Marvellous! I found a very similar Polish mess kit in my basement (stamped 1988 but looks the same) I'm looking forward to making buckwheat in it one day.
Got the Swedish stainless also lucked out and bought it new/unissued didn’t have a mark on mine looked new out of storage. I see them here an there. But the paint ect looks bad and their not selling them cheap
Ive really enjoyed these vids, all the foreign surplus kit i had as a teenager.....great to see it all again!!!, my own personel all time favorites were....swedish deep messkit, the one with the large hanging hook, soviet 1960s messkit,french 1950s large waterbottles, portuguese 1964 2.5 litre plastic waterbottle, east german canvas poncho, american poncho liner, australian poncho, belgian 1950s camo tent, 1940s soviet spade, ......
Eddie Caplan I’m sorry for the late reply. I guess I wasn’t notified by RUclips of your comment. I’m glad you enjoyed my videos. You have had an impressive list of kits and equipment. The ones on your list I haven’t collected is the Portuguese water bottle, the Australian poncho and the Belgian tent. I enjoy my East German poncho and my Soviet stuff from time to time and once in while I drag out my Swedish kit. Thanks for your comment!
I really like my 1952 Wz23/31 kit. It’s replaced most everything else I’ve used, and even sees use in the kitchen at home. The first line in the pot is about the same as the cup/pan volume. Makes oatmeal and rice really easy! Fill to the line, season and boil; fill the cup with oats or rice and dump it in, give it a stir, put the cup on as a lid and let it steep. I keep a wooden spoon in the kit for eating, lifting the bail and as a handle stick for the cup. Some day I’ll get adventurous and try fried eggs in the cup/pan.
It’s a nice little kit. I’m glad to hear from someone else that enjoys it. When you do the eggs, low and slow is key so you don’t have a stick mess. Enjoy your upcoming adventures and thanks for your comment!
Best method for cooking buckwheat I've come up with so far: 1:1.5 grain:water ratio. Fast boil for fiveish minutes lid on. Low enough that it doesn't try to burn to the bottom, hot enough it bubbles of rolls really good. Kill the heat, insulate pot as much as possible (blanket, reflectix bubble wrap, whatever just don't melt your sleeping bag trying this) Let sit for 30min. Works for rice (1:1.75 water for white) etc too. Saves you fuel and it comes out as perfectly as if you did it in a rice cooker.
Thanks for going over where to look for the stamps showing the year of manufacture, I have some of these I will have to take a closer look at! Another good review John!
Like the mess kit and have made the meal using a us gift mess kit before but added meat to it. It works very well with spam or even beef or bacon jerky along with turkey or venison jerky. Looks like this mess kit holds more thoe also will the cups inter change with each other? Plus how much is this mess kit?
Indianartifact Thank you for watching my videos. I don’t know if you’re looking for a recommendation; but if you are looking to get a German style one, I would see if you could find a East German, or West German, or an Austrian one because of the additional cup inside. That extra cup expands the kit function nicely. Another style I really enjoy is the Czech Army one. The two pots with the lid/plate is nice. You can fry small stuff with the lid/plate. I have two videos on that one on my channel. And lastly, the USGI mess kit paired with some sort of canteen cup system is very nice too. Especially if you are planning on doing some frying. Good luck on your hunt!
John Sherwood I just realized I only saw part of your message and I thought you were only recommending an East German one,, I’ll look into the others you suggested. Glad I saw the whole message, thanks again!
Many of the German style kits will nest with minor mods. I currently have a East German kit paired with a Swedish screen in my kit for my truck. It works great!
They’re fine on campfire if you don’t leave it in overnight or on high high heat right above a high flame. If you’re just boiling water, you should be fine with this kit
I had to get 2 of my Polish kits out and look their markings over. My 23/31 is marked R.F.W.M-1961 AL-2 In the unpainted area about an inch above the top measuring mark is a stamping 74RPW Ny 3 or maybe an 8 The 70 has RZWM 1989 Then a lot of other stuff inside a rectangle. It does not have a stamping in the unpainted area. Other than the year of manufacture I have no idea what any of it all means. Do you have any ideas or maybe a lead to where I can find out?
You have some interesting kits there. For one, on your 23/31, I have yet to see markings on the side of any Polish mess kits. I have only seen them marked on the bottom of the pot and on the bottom of the cup. That's really cool! As for what some your markings mean, I will refer you to a fellow that has his own collection that he post on Facebook. This link goes right to his post on his wz. 70 but he has many more kits he has reviewed. facebook.com/canteensandmesskits/photos/a.765963480161888.1073741860.729443687147201/765968810161355/?type=3&theater
I. Have a Polish mess kit I'm researching. The stamp is: RZ WM 1972. PN-58. And some other numbers on the stamp too. I plan to do a vid on it. Maybe you can help me with the history of it.
According to my source, Army Water Bottles and Mess Kits on Facebook, the RZWM is the name of the kit's manufacturer, Rybnickie Zaklady Wyrobow Metalowych. The date of 1972 should make your kit the wz.70 and it should look like the kit in the video with the deep cup. The PN-58 marking I'm not sure of. My source thinks it might be part of a serial number. Check out his page here: facebook.com/canteensandmesskits/photos/a.765963480161888.1073741860.729443687147201/765968810161355/?type=3&theater
@@John-Sherwood-W4JFS The PN stands for 'Polish Norm', it basically means that in 1958 the army had set some requirements for the mess kits and this one meet the '58 standards
That's a good question. I'm not sure. I haven't seen a Hungarian cup for sale. But that doesn't mean there isn't one. If I run across one I will let you know in this comment thread. Thanks for watching and for your question!
John Sherwood The MRS titanium cup fits perfectly, but I gave it to my son and don't want to spend 50.00 for another one. I ordered a Swiss plastic cup, but not sure it will work. I tried those Russian aluminum cups but they were way big. Also they are not good coffee cups.
Marvellous! I found a very similar Polish mess kit in my basement (stamped 1988 but looks the same) I'm looking forward to making buckwheat in it one day.
I have one 2014 in stainless. Built like a tank. Better than the stainless Swedish mess kit. Rare as hell. Never see them for sale
Got the Swedish stainless also lucked out and bought it new/unissued didn’t have a mark on mine looked new out of storage. I see them here an there. But the paint ect looks bad and their not selling them cheap
Ive really enjoyed these vids, all the foreign surplus kit i had as a teenager.....great to see it all again!!!, my own personel all time favorites were....swedish deep messkit, the one with the large hanging hook, soviet 1960s messkit,french 1950s large waterbottles, portuguese 1964 2.5 litre plastic waterbottle, east german canvas poncho, american poncho liner, australian poncho, belgian 1950s camo tent, 1940s soviet spade, ......
Eddie Caplan I’m sorry for the late reply. I guess I wasn’t notified by RUclips of your comment. I’m glad you enjoyed my videos. You have had an impressive list of kits and equipment. The ones on your list I haven’t collected is the Portuguese water bottle, the Australian poncho and the Belgian tent. I enjoy my East German poncho and my Soviet stuff from time to time and once in while I drag out my Swedish kit. Thanks for your comment!
I really like my 1952 Wz23/31 kit. It’s replaced most everything else I’ve used, and even sees use in the kitchen at home. The first line in the pot is about the same as the cup/pan volume. Makes oatmeal and rice really easy! Fill to the line, season and boil; fill the cup with oats or rice and dump it in, give it a stir, put the cup on as a lid and let it steep. I keep a wooden spoon in the kit for eating, lifting the bail and as a handle stick for the cup. Some day I’ll get adventurous and try fried eggs in the cup/pan.
It’s a nice little kit. I’m glad to hear from someone else that enjoys it. When you do the eggs, low and slow is key so you don’t have a stick mess. Enjoy your upcoming adventures and thanks for your comment!
Always a pleasure John , best wishes from 🇬🇧
Thank you very much and thanks for stopping by.
awesome! I actually wondered why the cup of the mess tin tapered - its to place on top of pot to keep heat in when cooking - cool design!
Bozworth I’m glad you found my video useful! Thanks for watching and for your comment!
i just been looking into mess kits for myself and you did a first class job of showing of this one . thanks
Thanks very much!
Best method for cooking buckwheat I've come up with so far:
1:1.5 grain:water ratio.
Fast boil for fiveish minutes lid on. Low enough that it doesn't try to burn to the bottom, hot enough it bubbles of rolls really good.
Kill the heat, insulate pot as much as possible (blanket, reflectix bubble wrap, whatever just don't melt your sleeping bag trying this)
Let sit for 30min.
Works for rice (1:1.75 water for white) etc too. Saves you fuel and it comes out as perfectly as if you did it in a rice cooker.
There were stainless steel versions of mess kits in the Polish Army also past the 50's
Thanks for going over where to look for the stamps showing the year of manufacture, I have some of these I will have to take a closer look at! Another good review John!
Thanks for your comment! I hope my video helps you with your kits!
really good review. This set of Polish canteens is available in stainless steel
I like that Swiss Army canteen cup, but it should have coffee in it.
"half moon bracket" on pot handle is good for inserting a stick to make the handle longer
Listen at 8:56 mark, John mentions that point.
If you put the handle in the straight up position then give it a slight tug it locks it in place straight up. My 1965 psl does
Fine business, John. I'll be looking for one of these kits.
John Plecki it’s a nice kit. Good luck on your hunt!
Like the mess kit and have made the meal using a us gift mess kit before but added meat to it. It works very well with spam or even beef or bacon jerky along with turkey or venison jerky. Looks like this mess kit holds more thoe also will the cups inter change with each other? Plus how much is this mess kit?
Love the videos, I love cook kits also. Your videos are very informative.
Love the surplus review videos 👍
Thank you very much! Thanks for watching.
@@John-Sherwood-W4JFS although it does encourage me to buy more ..... 😁
I really enjoyed the video.
Thanks very much for your comment and for watching!
Another great video John. I'll have to give this recipes a try. I've never had buck wheat before.
Thanks man! I'll have you make you some. Its like a rice substitute. Its very good.
great mess kits 👍
Great video. Your videos have got me inspired to get a mess kit for camp cooking,, now I just need to pick which one. Thanks 👍🏻
Indianartifact Thank you for watching my videos. I don’t know if you’re looking for a recommendation; but if you are looking to get a German style one, I would see if you could find a East German, or West German, or an Austrian one because of the additional cup inside. That extra cup expands the kit function nicely. Another style I really enjoy is the Czech Army one. The two pots with the lid/plate is nice. You can fry small stuff with the lid/plate. I have two videos on that one on my channel. And lastly, the USGI mess kit paired with some sort of canteen cup system is very nice too. Especially if you are planning on doing some frying. Good luck on your hunt!
John Sherwood Thanks for the recommendation! I’ll try and locate one of the East German ones
John Sherwood I just realized I only saw part of your message and I thought you were only recommending an East German one,, I’ll look into the others you suggested. Glad I saw the whole message, thanks again!
Indianartifact Good luck on finding your next kit!
Again an awesome review John, I think you have complete reviews because you cook also meals in your kits , That I like a lot .
Thanks! I try to do my best to make them interesting. Thanks again for watching and for commenting!
Enjoy your videos. Outstanding review. Buen provecho👍🏼
Thanks again for watching and for your kind comment! Have a great day!
👍From me! I keep on saying I'm gonna get a European style canteen kit, but I never do.... maybe one day!!! Enjoyed the vid!
Thanks man! There's plenty of different types out there to choose from. Thanks again for watching my videos!
Hello John and great videos could you tell me if there's any other mess kit that will nest in a Swedish wind screen ?
Many of the German style kits will nest with minor mods. I currently have a East German kit paired with a Swedish screen in my kit for my truck. It works great!
@@John-Sherwood-W4JFS thanks for responding and helping with that knowledge great video keep up with great stuff
Thankyou for another excellent video! I wonder, what type of cowboy is shown at the start?
I called a Real Deal Brazil hat. It's made from the old tarps that covered trucks that ran around the jungle there. I've had mine for a few years now.
Thanks for the information John. I guess it's not the hat that matters, just the mileage.
OK, John, you told us the stick on the cup handle thing. You don't miss much, I must admit.
How do you think these would fair over a full campfire? Ive heard that they'll melt if left empty over high heat
They’re fine on campfire if you don’t leave it in overnight or on high high heat right above a high flame. If you’re just boiling water, you should be fine with this kit
that bracket on the handle was to put a stick, as with the swedish kit
puma Yes. That is correct. You could also use your bayonet. Thanks for watching!
Yes, John explains that at 8:56 mark.
I had to get 2 of my Polish kits out and look their markings over.
My 23/31 is marked
R.F.W.M-1961
AL-2
In the unpainted area about an inch above the top measuring mark is a stamping
74RPW
Ny 3
or maybe an 8
The 70 has
RZWM 1989
Then a lot of other stuff inside a rectangle.
It does not have a stamping in the unpainted area.
Other than the year of manufacture I have no idea what any of it all means. Do you have any ideas or maybe a lead to where I can find out?
You have some interesting kits there. For one, on your 23/31, I have yet to see markings on the side of any Polish mess kits. I have only seen them marked on the bottom of the pot and on the bottom of the cup. That's really cool! As for what some your markings mean, I will refer you to a fellow that has his own collection that he post on Facebook. This link goes right to his post on his wz. 70 but he has many more kits he has reviewed. facebook.com/canteensandmesskits/photos/a.765963480161888.1073741860.729443687147201/765968810161355/?type=3&theater
Ty
I. Have a Polish mess kit I'm researching. The stamp is: RZ WM 1972. PN-58. And some other numbers on the stamp too. I plan to do a vid on it. Maybe you can help me with the history of it.
According to my source, Army Water Bottles and Mess Kits on Facebook, the RZWM is the name of the kit's manufacturer, Rybnickie Zaklady Wyrobow Metalowych. The date of 1972 should make your kit the wz.70 and it should look like the kit in the video with the deep cup. The PN-58 marking I'm not sure of. My source thinks it might be part of a serial number. Check out his page here: facebook.com/canteensandmesskits/photos/a.765963480161888.1073741860.729443687147201/765968810161355/?type=3&theater
@@John-Sherwood-W4JFS The PN stands for 'Polish Norm', it basically means that in 1958 the army had set some requirements for the mess kits and this one meet the '58 standards
Good 👍 👍 2:13
John, is there a cup that can go inside the Hungarian mess kit, like there is for the Russian mess kit?
That's a good question. I'm not sure. I haven't seen a Hungarian cup for sale. But that doesn't mean there isn't one. If I run across one I will let you know in this comment thread. Thanks for watching and for your question!
John Sherwood The MRS titanium cup fits perfectly, but I gave it to my son and don't want to spend 50.00 for another one. I ordered a Swiss plastic cup, but not sure it will work. I tried those Russian aluminum cups but they were way big. Also they are not good coffee cups.
Fine
..always use a wooden spoon in an aluminium pan.
I could resist using that cool Polish Army silverware set.
Swedish items are better. Canteen has a stinky rubber seal.
V
This is simply a "mess kit" and is nowhere near as good, or as versatile as the old Swedish issue Svea stoves with original Trangia burners.
I have one with the Trangia burners. It works very well. Mine is aluminum, not steel.