interesting SAS kit?

[RAPPLEBY2000]

Hi i found this "1980s British Special Air Service belt kit. " on E-bay recently,
but it's already been sold for £158.00 :yikes:
I have a feeling that may be a bargain!
I was always interested in "survival kits" and there is a sort of cross over with Bushcraft in the minimal kit area. most of it looks genuine but you can never tell!

anyway here it is:

and closeups:

heres the blurb that went with it:

1980s British Special Air Service belt kit.
Camouflaged ‘58 Pattern webbing with two water-bottle pouches, a waterproof lined Escape & Evasion pouch, a utility pouch, an ammunition pouch, a prismatic compass pouch and belt.
The contents are as follows:
2 x water bottles
1 x metal cup
1 x screw gate karabiner
1 x Emergency Flying Ration Mark 9 metal box/mess tins containing: mess tin handles, plastic bags, Silva compass (NSN, luminous markers, small air-bubble), glass magnifying/burning lens, haemostat/artery forceps, surgical gloves, water purification tablets, hacksaw, safety pins, cotton wool, matches (two types), rabbit snares, tin opener and beef stock cubes
1 x BCB Saw, Pocket, Heavy
1 x BCB Matchless Fire-Set
1 x NATO Emergency Fishing Kit
1 x survival tin containing: two sided signalling flashcard (hexagonal light reflective tape/day-glow orange), pen-knife, heliograph (manufactured by George Ibbertson), fishing hooks on line, self adhesive plasters, safety pins, needles and thread, rabbit snare, sealable plastic bag, condom, water purification tablets, razor blade, flint and steel (hacksaw blade with sharpened end), lifeboat matches and striker and brass escape compass with luminous dial
1 x Emergency Flying Ration Mark 4: containing chocolate
1 x Matches Safety No 4 Mark 1 12D/1270: 7 matches left
1 x detonator box AMM.CONT.L21OA1 S.V.525 A DP 1, empty (usually holds 11 detonators)
1 x sealed pack of green paracord
1 x standard size 3 airway

This belt kit is genuine and complete bar SQMS signed for items (magazines, prismatic compass, lightweight baseplate compass, weapon cleaning kit and mini-flares). No provenance provided.

hope that's an interesting read!

 

[spamel]

I've got some of that stuff myself, the brass button compass and the heliograph are the first things I see. I wouldn't mind getting hold of one of those metal water bottles, I could see them being handy in bushcraft use. Just bung the open topped bottle onto the ashes to boil your water, freeing up your billy can!

 

[RAPPLEBY2000]

The water bottles are 44" patern it's still possible to buy them!
they're alloy, but can be heated over a fire to melt the frozen water inside!

 

[spamel]

I've been looking, but can't seem to find anywhere that actually sells them unless I order from USA or Aus!! I'll keep searching though!

 

[Spacemonkey]

I've been looking, but can't seem to find anywhere that actually sells them unless I order from USA or Aus!! I'll keep searching though!

Silvermans are your friends... GENUINE 44 Bottle, metal mug and 58 cover for £23 NEW or £15 for mug and bottle NEW.

Oh, and while we're talking of the SAS check this out, it's absolutely 'potty'...: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/uk/2000/iranian_embassy_siege/717047.stm

 

[RAPPLEBY2000]

ahh "potty" i get it now!
"Michael bentines potty time!"

what a strange turn of events!

 

[spamel]

Well, I've looked a bit closer and found them cheaper. It's just that they are called all sorts of different things!

For £3.99

For £3.95

I'm still looking for others, but these seem to be awesome prices. Guess what I'm gonna buy!!

 

[RAPPLEBY2000]

careful they aren't the real thing, they are the sort of thing i used in scouts, probably made in China orTaiwan very flimsy! definately not up to military standard!

I'd keep looking if i were you!

 

[spamel]

Righto, well, I haven't ordered yet! How can you tell they aren't the real deal, apart from the too good to be true price?!

 

[RAPPLEBY2000]

this is a genuine item

this is the sort of stores info you'll find on any genuine issue item

from this company
International military antiques

also this one is real

note the canvas pouch, none of the modern nylon rubbish! there are two of these waterbottle pouches on the SAS set!

it was found here:
josephs militaria and homefront collection (44" pattern webbing section)

as i say you can still buy them they're just tricky to find!

 

[Jon Mawer]

The ww2 us aluminium bottles are also excellent, asare the mugs which come in stainless or alu. Also very easy to get on ebay, and still cheap(ish). Try it, you will be suprised!

 

[Brian]

Rich,

Sadly enough I have most of that kit , I like the 44 bottles very much. Spamel try this place
http://www.ukkitmonster.com/product_info.php?cPath=37&products_id=31
No connection with them, just a satisfied customer.

Brian

 

[EdS]

have you got an ebay item number - I'll forward it to my mate, he'll be able to say yea or nay to the authentisity

 

[addyb]

Those SAS belt kits are really unique and I've always wanted to see one up close. Props to you, Rappleby.

Cheers,

Adam

PS: There's a John Gardner 007 novel called "Icebreaker" and in it, Bond snowmobiles through Iceland "living off the belt" so to speak. Anway, it's worth the read because Gardner goes into some detail about the SAS belt pictured here.

 

[wingstoo]

Hi Folks

Guess that the 44 pat bottle, mug and pouch my old chap got for 10 bob was worth it then...Lol...still got it as well, though mine had a alli screw top...

LS

 

[Brian]

If its not original Eds, he has gone to a lot of effort, the mag pouches seem to be on the wrong side but apart from that its pretty spot on from what I can tell.

Brian

 

[wingstoo]

If its not original Eds, he has gone to a lot of effort, the mag pouches seem to be on the wrong side but apart from that its pretty spot on from what I can tell.

Brian

All SAS kit is individual...even down to the weaponary they chose to use, so the could be a made up kit by anyone who could get hold of the bits and pieces, The Mag pouches are in this case not for holding mags, this is the individuals "survival" belt kit, not his combat belt kit.

This would be a real easy kit to make, slap SAS on it and someone, somewhere will buy it thinking it is authentic...1 born every minute...lol

LS

 

[Brian]

LS,

The belt kits were actually issued by the SQMS in this configuration, the belt kit would have contained ammunition in the pouches as he wouldn't be going far without his weapon, the pouches were made to carry four 20 round mags. I know kit is individual and how easy it is to get it as I have a similar rig made up form kit that I've been given over the years.

Brian

 

[wingstoo]

LS,

The belt kits were actually issued by the SQMS in this configuration, the belt kit would have contained ammunition in the pouches as he wouldn't be going far without his weapon, the pouches were made to carry four 20 round mags. I know kit is individual and how easy it is to get it as I have a similar rig made up form kit that I've been given over the years.

Brian

I stand corrected...

LS

 

[RAPPLEBY2000]

as for faking the kit......you could i suppose.. but actually finding all the parts will take such a long time in todays world and you'd have to buy from collectors and suchlike that you woulden't make much money especially on Evil-bay!

from all the information i've gathered over the years all the parts look genuine, it seems standard-ish but theres alot of RAF gear in it like the ration box.

there was a time when you could buy the ration pouch and ammo pouches, a 58 water pouch(belt loops) and a knife pouch all designed for the SAS, from Survival aids! so it could just be a collector of special forces/survival gear, but again, you'd get far more money from dealers, so my guess would be it's genuine purely from a money point of view.

a secound guess is that it's kit left over from the cold war era of a more standard soldier, I was in the TA 1990 and we were given 58 webbing, which was not ideal we were encouraged to do whatever we wanted to make the webbing more comfortable etc (as long as it looked like webbing) , i don't think there was a single set in the company that haden't been adapted one way or another!
i personally used a US army water pouch, US Butt pack, and on one occasion US ammo pouches!
mabey this is a selection of add on's he used?
again though it's tricky stuff to get hold of and you'd get far more money from a dealer!

I have seen other such "genuine sets"(how am i to know!) and they follow a simular theme, the drop ammo pouches, two 44 pat water bottles, and a smaller pouch for a compass, and no yoke!
acvcording to stuff i've read sometimes they used a 44" cross straps yoke!

i always have a rummage in surplus stores and i have come across 1 44 water bottle set(in pouch) that was so worn out the fabric broke as i was looking at it!
and 1 drop ammo pouch in used condition(i should have bought!)

i know someone i can ask i shall see what he thinks!

i concer it's real!
prehaps all the kit shown was not carried all at once!