Army Bergan

[Shewie]

Hi All,

I`ve just purchased an olive green ex-army bergan on ebay, it`s approx 100 - 120ltr capacity with detachable side pockets, adjustable shoulder straps and a waistbelt. There are two pockets on the lid, one on the side at the top and one inside. There is one large main compartment and a small external one on the front.
Upon arrival I`ve noticed there is no frame in it whatsoever and wondered if it should have one and how I might get one to fit. I`ve looked in the pochy bit (technical term) inside the main compartment where you`d normally find a frame and there are two diagonal sleeves running from top to bottom.
I`ve no idea which model it is apart from the above description and this sketchy photograph.
Hope somebody can throw some light on it - cheers

 

[Shewie]

Okay - how do I attach photos to a thread ???

Thanks

 

[scanker]

Like this:

[img]http://www.bushcraftuk.com/community/images/smilies/smile.gif[/img]

Gives:

HTH

 

[jayuk]

Hi, the two arms of the aluminium frame normally slide into each of the diagonal sleeves (within the back compartment).

I can't find any good pictures on-line, but you can see part of the frame on this page:

http://www.kcm.jp/trd/sop/bergen/bergen.htm


The frame you need is the one on top with two arms (later bergan frames have 3 arms/legs).

Also, there are two lengths of frame depending on whether you have a 'short back' or 'long back' bergan. If you look on the underside of the lid you usually can find some stock numbers and 'long' or 'short', although its possible printing has worn off or is faint.

 

[jayuk]

I did see a surplus dealer selling alot of used frames on ebay last year for about £5 each. You could also try contacting Webtex to see if their frames are suitable / available.

 

[Shewie]

Thanks guys....

What do you reckon my chances are of fashioning a couple of frame supports myself.

If any body has access to one of these frames a quick pic would be really useful - there seems to be a bit more to it on the pics than just two rods slid inside the sleeves.

I`m thinking I could make some rods with a few bits of scrap.

 

[jayuk]

I've posted two photos in the kit section of the galery for you:

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=517&cat=506

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=516&cat=506


The two legs are each 15mm wide and 55cm long (they can be bent to fit the form of your back). The cross bar is 20cm long with the pivots for the legs being 8cm apart from each other (the legs have to move about the pivots in order for them to be inserted into the diagonal sleeves).

I should add that this is the frame for a long back bergan - the short back may be different.

Hope this is helpfull - any questions please ask.

 

[Shewie]

:You_Rock_

Cheers Jayuk

That`s just what the doctor ordered - time to dust off the workbench me thinks

 

[Shewie]

I`ve had a closer look at my bergan and it says it`s a "long" under the lid however the sleeves which the rods go in are only 400mm long rather than 550mm.
I wondered if somebody had put new lid on at some point because a frame of 550mm would protruded out of the back compartment.

I`m going to make some smaller ones and try it out.

 

[Rhapsody]

Sounds like PLCE to me; great bit of kit!

Arrr, when I got my PLCE sack it didn't have the frame, either, but luckily where I live (Aldershot) you can often find things like that being practically given away at car boot sales and the like. Guess that's not much help to you, though!

 

[jayuk]

Hi, I just double checked my other longback bergan as well and the frame legs are definitely 550mm long.

Some of the very early bergans had their frames riveted to the cordura material. Some of these were later modified to the removable frame design. For this modification they had to remove the lids and then refit them once the work had been done, so it is possible that a mix up might of happened then (or a swap by someone else if the stitching doesn't match the rest of the bergan).

Unfortunately, I got rid of my shortback one, so I am unable to check the measurements.

 

[Shewie]

You`re right Jayuk ......

I`m the idiot - 550mm is the correct length


:sulkoff: :sulkoff: :sulkoff: :sulkoff: