Could this be the era of the decline of the army surplus store?

[Vulpes]

With the influx of imported military style rubbish, knock offs and expensive tactical kit, I ask myself "Is this the end of the traditional army surplus store as we know it?".

Checking at my local surplus store, it's now filled with cheap chinese import military style kit and work wear.

Other stores in the county are similar. They mostly have the same old stock year after year with lots of grade 1 rubbish and novelties like pistol crossbows and blank firers.

Then there's the more specialised stores that are further out that are filled with expensive kit like arktis smocks, vertx shirts, danner boots, etc.

What ever happened to the classic army surplus store on the outskirts of town that was an alladin's cave of interesting kit and hardwear. They even had that great musty smell!

I'm looking to the internet to keep it alive...

 

[Kepis]

what ones are you visiting ?, the one i use is superb and is brimming with genuine surplus, ok and a few cheap knock offs, but it's mainly all genuine gear, including a FH70 155mm Field Howitzer

 

[pastymuncher]

Marcus's in Bristol still has the musty smell and proper army surplus, but it does have some of the cheap new stuff as well, but most of that is kept on the upper floor. There was one in Oxford as well but I haven't been there for several years, so it may have changed, managed to get some surplus climbing and abseil ropes for next to nothing there.

 

[Vulpes]

what ones are you visiting ?, the one i use is superb and is brimming with genuine surplus, ok and a few cheap knock offs, but it's mainly all genuine gear, including a FH70 155mm Field Howitzer

Well, BDR is full of crud. Always has been really though. MFC's gun section was good and the staff were alright, but not a great selection of surplus. There was another one down that way which I forget that was quite interesting, but leaning toward's the dark side. Paul Bruton was a big favourite of mine for over 10 years. Defineately a proper surplus store. Often got what I wanted in there and I got on very well with Mr.B, but I havn't been there in years. Last time I spoke to him which was in 2007 I beleive, he wasn't doing very well. I do a trawl of most of East & West Sussex's stores with a mate almost every year.

I remember other surplus stores that disappeared in Brighton. One was in the lanes and infested with fleas. Another big one was in Horsham. Did a big one in Aldershot once too.

Where do you go?

 

[Retired Member southey]

The Army Store in Aldershot town centre, bottom of the pedestrian precinct on the road upto the train station, is a real trove of goodies, He has a stack of cavas respirator haversacks, for £5 each!! lots of GOOOOOD kit tucked away behind the more modern surplus kit,

 

[Vulpes]

Marcus's in Bristol still has the musty smell and proper army surplus, but it does have some of the cheap new stuff as well, but most of that is kept on the upper floor. There was one in Oxford as well but I haven't been there for several years, so it may have changed, managed to get some surplus climbing and abseil ropes for next to nothing there.

I love finding things like that in surplus stores. Springfields in Burton-on-Trent was like that when I went years ago.

Endicots seems to be very good, but I havn't tried them yet. Seems to be a bit inconvenient ordering from them sometimes.

I really don't think you can beat old fashioned surplus. Especially when it comes to cheap winter clothing and trousers.

 

[Vulpes]

The Army Store in Aldershot town centre, bottom of the pedestrian precinct on the road upto the train station, is a real trove of goodies, He has a stack of cavas respirator haversacks, for £5 each!! lots of GOOOOOD kit tucked away behind the more modern surplus kit,

My Dad took me there when I was much too young to get around. He said it's been there for years if I remember correctly. Might do it again sometime

 

[Chris the Cat]

Not at Endicotts Exeter it aint!
Cheers.
Chris.

 

[Retired Member southey]

My Dad took me there when I was much too young to get around. He said it's been there for years if I remember correctly. Might do it again sometime

If you do get there, ask to have a rummage in the high shelves! also as you walk in, look straight to the back of the rear room, that's where the shoulder bags are, behind a large stack of blankets(The blankets may not still be there being priced at £5 each can you say MERINO!)

 

[Vulpes]

Not at Endicotts Exeter it aint!
Cheers.
Chris.

True true. They've got a nice selection. I've emailed them and they're taking their sweet time. Will bell them tomorrow morning I suppose.

 

[Man of Tanith]

Endicots seems to be very good, but I havn't tried them yet. Seems to be a bit inconvenient ordering from them sometimes.

i only started ordering from Endicotts after seeing them talked about on here. and i now regularly order from them.
the gentleman i speak to (i think it is Kev) is amazingly good with his knowledge of stock. he even managed to get combats that fitted lady of tanith from only a height and size description.
no connection other than spending far to much money there

As for army surplus stores the one in bedford millar tree isn't too bad they have a reasonable amount of genuine army surplus kit and it has the proper smell, although they do have a bit of web tex and jack pyke kit in there now

 

[Mike8472]

I can't speak highly enough about Endicotts. I have used tbem via mail order for 3 years now and the owner Kev is a top bloke.

Here in west yorkshire there are still some good surplus stores knocking about. My local one is a place called Johnsons on the outskirts if leeds. A big warehouse full of massive metal bins filled with surplus. You have to dive in and get your hands dirty but there are many rewards hidden amungst it all.

Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk

 

[Chiseller]

I'm a Jonson's fan an all. Ive had some good kit from them in the past and quite a few oddball bits. I used to like Mannings ? At harehills , they had some reyt finds.

 

[Kepis]

Where do you go?

Drop Zone at Pulborough, it's a huge warehouse and it has everything you could think off and a lot more that you didnt think of, i always come out spending more than i bargained for

 

[Chiseller]

a lot more that you didnt think of, i always come out spending more than i bargained for

I know that feeling....Bern there, done that , got the t shirt, bivibag boots blah blah blah.....oh now what did I go there for in the first place ??? Oh some gloves LOL

 

[Vulpes]

Drop Zone at Pulborough, it's a huge warehouse and it has everything you could think off and a lot more that you didnt think of, i always come out spending more than i bargained for

Always got the feeling that place was expensive though.

 

[Kepis]

Always got the feeling that place was expensive though.

not from my experience

 

[emrock]

Try Sabre Sales in Southsea. Its a big sjop but it is so untidy that only about 1/6 of it is accessible. Its full of military surplus and relis from the last 60 years.

 

[kINGPIN]

I know what you mean about surplus stores, the ones my way are the same, but you will be lucky to even find grade 1 stuff. Its usually stuff beyond repair as well as cheap knockoffsand ridiculous 20quid 'rambo knives',- all of which are at massivly inflated prices.

Another thumbs up for Endicotts from me though.

 

[Hoodoo]

I thought that already happened back in the 80s. Around here, they sure are not what they used to be.