MILITARIA

Of course you want to wear your knit hipster hat today—when don’t you?—but it’s so damn sunny. We got you covered, literally, with this olive drab 100% wool knit cap that includes a built-in brim in front. This “jeep cap,” inspired by the U.S. military, meets U.S. Defense Department specs, though it’s been redesigned to be larger, cover the ears, and include the bill upfront. Radar O’Reilly loved his! Made in the U.S. of A., of course.

Looking for the perfect accent to offset those paratrooper fatigues or tactical pants that aren’t nearly as flattering as you’d imagined? This black belt will turn the other foot soldiers green with envy! It’s nylon, 1-1/2" wide x 57" long, with “ribs” every 1/8" for your pleasure. Or for a secure hold. Probably for a secure hold. The non-metallic pull-through buckle makes for quick clearance at security checkpoints. It’s ISO certified, designed to carry gear, and has a built-in belt loop for added security. Cut it to suit your figure. Just make sure to melt or epoxy the new end to keep it from unravelling.

You will survive, too, just like Gloria Gaynor, and in the woods, even. But only if you have this U.S. Army manual, cleverly titled: SURVIVAL, Department of the Army Field Manual FM21-76. It's 287 heavily illustrated pages of techniques for staying alive (add your own BeeGee jokes here) including orientation, food & cooking, fire- and shelter-making, rafts, animal, insect and plant recognition, and much more. This is the 1970 edition, but staying alive in the woods hasn't changed a whole lot since then. In soft-cover.

In the native tongue, that’s “Do you sew?” and anyone with this nifty German Army field sewing repair kit would have rightly answered “ja.” The olive drab fold-over pouch came straight from some German military warehouse to ours, and contains metal scissors, several kinds/colors of thread, assorted buttons, (5) sewing needles of various sizes, a metal thimble and safety pins. Pouch measures 4-1/2" x 3" x 2-3/4" when closed and 6” when flapped open and flat. Canvas tie keeps it snugly closed.

Why did the Italian soldier bring a standard-issue sewing kit into battle? In case he needed to sew something! This military sewing kit is like new, in a neat khaki pouch, 6” x 5” when open and 2” x 5” rolled up. Inside are spools of white and dark green thread, coat buttons (classic plastic and ornate gold/metal), scissors, an assortment of sewing needles, and safety pins. You know the Italians, they’re all about style. This is a very nice collectible piece.

This East German MDI gold medal, awarded to officers with 25 years of service, is 1-3/8” dia and hangs from a red ribbon with (2) gold stripes on the sides. In great condition and packed in a see-through plastic case. You’ll also get a 1” x 1/2” ribbon bar for less formal dress events with a smaller gold button on it. Both have a safety-style pin on the back for securing to a uniform and are quite amazing in design and historically.

Call it a MASK unit. This faux-military “Minor Surgery” kit from Voodoo Tactical® comes in a 7" x 5" x 2-1/2" canvas pouch containing: 6” wound probe; 3-1/2” stitch scissors; 3-1/2” tweezers; 5-1/2” bandage scissors; 5” straight and curved forceps; a #3 scalpel handle with disposable blade; pupil flashlight with mm gauge; alcohol pads; antiseptic towelettes; some 5/0 monofilament; and a gram of antibiotic ointment. Pouch will be OD, Black or Coyote; we'll spin the wheel of fate to decide. And remember: reenacting actual combat surgery without a license is still not allowed.

Peace, brothers and sisters. If you’re on the peace train, you might like this sky blue 100% woolen beret from the United Nations, just like the UN peacekeepers wear. Inside, the label says “United Nations Property,” which will cease to be true when it’s your property. Available sizes: 7, 7-5/8 and 7-7/8. Drop us a note with your approx size and we’ll see what we can do. No promises, though--you get what you get without throwing a fit.

Blank dog tags, ready to punch. Each set measures 2" x 1-1/8" x 1/32" thick in matte stainless steel with (2) ball chains, one 24" long and one 4-1/2" long. You get (2) sets of (2) tags, with (4) chains altogether. Made in the USA.

Joseph Cornell would have loved this one. Remember him? The assemblage artist who put boxes on the art map? Look him up. And then imagine the possibilities for this his handsomely rugged, hinged-top 7” x 7-3/4” x 1 3/4” wooden box from the U.S. Army. Painted olive drab on the outside with brass hardware, it used to be a GI artillery gunner’s quadrant instrument box. Has interior wooden bracing, perfect for a Cornell-style piece, and the words “CHEST, PACKING FOR GUNNER’S QUADRANT” stenciled in white on the hinged lid. If you’re not into making art, use it for anything you’d use a wooden box for (duh), or just as a cool, authentic display item. Made in the USA, natural

Survival bracelets, actually. These are braided paracord, and quite attractive, but unbraid them and you’ve got (7) feet of military-grade (per the mfr) paracord with a safe working load of 100 lbs and a max working load of 550 lbs. Bracelet closes with black snap closures. Mildew and abrasion-resistant. In black, royal blue, red, purple-ish gray with black edges, and camo. We’ll pick, but order two or more and we’ll try to send different colors.

From the U.S. Navy stock of unused Gob hats (no, we don’t know where that name comes from) or more familiarly “dixie cups,” in white cotton twill. We’ll pick from sizes 7.5, 7.75 and 8 if you’re going for the Cracker Jack look, but if you turn the sides down like Gilligan, one size fits every noggin. Upright, it should be squared up for authenticity. Group discount available for drama teachers staging South Pacific.

This Italian military pocket knife is like new, with a fold-out blade and a fold-out can opener/ bottle opener. We’re not saying a solider never cut cheese with it, but it looks like it was made for much more serious jobs. 3-3/4" long when closed x 13/16" wide x 1-1/8" tall, it has a 2-1/8" blade and a can opener that is Charles Atlas to the wimpy P-38. Has a black waffled grip and metal lanyard loop. Very solid piece and an example of function over form.

t’s not big enough to fit a snare, or even an 8” concert tom, but this Chinese military drum pouch did carry ammo drums for the SKS rifles used in the Vietnam War. Vaguely triangular, the pouch measures approx 7” tall, 7” wide at the top and 2” wide at the bottom. Has an adjustable shoulder strap, and cool Chinese lettering on the inside of the flap, which has a toggle closure. In classic olive drab, of course.

German safety goggles. Good for “sonne, winde und staub,” they say, and by staub they mean dust. These are gray rubber with a little, tinted sun visor that snaps on or off, an adjustable elastic strap and removable clear lenses. Lightly used, although if the thin foam padding around the eyes is deteriorated, it’s easily removed. Measure approx 8" x 4".

These wraparound Chinese military goggles have a camo pattern and come with one-piece, long, swappable clear and gray lenses. Also comes with both an elastic headband and standard temples that can be, yes, swapped out. Includes a cleaning cloth and an olive drab quarter-moon-shaped solid plastic case with a pair of clips that are probably meant to attach the case to a pistol belt. Includes instructions in Chinese because the guy who wrote them had no idea the goggles would end up in a warehouse in suburban Chicago.

Or do you say Seemannsmesser? Either way, this solid piece of engineering is a German-style sailor’s knife, or deck knife, which you can use as a regular pocket knife. Has a 4-1/4" handle, a 3” blade and a 3-1/2" marlin spike, a tool used in marine ropework. Shaped in the form of a polished metal cone tapered to a point, it’s used to unlay rope for splicing, untie knots, and as a toggle to join ropes under tension in a belaying-pin splice. Argggh, matey. Has a sturdy black plastic handle, and a little ring handle on one end. This is a solid tool with a nice blade.

Can’t we all just get along and share a drink? In this military mash-up, you’ll get a black plastic canteen from the Dutch military marked “NIET VERWARMEN KL 05” and “NSN 8125-99-173-0116 AVON”, plus a used camouflage pouch from the British military marked “CARRIER, WATER CANTEEN DPM, IRR 2007” and “NSN 8465-99-132-1556 DC1aESL/0156.” Canteen is 9" tall x 4" wide x 2” thick with an attached screw top. Case has a main interior space and a smaller pocket, both hook’n’loop and buckle fasteners, and a snap-button belt loop.