Vietnam War field gear set? - Page 2

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Vietnam War field gear set? (Page 2 of 2)

Posted: 6/3/2023 7:16:25 AM EST

[#1]

If you have the patience, a lot of Vietnam era gear is (sadly) popping up on Shop Goodwill. Just a quick search this morning found this:

Vintage lot of Military Field Gear

Posted: 6/3/2023 7:21:15 AM EST

[#2]

We called it "782 gear" or "deuce gear" because it was specified to have 782 stitches per inch which (supposedly) made it water resistent. (Not waterproof)

You can usually tell Marines from Army in photos by the band on the helmet. Army had a green, canvas band which was made for that purpose. Marines had a black piece of rubber cut from a truck inner tube. Marine supply units just had an old truck inner tube from which they would cut off a piece when issuing a helmet.

Posted: 6/3/2023 10:11:31 AM EST

[#3]

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Quoted:
We called it "782 gear" or "deuce gear" because it was specified to have 782 stitches per inch which (supposedly) made it water resistent. (Not waterproof)

You can usually tell Marines from Army in photos by the band on the helmet. Army had a green, canvas band which was made for that purpose. Marines had a black piece of rubber cut from a truck inner tube. Marine supply units just had an old truck inner tube from which they would cut off a piece when issuing a helmet.

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Pretty sure that is an urban legend. I think it refers to the from that is signed when gear is issued. At least that is what I remember.

Posted: 6/3/2023 10:17:42 AM EST

[#4]

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Have that already too.

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you need a 90 degree green flashlight

Have that already too.

Ranger bands to secure it? And a piece of 90mph tape over the red lens for light security!

Also, the flashlight should not have the switch guard.

Posted: 6/3/2023 10:24:00 AM EST

[#5]

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Holy fuck, is that a primed det cord???

Posted: 6/3/2023 10:26:40 AM EST

[#6]

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@momil

https://www.mooremilitaria.com/

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I didn't realize how much my dad's complete M-1 helmet and other field gear was worth.

Still bummed I couldn't find his entrenching tool but he must not have held on to it from when I was a kid.

Posted: 6/3/2023 10:31:44 AM EST

[#7]

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No you didn't. The nylon "deuce gear" isn't M-56, it just looks and functions similarly.

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Some early gear queers sought out the “H” harness as opposed to the “Y” as a cool guy thing. The old butt pack was a cool guy thing too.

Posted: 6/3/2023 10:47:01 AM EST

[#8]

Shit, I'd run nothing but 1-quart canteen covers. IIRC, you can fit 7 20rd USGI mags in a 1-quart canteen cover.

Posted: 6/3/2023 10:50:59 AM EST

[#9]

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Holy fuck, is that a primed det cord???

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Quoted:
https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/256972/88409417-50BD-4B1E-AC01-6724F693A835_jpe-2838571.JPG

Holy fuck, is that a primed det cord???

I think so and a Claymore necklace if I’m not mistaken.

Posted: 6/3/2023 10:57:38 AM EST

[#10]

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Holy fuck, is that a primed det cord???

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It's det cord with washers strung on it.

Posted: 6/3/2023 10:58:37 AM EST

[#11]

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Only if you were carrying an M-14.

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Remember, the M16 was issued to troops that originally showed up in country with M14s so this set up would be correct for early Vietnam troops

Posted: 6/3/2023 11:06:02 AM EST

[#12]

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Remember, the M16 was issued to troops that originally showed up in country with M14s so this set up would be correct for early Vietnam troops

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Yep, and the smaller magazine pouches designed for the M16 20rd magazines didn't even go into production until 1968, IIRC - so before then there wasn't anything else to use besides the M1956 universal ammo pouch. A common thing to do was to stuff something down into the bottom of the pouch to bring the M16 magazines up to make them easier to pull out - a sock, bandage, etc.

Posted: 6/3/2023 11:09:33 AM EST

[#13]

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Those look to be M14 magazine pouches?

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No they are 20 round M56 pouches and the set up is correct for early Army or USMC for the entirety of the war.

Posted: 6/3/2023 11:16:02 AM EST

[#14]

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I've always called/heard the canvas short M16 pouches called M1967 pouches even though they are not nylon. Is there another name?

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The small canvas pouches were still considered to be part of the M1956 system; they were marked Case, Small Arms, Ammunition, M16A1 Rifle. IIRC they were only made for one year - 1968 - and are uncommon, as was said.

Posted: 6/3/2023 11:22:09 AM EST

[#15]

That’s substantially cheaper than my WWII stuff, is it any good?

Posted: 6/3/2023 11:23:51 AM EST

[#16]

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I've always called/heard the canvas short M16 pouches called M1967 pouches even though they are not nylon. Is there another name?

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The 20rd specific pouches of both nomenclatures are usually referred to a “shorty” pouches. The M1967 pattern was mostly nylon and plastic made to replace the M1956 as a mildew and rot resistant fabric specifically to survive tropical use.

https://lastpatrol.wordpress.com/reference-tools/m1967-web-gear/

Posted: 6/3/2023 11:25:31 AM EST

[#17]

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That’s substantially cheaper than my WWII stuff, is it any good?

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The Hessen stuff is all (likely China) repro. Can't speak to that stuff.

The sets you will get from Moore Militaria are all legit USGI gear.

Posted: 6/3/2023 11:25:59 AM EST

[#18]

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We called it "782 gear" or "deuce gear" because it was specified to have 782 stitches per inch which (supposedly) made it water resistent. (Not waterproof)

You can usually tell Marines from Army in photos by the band on the helmet. Army had a green, canvas band which was made for that purpose. Marines had a black piece of rubber cut from a truck inner tube. Marine supply units just had an old truck inner tube from which they would cut off a piece when issuing a helmet.

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Wut? 782 stitches per inch would be ridiculously small stitching, like microscopic, shit 82 stitches per inch would be ridiculous.

Posted: 6/3/2023 11:26:32 AM EST

[#19]

(1) One quart plastic canteen
(2) M1956 individual equipment belt
(3) M1956 universal smalls arms ammunition pouch
(4) Combination entrenching tool in M1956 carrier
(5) M7 bayonet in M8A1 scabbard
(6) M1956 suspenders
(7) M1956 combat field pack ('butt pack')
(8) M1956 canteen cover
(9) M1956 first aid/compass pouch
(10) M1956 sleeping bag carrier
(11) M1967 lightweight collapsible entrenching tool and carrier
(12) Small arms ammunition pouch M16A1
(13) 20-round M16 rifle magazine, with 5.56mm round
(14) M1956 pack adaptor strap assembly (used to convert the 'butt pack' into a back pack)
(15) M1967 small arms ammunition pouch Ml6, 20-round
(16) M16A1 rifle XM3 bipod/cleaning gear carrier
(17) M1956 first aid/compass pouch with two types of field dressing
(18) 'Stripper clips' of 5.56mm ammunition
(19) M193 rifle bandolier
(20) M1956 belt with 'Davis' quick-release buckle 01) XM28 lightweight protective mask carrier (22) M1942 machete in M1967 plastic 'self-sharpening' sheath

Lots of info on this site

If I were the OP I would cherry pick off of ebay and get the real thing. No reason to get reproduction stuff from India or China.

Posted: 6/3/2023 12:44:28 PM EST

[#20]

Its a hobby.

Attached File

Posted: 6/3/2023 1:52:34 PM EST

[#21]

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No you didn't. The nylon "deuce gear" isn't M-56, it just looks and functions similarly.

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I wore M-56 stuff up until 2000 or so when we all switched to the new brown gear.

No you didn't. The nylon "deuce gear" isn't M-56, it just looks and functions similarly.

Lol...no I did. I was all canvas M56 except for the ALICE M16 pouches and First aid kit.

Posted: 6/3/2023 1:57:54 PM EST

[#22]

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Some early gear queers sought out the "H" harness as opposed to the "Y" as a cool guy thing. The old butt pack was a cool guy thing too.

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Quoted:

Quoted:

No you didn't. The nylon "deuce gear" isn't M-56, it just looks and functions similarly.

Some early gear queers sought out the "H" harness as opposed to the "Y" as a cool guy thing. The old butt pack was a cool guy thing too.

They "Y" harness rubbed your back when you have a full ALICE frame pressing against it. The "H" harness didn't line up with the aluminum support bars on the frame like the "Y". My "H" was more comfortable on long humps than the "Y" was.

Posted: 6/3/2023 2:03:51 PM EST

[#23]

Don't forget tiger strip camo. LOL although OD is just fine.

Posted: 6/3/2023 2:22:39 PM EST

[#24]

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https://cartalana.com/Images/010/94.jpg
(1) One quart plastic canteen
(2) M1956 individual equipment belt
(3) M1956 universal smalls arms ammunition pouch
(4) Combination entrenching tool in M1956 carrier
(5) M7 bayonet in M8A1 scabbard
(6) M1956 suspenders
(7) M1956 combat field pack ('butt pack')
(8) M1956 canteen cover
(9) M1956 first aid/compass pouch
(10) M1956 sleeping bag carrier
(11) M1967 lightweight collapsible entrenching tool and carrier
(12) Small arms ammunition pouch M16A1
(13) 20-round M16 rifle magazine, with 5.56mm round
(14) M1956 pack adaptor strap assembly (used to convert the 'butt pack' into a back pack)
(15) M1967 small arms ammunition pouch Ml6, 20-round
(16) M16A1 rifle XM3 bipod/cleaning gear carrier
(17) M1956 first aid/compass pouch with two types of field dressing
(18) 'Stripper clips' of 5.56mm ammunition
(19) M193 rifle bandolier
(20) M1956 belt with 'Davis' quick-release buckle 01) XM28 lightweight protective mask carrier (22) M1942 machete in M1967 plastic 'self-sharpening' sheath

Lots of info on this site

If I were the OP I would cherry pick off of ebay and get the real thing. No reason to get reproduction stuff from India or China.

View Quote

That’s cool. I’ve seen some of the old pieces used, like the M14 pouch, and wondered why it had its own hook.

Posted: 6/3/2023 2:24:44 PM EST

[#25]

Used to go to the Army/Navy surplu store and get that stuff for next to nothing. Amazing how prices have gone up.

Posted: 6/3/2023 2:30:52 PM EST

[#26]

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They "Y" harness rubbed your back when you have a full ALICE frame pressing against it. The "H" harness didn't line up with the aluminum support bars on the frame like the "Y". My "H" was more comfortable on long humps than the "Y" was.

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I had an H harness too. That way you could tell I was a cool kid.

Posted: 6/3/2023 2:39:05 PM EST

[#27]

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Pretty sure that is an urban legend. I think it refers to the from that is signed when gear is issued. At least that is what I remember.

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You are right the little card that they checked the gear out of supply. It is called a 782 because at one time in the distant past the Marine Corps form number was “782”

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