The Adventurer's Gear Thread

[Nick Charles]

rough draft http://bthemuthaigaclub.runboard.com

I got on with a different login and it let me start a new account.

If you go to http://www.runboard.com/ it should let you create an account

 

[NelsAnderson]

I'd love a better look at that machete/sword thingy

Sure, here it is:

This is another eBay find. It's a Masai "simi" knife from Kenya. Steel blade with wooden handle wrapped in leather. The scabbard is leather dyed a dark red.

These seem to go pretty cheaply so I'm not sure how authentic they are, but they look the part.

 

[Gutshot]

Sure, here it is:

This is another eBay find. It's a Masai "simi" knife from Kenya. Steel blade with wooden handle wrapped in leather. The scabbard is leather dyed a dark red.

These seem to go pretty cheaply so I'm not sure how authentic they are, but they look the part.

Well it's pretty cool any way you look at it.

 

[Mojave Jack]

Since I've posted my safari truck already, I might as well show some of the other gear I've collected. The Land Rover was what started all this, so in gathering accessories and clothing I've tried to find items that are either British (like the truck) or African (something that might have been bought on safari).

This vest is one of my recent eBay finds:

Judging by the label, this vest was made in Kenya. Anyone know anything about "Esquire Ltd. Nairobi"?

That vest looks great, Nels. Esquire Ltd must be a small local tailor, because I can't find their own web site, but they are listed here:

http://www.best-kenya-safaris.com/kenya/fashion-design/kenya-mens-clothing.html

I have a short sleeve bush shirt (in my avatar) also from a small tailor in Nairobi, Shiburam & Co., but they don't show up in any kind of search!

I see a '37 pattern envelope water bottle carrier in your gear, too. How 'bout a few details on the other items, like your compass, binos, and chukka boots? I use a '37 pattern and an '08 pattern water bottle almost daily. I have thew '08 in the Willys right now. I've also had my eye out from a British haversack like yours, too.

 

[Mojave Jack]

Went out wandering a bit today, up towards Joshua Tree NP. It was a gorgeous day, and I just picked a road and followed it until it ended.

 

[Doug C]

Hey ya'll here's a jacket I picked up recently that is pretty adventurous, BT helped me figure out that it's based on a mid sixty british military jacket but done in a lighter weight material and some of the details are not spot on. But I love it, unfortunitly it's a little snug across my back, so I may be putting it in the classifieds soon so I can get a large.


Doug C

 

[Nick Charles]

for anyone joing our other adventure board please use no spaces in your log in name. We figured out that it is a problem.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Went out wandering a bit today, up towards Joshua Tree NP. It was a gorgeous day, and I just picked a road and followed it until it ended.

what kind of jeep is that? it looks like a cj-2a. if that is the case, have you upgraded the dana 20 rear axle shafts to one-piece?

 

[kschurch]

[QUOTE="Skeet" McD]Dear Kevin,
I have nothing invested in this argument, and nothing to add except an opinion. I've spent 35 years as a hard-core historicist reenactor (never in the WWII period, but for the issue at hand, that's irrelevant); that's where I'm coming from. So I think I have an idea about the mindset of the individual who wrote saying he bailed the moment he heard "tribute."

But you have been VERY clear about what you are doing; you know what you're doing, and you're making no bones about it. Whether there's a market for what you're doing is proved by your monthly credit/debit register .

Beside your forthright statement of intent....I particularly respect the manner in which you've defended yourself: you are a gentleman.

Now, if you'd just make some larger sizes....you might even have a customer in me

Respectfully,
"Skeet"[/QUOTE]

Hi Skeet,

Thanks for the support of my position. You, my friend, understand what we are all about. You input is much appreciated.

I'm working on those larger sizes.

Best Regards,

Church

 

[NelsAnderson]

That vest looks great, Nels. Esquire Ltd must be a small local tailor, because I can't find their own web site, but they are listed here:

I see a '37 pattern envelope water bottle carrier in your gear, too. How 'bout a few details on the other items, like your compass, binos, and chukka boots? I use a '37 pattern and an '08 pattern water bottle almost daily. I have thew '08 in the Willys right now. I've also had my eye out from a British haversack like yours, too.

Thanks for looking up Esquire Ltd. It looks like they are for real and so must be the vest.

OK, let me highlight some of the other items a few at a time.

Even today WWII era items are still readily available, often NOS even. I can't imagine how much must have been left over given that it's now more than 60 years later! I figure that British military leftovers like this would be natural items for safari use.

There are two sizes of haversacks shown. The most recent acquisition came as a result of a link earlier in this thread, coming from here:

www.wephaus.com

The larger sack plus the map case came together in a single eBay auction, for all of about $10. I've seen both items for sale in surplus sites, but the prices vary all over the place so if you want one shop around.

This site:

http://www.ima-usa.com/

is one such source and as I recall it's where I got the canteen from.

You actually use your 1937 pattern water bottle? The one I have is supposed to be NOS but I've still been a bit afraid to use it, not knowing exactly what's inside. Did you do anything special to clean it before use?

 

[Mojave Jack]

what kind of jeep is that? it looks like a cj-2a. if that is the case, have you upgraded the dana 20 rear axle shafts to one-piece?

It is a CJ2A! But it's not quite stock.. The axles are one piece Dana 44s, front and rear, but they are not the original axles. They've both been upgraded to a center differential, and mated with the Tremec transmission and a 289 small block V8. It's got a lot of oomph!

This site:

http://www.ima-usa.com/

is one such source and as I recall it's where I got the canteen from.

You actually use your 1937 pattern water bottle? The one I have is supposed to be NOS but I've still been a bit afraid to use it, not knowing exactly what's inside. Did you do anything special to clean it before use?

I got my '08 from IMA! I've gotten a number of things from them, but have cooled a bit towards them since they tried to pull a fast one with a really poor copy of a Zulu Wars pith helmet. They passed it off as genuine, but what I got was a cloth covered plastic shell covered with rust stains, and with the worst headband I've ever seen. Still, they have good prices,and I've had enough good luck with them that I will still buy from them. They were very apologetic about the helmet, but it is caveat emptor all the way!

One thing to beware of with any vendor is that they don't try to pass off post-war stuff as wartime. If the P-37 has brass fittings, it is wartime, but if they are black pot metal, they are postwar. There's nothing wrong with the post war stuff, of course, but conscientious vendors will mention that its war-time or post-war.

For the water bottle, just be careful of the blue enamel versions! The green enamel are all post war, but I've been warned of some health issues with the blue bottles. I don't remember what exactly the issue was, and if it some or all blue bottles, but since I'm not sure of the particulars I avoid them.

For cleaning them, I'd recommend a good long soak with soap and water, shake it hard, then rinse it very well. Then use a bleach solution for a second soak. Rinse very well again, and they should be fine. What Price Glory sells replacement corks and hardware, which I'd recommend replacing fairly regularly, too. If you find the right size wine cork, you can replace your own fairly easily.

I like that map case, too. I'll have to keep an eye out for one of those.

 

[Gutshot]

Just a heads up. Cabela's has their Roughneck Utility Vest on sale for 20 bucks. Just ordered myself one. Not exactly period, but it's a good looking vest.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

It is a CJ2A! But it's not quite stock.. The axles are one piece Dana 44s, front and rear, but they are not the original axles. They've both been upgraded to a center differential, and mated with the Tremec transmission and a 289 small block V8. It's got a lot of oomph!

so let me get this straight, you have a center pumpkin on the FRONT axle? did you have to do any adjusting of the transfer case?
i use to be really, really, into early jeeps (pre-chrysler). i remember finding a fiberglas body kit call the hum-j7 that was a cross between a cj-7 & a militay humvee. it would allow one to run 35 inch tires without a lift of any kind!!!

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Thanks for looking up Esquire Ltd. It looks like they are for real and so must be the vest.

OK, let me highlight some of the other items a few at a time.

holy smokes!!! i actually have the bag in the lower left! i actually re-discovered it cleaning out some old stuff while on vacation last week. i had it in middle school & as far as i was concerned at the time it was my indiana jones bag. do you have nay info on it?
thanx!!!
Charlie

 

[NelsAnderson]

For the water bottle, just be careful of the blue enamel versions! The green enamel are all post war, but I've been warned of some health issues with the blue bottles. I don't remember what exactly the issue was, and if it some or all blue bottles, but since I'm not sure of the particulars I avoid them.

For cleaning them, I'd recommend a good long soak with soap and water, shake it hard, then rinse it very well. Then use a bleach solution for a second soak. Rinse very well again, and they should be fine. What Price Glory sells replacement corks and hardware, which I'd recommend replacing fairly regularly, too. If you find the right size wine cork, you can replace your own fairly easily.

Well I just looked it over more closely, and I think it's green enamel. What I'm looking for is the color on the outside of the bottle, which with the felt cover is only visible right around the neck. That seems to be a sort of military green. I also see that it's chipped so the metal is showing through, so that might be an issue for actually using it...not sure.

 

[NelsAnderson]

holy smokes!!! i actually have the bag in the lower left! i actually re-discovered it cleaning out some old stuff while on vacation last week. i had it in middle school & as far as i was concerned at the time it was my indiana jones bag. do you have nay info on it?
thanx!!!
Charlie

That's something I bought recently from here:

http://www.wephaus.com/

though I just looked again and it looks like they no longer have it. It's a British 1937 pattern web haversack. Mine is a post-war version (dated 1953 as printed on the webbing). I imagine these were made in the thousands during WWII and after for the British army.

I think Indiana Jones carried a leather bag, but this could certainly be a good substitute, it has that "adventurous" look to it.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

I think Indiana Jones carried a leather bag, but this could certainly be a good substitute, it has that "adventurous" look to it.

actually he carried a british wwii mark vii gas mask bag with a leather m1 rifle sling.

funny little footnote is that during the timeframe of the first three movies the bag didnt exist (1936, 1935, 1938). if i recall correctly, they didnt start making them for real until 1939.

 

[NelsAnderson]

actually he carried a british wwii mark vii gas mask bag with a leather m1 rifle sling.

funny little footnote is that during the time frame of the first three movies the bag didn't exist (1936, 1935, 1938). if i recall correctly, they didn't start making them for real until 1939.

Hmm, maybe I should pick up one of those then...they are still available:

http://www.wephaus.com/proddetail.php?prod=indybag

Ah, must be why the product code is "indybag"

 

[Mike K.]

For the water bottle, just be careful of the blue enamel versions! The green enamel are all post war, but I've been warned of some health issues with the blue bottles. I don't remember what exactly the issue was, and if it some or all blue bottles, but since I'm not sure of the particulars I avoid them.

Here's the detailed scoop on enamelware:
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1370/is_v21/ai_5117848/

I have always heard that you should stay away from any enamelware made in Mexico, as it typically has a high lead content.

 

[Highlander]

Mojave Jack, where'd you get the cool safari hat. I need one, I plan to go to Africa next year and need to get a good hat broke in...(I have two safari jackets, trying to see which one I like the best and break them in a bit so they aren't Band Box New)..