far I haven't been able to actually visit any surplus shops due to be in Saudi but I am back in the UK in a few days so would a trip to several surplus stores/stalls/warehouses be worth it or will I just keep on seeing S95?

 

Azubi - there are sources of 68' and 85' Patt kit out there, but as the others here have said, it's becoming harder to find in the "right" sizes. This is mostly due to the kit's age now, and also the fact that most of the lads who would've been issued it were a lot slighter built than most lads now (be that in general build or less pronounced muscles).

 

The easiest option at the moment is to get your hands on some of the repro "Old School" tropies, of which I have a pair of trousers. They're amazing quality, made by the exact same manufacturer the originals were made by, and to the same spec (with a little added modern quality, of course!). My pair are actually 2nd hand off a chap who was issued a set of originals back in the day, and he says they're even better quality, but the same "hi-vis" colours

 

At the moment only trousers and shirts are available, as I don't think many are interested in the old bush hats. But as the colours look similar, an old "###### hat" (patrol cap) should just about match.

[Ionic Gorilla]

The easiest option at the moment is to get your hands on some of the repro "Old School" tropies, of which I have a pair of trousers. They're amazing quality, made by the exact same manufacturer the originals were made by, and to the same spec (with a little added modern quality, of course!). My pair are actually 2nd hand off a chap who was issued a set of originals back in the day, and he says they're even better quality, but the same "hi-vis" colours http://www.arniesairsoft.co.uk/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/wink.

Curse my failing memory, all down to old age and too much alcohol.

 

Which shop is selling these repro "Old School" tropics? I need a pair of trousers to go with my RM smock, 58 pattern webbing and L1A1 SLR?

[col.parsons]

PM'd you mate

 

Just ordered myself the matching shirt to go with my repro Old School tropy trousers. so once it arrives I'll get some piccies of what gear's been collected so far.

 

From memory, I've got:

- Custom 58' Patt webbing, including modified kidney pouch, respirator, and PRC349 attached.

- Repro tropy trousers

- Old school jungle boots

- Old school 'COP' vest

 

and a few other bits and bobs.

[pugwash]

I’ve just ordered a set of "old schools” my wallet is screaming stop!

[col.parsons]

 

Funny how buying "old" kit causes your wallet to explode! Newer kit costs more (usually), and is easier to buy, but just by the virtue of its rarity "old school" stuff costs a fortune because when you find a source you run it dry

[Blue4]

The wife has recently bought us both a 1970s flak jacket (the ones with the plastic rifle panels) and I've got my hands on a old school 58 pattern rollpin belt. So my gear now comprises of

 

1. NI flak jacket, beret, 68 smock, lightweights, boots, NI gloves, 58 belt with ammo pouches and one 44 canteen, with wooden furniture SLR.

 

2. Early dpm para smock, black wooley hat, 68 pattern dpm trousers, NI gloves, drop58/44 webbing, prc349 radio, 40mm bandolier, with my PTW/203

 

3. 60's jungle shirt, cut down bush hat, lightweights , 3 hole dessie boots, drop58/44 webbing, claymore bag, with either of the above rifles!

[jkoyr]

Hi , I've been taking a break from my cordura collection lately in favor for a more old days style load out .

I hope you like it :

 

Mixing some Patt. 44-58 stuff .

[WYATT666]

nice pics only a few slight issues the belt on the webbing is wrong should be a 58 pattern belt or roll pin

 

the DPM is 94/95 pattern which is ok but abit too new thats all

 

the XM177 is a nice touch and SF would have used it but it would have been more the colt commando/M733

 

but other than that the landscape and the set up of the pics is very argie/falklands looking good job

[Counting Count]

Scans of a few Images I had lying rounds (or in various books) Note: Some Images ARE NOT BRITISH ARMY instead they are ROYAL NAVY (RM Commando's are part of the Navy NOT the Army, though the way this Country's going we'll have a combined force soon enough...)

 

PART 1

 

[Counting Count]

Part 2

 

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[Counting Count]

PART 3

 

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[WYATT666]

cheers Apos mate this does prove you have far too much time on your hands lol just like me this week lol

[Counting Count]

No going through your kit and cataloguing what you have with an aim to boxing sets together is having too much time... that wa from stuff I already had as an electronic file...

[WYATT666]

No going through your kit and cataloguing what you have with an aim to boxing sets together is having too much time... that wa from stuff I already had as an electronic file...

 

 

yeah thats true lol i lost aload of my pics when my old hard drive died lol

[Gadge]

Lads if you're after 68 pattern or tropics talk to Nigel at JJs in Sheffiled, say Gadge said he might be able to help you.

 

He had a fair bit of 68 pattern last time i wa sin in sensible sizes (he also had some lovely windproof trousers and smocks from the falklands era in large sizes) and he did mention he was due to recieve a load of old tropicals.

 

 

Seriously JJs in Sheffiled or Langtons in sheffield has tons of old dpm and 58 pattern

 

For full sets of 58 (with the old nylon green ressie bag sometimes) for a tenner talk to sabre sales.

[Blue4]

Guess I have too much time on my hands then

 

 

 

 

 

[pugwash]

That just makes me feel a little inadequate! on another note I got some of those new production old school tropicals and i’ve got to say they are fantastic quality and the colours are spot on compared to my real set.

[WYATT666]

Lads if you're after 68 pattern or tropics talk to Nigel at JJs in Sheffiled, say Gadge said he might be able to help you.

 

He had a fair bit of 68 pattern last time i wa sin in sensible sizes (he also had some lovely windproof trousers and smocks from the falklands era in large sizes) and he did mention he was due to recieve a load of old tropicals.

 

 

Seriously JJs in Sheffiled or Langtons in sheffield has tons of old dpm and 58 pattern

 

For full sets of 58 (with the old nylon green ressie bag sometimes) for a tenner talk to sabre sales.

 

 

gadge where abouts in sheff are they as i might have to go and have a looksee