Triflow is pretty good,been using it for a few years at work and its way better than WD40 but then it depends on what you need it to do. I've always found WD40 seems to attract dust,grit and fluff, while Triflow seems to repel everything.
As far as ordinary oil goes, I find 3in1 or even the cheap 151 stuff that Parker Tools in the Metro centre sells is fine for tool lubrication, knife sharpening and prevention of rust.
Anyway I use Triflow all the time at work. You can buy it from Arco
http://www.triflow.co.uk/index.html
On the kit issue; No the Army don't
necessarily use the "best" but you can fork out a lot of money on brand names and be very disappointed. If you want reasonably sturdy gear for a reasonable price, then British Army surplus will do you, but
shop around.
Get your eyes and your hands on kit
before you buy it if you're buying online.
There are a few shops round Newcastle where you can check kit out,but they sell a lot of copied stuff as well as genuine kit so be careful. There's also a pretty good set up on the road into Darlington-
http://www.genuinearmysurplus.co.uk/products/
Mind you even there they sell some copied kit.
Make sure the kit is okay for what you want, then compare prices. Buy from wherever you can get the best price (don't forget to take delivery/travel costs into account).
good luck Dean
atb
Steve
