Whats your oldest kit

[neoaliphant]

I spent hours looking through the Bukta Scout and Guide catalogue in the fifties. I never did get a Gilwell pan set. I did get a seven in one tool that incorporated a shovel axe and saw among other things. As you might expect it didn’t do any of them very well.

7 and 1 tool in the 50s, that was ahead of its time

 

[MikeLA]

That was a reminder from a previous comment, Woolworths 2 large boot brushes still using, bought around 1987.

 

[Kepis]

The oldest piece of equipment i still have that i (my dad) purchased has to be this old sheath knife that i got from Scout Shops forty plus years ago when I was getting ready for my first hiking 'expedition' to Dartmoor on a school trip, the school kit list recommended a sheath knife, how times have changed.

It originally had an antler handle, but that fell apart a long time ago, so I rehandled it with stacked leather and a Cherry end cap.

Its been well used and doesnt get the use it probably should as it holds so many great memories of multiple trips to Dartmoor as well as all sorts of adventures over the South Downs when i was a nipper.

 

[GreyCat]

My oldest kit must be my restored billhooks and axes. All proper vintage, some 1950s, some 1920s and the odd Victorian piece. Then there's my old rucksacks- a larger one and a smaller one, both external framed Karrimor from the 1970's or so. These things I have bought more recently, as vintage.

But things I have had for years, that's more difficult. I have a Leatherman Juice from (I think) the early to mid 1990's, one of the early ones. (Recently relegated to "special duties only" it as it has sentimental value and I don't want to lose it). Buried somewhere I have a basic SAK from the early/mid 1980's.

Quite a bit of my basic kit is from the early to mid 1990's as that's when I had garnered enough £££ to get my own stuff rather than borrowing my dad's old kit including his Trangia (late 1970's), Phoenix sleeping bag and tent (both early/mid 1980's).

GC

 

[pichi1]

A woolen swedish army jacket marked 1957; in perfect condition, its my go-to jacket in the winter,
a K-Bar from the 80s, i have tried several other knives, but its still the best.
My fathers elk skin boots from canada, i think he got them in the late 70,s

 

[Watch-keeper]

My oldest still in use bits of kit that I bought new are;
Macpac day sack that was bought in 1995 and still in regular use.
Therm-a-rest + mountain equipment down sleeping bag that were bought around the same time which were both used last month.
Rab down vest, olive green and grey bought in Survival Aids Euston some time in the late 80s, still used this winter.

Im sure If I dig around a bit I could find some older kit but those are the things that spring to mind mainly because they have been very good value for money.

 

[Herman30]

My oldest has to be the Suunto 311 model compass from 70´s.

 

[TLM]

I have from grandfather the earlier model from that -1930. Now retired to drawer duty. It is also somewhat a piece of history as some years ago a noticed it has "Suojeluskunta" stamps on it.

 

[Ozmundo]

Now I’ve got to look through the kit store.

 

[Trojan]

My original MOD Survival Knife bought with my first pay-packet in the early 90s