AKA, the Poncho Liner If you have served in the US Military since the 1960s, you know a secret that your non-military brethren may not know. That secret is a humble piece of equipment that does not seem like such a big deal, at least not until you are sitting on or curled up on …
Author Archives: Nathan Smith
Welcome to My New Blog
Be yourself; Everyone else is already taken. — Oscar Wilde. This is the first post on my new blog. I’m just getting this new blog going, so stay tuned for more. Subscribe below to get notified when I post new updates.
Gear for the Modern Adventurer (or not…)
Whether you are a professional soldier, law enforcement officer, first responder, or an avid outdoor enthusiast you need to know that the gear you use is going to do the job you intend it for. I have been an outdoors man, hunter, and fisherman since I was a kid. I bring nearly forty years of …
World War Two Japanese Imperial Army Mess Kit – with Soldier’s Name Scratched into the Paint
The IJA troops in the right side of this photo carry their mess kits into combat. Prior to the Second World War the Imperial Japanese Army received training and education from Germany and Prussia. In 1885 Japan welcomed Prussian Major Klemens Wilhelm Jacob Meckel as an instructor for the IJA. Not only did Major Meckel …
One more Medical Canteen, Sanitäter Feldflasche of Deutsches Rotes Kreuz (DRK) der DDR, the German Red Cross of the German Democratic Republic, or Communist East Germany
I just acquired another red-cupped KVP Medical Canteen and it is in such great condition that I felt I should share it with you. So, shall we have another? Of course. “Fräulein, noch eine, bitte!” In my previous post I showed you some KVP Sanitäter Feldflaschen. I mentioned that the red-cupped versions may have been …
Personalized Western Shark Knife from Task Force 58 raid on Tokyo, February 16, 1945
Western Cutlery Shark Knife personalized by a sailor in TF58 after the raids on Tokyo, 2 – 16 – 45. Its not every day that a collector/historian has a documented piece of history fall into his lap, but the knife pictured above was offered for sale in an online auction by a seller that didn’t …
Medical Canteen, Sanitäter Feldflasche of Die Kasernierte Volkspolizei (KVP) der DDR, the Garrisoned People’s Police of the German Democratic Republic, or Communist East Germany
Welcome back! Today we are looking at another type of canteen used by the KVP, the forerunner to East Germany’s National Volksarmee. Going back at least as far as World War 1, the German military has had a practice of combat medics, Sanitäter, carrying a second canteen for use with patients on the battlefield, commonly …
Canteen, Feldflasche of Die Kasernierte Volkspolizei (KVP) der DDR, the Garrisoned People’s Police of the German Democratic Republic, or Communist East Germany
KVP troops, in the 1950s. The NCO at the right, front carries his Feldflasche which resembles the WW2 era M31 canteen. The Kasernierte Volkspolizei (KVP) was the forerunner of the National Volksarmee (NVA) of the DDR. You will most often see Kasernierte Volkspolizei translated into English as the “Barracked People’s Police.” While this is meant …
East German DDR Makarov Pistol Holster with Interior Ministry Markings
East German manufactured Makarov pistol in 9X18mm. The DDR referred to it as the Pistole Makarov or PM. Photo credit to the American Rifleman. The former East Germany or Deutsche Demokratische Republik (DDR) had a number ministries and offices. The DDR Ministry of the Interior, or Ministerium des Innern (MdI) was established in 1949. The …
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East German DDR early Blumentarn Canteen and MPiK (AK47) 3 cell Magazine Pouch
These two East German (DDR) army field gear items represent the most common and least common pieces I have in my collection of early DDR National Volks Armee (NVA) and Volspolizie (VoPo) field gear. The 3 cell magazine pouch for the Machinepistole Kalashnikov (MPiK) is probably the most common piece of early DDR NVA Blumentarn …
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Global Gear 