Canvas Berghaus Crusader

[Twodogs]

One of the first things I did when I joined my battalion in 1983 was replace the 58 pattern large pack so down I went to the local camping shop in Colchester and spend £80 on a Berghaus Cyclops roc with side pouches in DPM ( DPM webbing wasnt about then) size two so it went above the pouches of the 58 pattern webbing , one side pouch was removed so the then new issue roll mat could be carried very comfy and after the 58 large pack or GS bergen........wow.....

Anyway I manage to get my hands on a DPM Roc with side pouches from ebay the other day and its still a very comfy pack ...

When the first pattern PLCE was issues to B Coy it offered so much but proved to be terrible ,, later kit was better .
Arktis 42 and 45 chest rigs were handy.
Happy days
Twodogs

 

[steven andrews]

Is it definitely canvas and not well worn cordura?

 

[Twodogs]

yep canvas

 

[johnboy]

Here you go Cliff,

Some images of my Cyclops Guide.

It uses most of the same hardwear as the Crusader you have so I suspect it's from the same period.

Also I scanned the Cyclops instructions that came when I bought the Rucksack ( another BNWT from trademe).

Note on the Instructions no Fax number only a Telex so that will help. Perhaps send this to Berghaus as I suspect this stuff predates the 86 intro date they have given you for the Crusader.

This Bergen is one of my favourites as it is so comfy it's about 45-50L.

Here it is doing it's stuff at the summit of Mt Taranaki..

Cheers

John

 

[MartinK9]

Very interesting John.

My Vulcan is from 1986, the year I joined up. Still going strong with a few repairs, just like me really

 

[johnboy]

1886 you would have served at Umboto Gorge then....

Is that Bergen a Crusader not a Vulcan??

Well worn Black Krab hanging off the back to confirm old sweat status... traces of black nasty tidying the straps up.. choice..

Berghaus Bergens creating memories since ages ago..

 

[MartinK9]

Ooops... yep 1986 and a Vulcan, I'll change my post

Black and nasty to stop the lose bits upsetting the RAF too.

Clips whitened but serviceable, lost the chest clip sometime ago.

The only thing really that has had to be repaired are the side pouch lids from over loading and lifting incorrectly by me and others over the last 25 years.

They've been repaired and the waist strap extended to match my waistline

 

[Twodogs]

Good stuff lads
Johnboy the Berghaus guide does seem to have most of the same bits as my crusader the fidly main buckles are a bit odd I can see why thay have been changed ,
Twodogs

 

[Twodogs]

And theres more ,

Two late eightys cordura cyclops roc both with the optional side pouches ,

Come on Gary post a picture of your canvas roc

Twodogs

 

[johnboy]

And theres more ,

Two late eightys cordura cyclops roc both with the optional side pouches ,

Come on Gary post a picture of your canvas roc

Twodogs

Nice Roc's

Common but nice... What you want is one of these...

 

[MrEd]

canvas + decent pack = cool

that looks great, modern design, comfy and canvas ticks all the boxes imo!

Would be interesting what Berghaus say when they see photos of, and indeed how much money they offer you

 

[Twodogs]

Johnboy , vector commando ..........owwwwwwwwwwww nice but so expensive in the day :yikes: , I remember photos in combat and survival of legianaires absailing with them on ....

Maybe Neil could put up the prices from his old cataloges .

Berghaus Vulcan takes some beating mind ,

Twodogs

 

[nolightweight]

Vector Commando makes another guest appearance...

Do you sport a droopy moo-stashe and have your eyes blacked out in the photos when you carry that, johnboy?

Some nostalgia from the old Survival Aids catalogues back then...

1989

and 1992

Just to point out how much dollar these packs went for brand spanking new back then...

Vector Pack Systems Commando in '89 was £287 in OG and £289 in DPM hitting £299.95 in '92

Berghaus Munro was £39 and reached £59.95

Berghaus Vulcan asked the richly sum of £179.95

Crusader in OG or DPM was £139 in '89 and £169.95 in '92

Cyclops Roc £79 with side pooches £16.95 extra, rising to £99.95 and £18.95 a couple of years later.

Just for info...

 

[Twodogs]

Plus Ray " Wilkinson sword survival knife " .............

 

[MartinK9]

Just to point out how much dollar these packs went for brand spanking new back then...

Berghaus Vulcan asked the richly sum of £179.95

Just for info...

Got my money's worth then........... £7.19 a year

 

[m.durston]

i managed to pick up my vulcan bergen off of ebay a few years ago bnwt for only £80! unwanted present apparently, although why anyone would want to flog one rather keep it is beyond me!

bit off topic, but that fella wearing the lionheart goretex jacket looks like he's doing a bit of dental work on a mujahadeen! i did read in andy mcnabs book seven troop (and elsewhere) that we trained those guys up in scotland in allsorts of nefarious techniques to be used against those pesky russians.

also i really like the look of that gucci looking helly hansen wooly pully

 

[bojit]

i really like the look of that gucci looking helly hansen wooly pully

I had one great top but they don't like fires , i melted a sleave while wearing it over a norgie top that was the only thing that stopped me getting burned

Craig...........

 

[johnboy]

Vector Commando makes another guest appearance...

Do you sport a droopy moo-stashe and have your eyes blacked out in the photos when you carry that, johnboy?

Perhaps....

Here I am on the BATT back in '77' training the 65th Simba Regiment for operations against Mercenary forces in Limpopo. This is prior to doing my RADC course on improvised Field Dentistry... You can read about this and more in my forthcomming book 'Crusader, Lion Heart and Listerine inside the world of SF Dentistry'

Nice kit porn Neil.....

 

[Twodogs]

Moo-Stach isnt long enough ...........

 

[MartinK9]

Tsk fold your socks over your boots man