They work very well for hiking & motorcycle touring. The Australian version has butterfly handles, but the mess tins are smaller & shallower too. I have not been able to find any of these. The handles on the British pattern mess tins take a little getting used too especially pouring water from. They make for a compact cook set that carries well on a belt like the canteen as you said. Thank you for sharing 👍
if it's stainless steel it is probably the Dutch mess kit and not the British one. as far as I know in the UK it's made out of aluminum (aluminium). that's one reason the Dutch mess kit is more expensive in most stores.
I still have and use mine from the 70's. Love them and never found them awkward to use (but then, I suppose that one gets used to with what one is issued). They also make great wind screens when using Alcohol / Gel / Wood Stoves therein and are then an addition safety factor in 'fire-sensitive' areas.
I served for 8 years and never liked the British issue mess tins; instead I used the 44 Pattern canteen cup when ever we got 24 hour rat packs. In those days the rat pack consisted of two small tins of breakfast and main meal plus dehydrated deserts and part breakfast, usually porridge. You could heat the tins (pierce them first) in the 44 Pattern mug and eat straight from them. I still have my 44 pattern mug from the 1960's but now use the larger BCB Crusader mug.
I seem to remember the Dutch kit you have has the handles on slightly differently from the British, the Dutch ones handles are attached further down and swing about more easily, though my British mess tins are approaching 60 years old (I've had them for 30) have been put into retirement as they're so battered so can't access them. Eggs wrapped in newspaper were my favourite thing to carry in them, you had breakfast and the dry tinder to light your fire.
Hi Blacky, good to see you like the Brit mess tins. You can get around the handles shaking by cutting a door stop shaped wedge from a twig about the same size as the handle bars, wedge it in between the handle and wall of the mess tin and cut away the surplus. May need to be re done if used as a Dutch oven as it might burn out. However if you buy NEW mess tins the handles are stiff in the hinge and don't rattle, but if they are surplus and well used they may rattle a lot. When I was in the forces my first set was dated 1942! Keep up the good vids :)
Late to the game, but as already mentioned, those are Dutch if they are stainless steel. I carried them for many years when I served and was never really impressed with them or the reasons already mentioned. They are also not particularly versatile as you can't hang them like a billy. In the army, they were of course part of a "system" and were basically meant to be used on some sort of stove like a Hexi or perhaps a No12 petrol stove...The mess tins were meant to be carried in your Kidney Pouches ('58 Pattern Webbing) which were a two pouch set that were a sort of streamlined butt pack if you like. The tins were a pretty snug especially when the canvass of the pouches was wet...The other part of the mess kit was the water bottle and the large plastic canteen cup...Most guys swapped out their plastic water bottle/cups for something along the lines of an American or 44 Pattern British canteen which both came with metal cups...These days the plastic cup has been replaced with a stainless steel one (Osprey water bottle and cup) and its a great bit of kit..So I personally would not recommend mess tins for any body interested in bush craft as there are too many better options out there. They are very convenient to carry, and stow very nicely, but are just not super practical when it comes to actually cooking in them...
Great video Blackie. I have the aluminum version made by the British equivalent of Coleman here in the states. My stainless set is actually Dutch. I think they make a great basis for a survival kit in a mess tin. I see now that ESEE knives has a version of the British tins. I wonder how well they would do. Great tip to carry your food gear to reduce the rattle, and I'll have to fit mine with an extra canteen pouch. Nice vid, thanks for the info!
I have the Dutch Army stainless steel version, if yours are stainless they're probably Dutch issue. If they are Dutch Army they have the letters KL followed by a 2 digit year e.g. KL95, if they're Dutch Marines it will be KKM plus year, and Dutch Airforce would be KLU plus year. I served in the British Army and we were issued the alu ones, we were told to wrap the inner one in a headover (a kind of scarf) or cut down towel to stop them rattling. Now I'm in civvy street I own the Dutch versions as I prefer stainless, but I only ever take one out into the field with me, with a repro mess tin lid which doubles as a frying pan. Stuffed inside a German Army water bottle pouch in flecktarn, there is never any rattle if the contents are packed correctly.
Great review. One thing I didn't see when you filmed was like the american kit you reviewed, it didn't seem to have the ability to lock both pans together for walking down the chow line like you explained that the american and boyscout kits can do.
One can .. in a fashion. In the chow line, hold them at 90° to one another in one hand. At a pinch, one can also hook one's 'Fire Bucket' (Canteen Cup) for coffee, in the same hand, leaving the other hand free for one's Rifle.
With the BCB basic stove, modified to take a Trangia spirit burner , the whole setup still fits together nicely, with space for other 'stuff' inside.It's light , compact , and adaptable. Doubt that the British Army wants any time wasted on fripperies, somehow....
I had a kit like that, but gave it away. The best kit I've found in forty years of trying is still the G.I. mess kit and canteen cook set used together. I spent nearly a year wandering around the wilderness using it, and it never let me down. I've tried a dozen or more military surplus kits, and probably just as many commercial kits, some that were way too expensive. None were as useful. I have discovered that the Pathfinder bottle kit fits in my canteen covers, and leaves enough room for a folding stove and a Sawyer water filter. It also gives me the same components as the G.I. canteen cook set, which is a stainless steel canteen, a stove, and a cup with lid. I think it has a good chance of replacing my old favorite. But as much as I love surplus, I'm not at all a fan of the British mess kit. I do like the German or Russian kit because it give me a fairly large pot to hang over the fire. But I never take it with me, and I have no idea why. I just don't, even though the couple of times I did showed it could be useful. I guess I'm too accustomed to not taking a hanging pot. it' never been a problem. I do carry a second, small stainless steel cup that I hang on my pack, or slip down inside my haversack. It's for grabbing a fast drink in conjunction with my Sawyer. Much of the time, I also carry a four ounce collapsible stainless steel cup on my keychain. I use it for two things. 1. To grab a drink from a sink faucet when there is no other source. 2. It's my whiskey cup. You just never know when someone is going to produce a bottle of good whiskey, and I like to be prepared. I might even be the one who produces it.
Thanks Blackie. I used the Aluminium mess tins (similar in size to the ones shown) in the NZ Army for a few years. I remember loosing a meal or two and seeing others do the same due to those handles. This was usually when moving around at night and carrying the loaded tins. In the darkness you could easily lose sense of balance and the angle the tins were carried at. If we tripped over something the tins could start swinging. Other times we just could not tell that we were carrying the tins on an angle, the tins would flip at the handle and the food would spill onto the ground. Great memories lol.
If they really are British as he says but I think he's mistaken and he's got a set of Dutch mess tins which are stainless. I was issued the aluminium ones. Now in civvy street I have the stainless Dutch ones but I only ever take one out with me in the field, together with a lid / frying pan I bought online - they were around when I served but like rocking horse shit - and a Dutch stainless canteen cup with a Pathfinder lid for boiling water. That set up means I can do many types of cooking in the field, from fry ups to mres.
They work very well for hiking & motorcycle touring. The Australian version has butterfly handles, but the mess tins are smaller & shallower too. I have not been able to find any of these. The handles on the British pattern mess tins take a little getting used too especially pouring water from. They make for a compact cook set that carries well on a belt like the canteen as you said. Thank you for sharing 👍
if it's stainless steel it is probably the Dutch mess kit and not the British one. as far as I know in the UK it's made out of aluminum (aluminium). that's one reason the Dutch mess kit is more expensive in most stores.
I still have and use mine from the 70's. Love them and never found them awkward to use (but then, I suppose that one gets used to with what one is issued).
They also make great wind screens when using Alcohol / Gel / Wood Stoves therein and are then an addition safety factor in 'fire-sensitive' areas.
I served for 8 years and never liked the British issue mess tins; instead I used the 44 Pattern canteen cup when ever we got 24 hour rat packs. In those days the rat pack consisted of two small tins of breakfast and main meal plus dehydrated deserts and part breakfast, usually porridge. You could heat the tins (pierce them first) in the 44 Pattern mug and eat straight from them. I still have my 44 pattern mug from the 1960's but now use the larger BCB Crusader mug.
I seem to remember the Dutch kit you have has the handles on slightly differently from the British, the Dutch ones handles are attached further down and swing about more easily, though my British mess tins are approaching 60 years old (I've had them for 30) have been put into retirement as they're so battered so can't access them. Eggs wrapped in newspaper were my favourite thing to carry in them, you had breakfast and the dry tinder to light your fire.
Hi Blacky, good to see you like the Brit mess tins. You can get around the handles shaking by cutting a door stop shaped wedge from a twig about the same size as the handle bars, wedge it in between the handle and wall of the mess tin and cut away the surplus. May need to be re done if used as a Dutch oven as it might burn out.
However if you buy NEW mess tins the handles are stiff in the hinge and don't rattle, but if they are surplus and well used they may rattle a lot. When I was in the forces my first set was dated 1942!
Keep up the good vids :)
Late to the game, but as already mentioned, those are Dutch if they are stainless steel. I carried them for many years when I served and was never really impressed with them or the reasons already mentioned. They are also not particularly versatile as you can't hang them like a billy. In the army, they were of course part of a "system" and were basically meant to be used on some sort of stove like a Hexi or perhaps a No12 petrol stove...The mess tins were meant to be carried in your Kidney Pouches ('58 Pattern Webbing) which were a two pouch set that were a sort of streamlined butt pack if you like. The tins were a pretty snug especially when the canvass of the pouches was wet...The other part of the mess kit was the water bottle and the large plastic canteen cup...Most guys swapped out their plastic water bottle/cups for something along the lines of an American or 44 Pattern British canteen which both came with metal cups...These days the plastic cup has been replaced with a stainless steel one (Osprey water bottle and cup) and its a great bit of kit..So I personally would not recommend mess tins for any body interested in bush craft as there are too many better options out there. They are very convenient to carry, and stow very nicely, but are just not super practical when it comes to actually cooking in them...
Great video Blackie. I have the aluminum version made by the British equivalent of Coleman here in the states. My stainless set is actually Dutch. I think they make a great basis for a survival kit in a mess tin. I see now that ESEE knives has a version of the British tins. I wonder how well they would do. Great tip to carry your food gear to reduce the rattle, and I'll have to fit mine with an extra canteen pouch. Nice vid, thanks for the info!
I have the Dutch Army stainless steel version, if yours are stainless they're probably Dutch issue. If they are Dutch Army they have the letters KL followed by a 2 digit year e.g. KL95, if they're Dutch Marines it will be KKM plus year, and Dutch Airforce would be KLU plus year.
I served in the British Army and we were issued the alu ones, we were told to wrap the inner one in a headover (a kind of scarf) or cut down towel to stop them rattling. Now I'm in civvy street I own the Dutch versions as I prefer stainless, but I only ever take one out into the field with me, with a repro mess tin lid which doubles as a frying pan. Stuffed inside a German Army water bottle pouch in flecktarn, there is never any rattle if the contents are packed correctly.
good info thanks for posting
it's not like I want to be a ninja, but I prefer a quiet setup when I walk in the woods. great info, thanks!!
hey blacky,as for the noise, look at the upside, any bears on the trail can here you coming lol ,great videos. great advise, thanks for sharing
That is the good news. The bad news is they hear that clanking around and think "Dinner Time".
Thx for the review. Good info. Not sure I would stop using what I use now to go to that.
Jerry
Thanks for the review Blacky. I'll grab one if I see one.
The Dutch oven application is, for me, the most compelling point of this.
Great review. One thing I didn't see when you filmed was like the american kit you reviewed, it didn't seem to have the ability to lock both pans together for walking down the chow line like you explained that the american and boyscout kits can do.
One can .. in a fashion. In the chow line, hold them at 90° to one another in one hand. At a pinch, one can also hook one's 'Fire Bucket' (Canteen Cup) for coffee, in the same hand, leaving the other hand free for one's Rifle.
With the BCB basic stove, modified to take a Trangia spirit burner , the whole setup still fits together nicely, with space for other 'stuff' inside.It's light , compact , and adaptable. Doubt that the British Army wants any time wasted on fripperies, somehow....
good to know
@@BLACKIETHOMAS The small Dutch Army folding rubber cups hold the Trangia burner nicely in stowage in that mess tin setup, as I found out today....
A good kit over all except for the handles but don't let that hold you back. Thanks atb Opal
🇬🇧
I had a kit like that, but gave it away. The best kit I've found in forty years of trying is still the G.I. mess kit and canteen cook set used together. I spent nearly a year wandering around the wilderness using it, and it never let me down. I've tried a dozen or more military surplus kits, and probably just as many commercial kits, some that were way too expensive. None were as useful.
I have discovered that the Pathfinder bottle kit fits in my canteen covers, and leaves enough room for a folding stove and a Sawyer water filter. It also gives me the same components as the G.I. canteen cook set, which is a stainless steel canteen, a stove, and a cup with lid. I think it has a good chance of replacing my old favorite.
But as much as I love surplus, I'm not at all a fan of the British mess kit.
I do like the German or Russian kit because it give me a fairly large pot to hang over the fire. But I never take it with me, and I have no idea why. I just don't, even though the couple of times I did showed it could be useful. I guess I'm too accustomed to not taking a hanging pot. it' never been a problem.
I do carry a second, small stainless steel cup that I hang on my pack, or slip down inside my haversack. It's for grabbing a fast drink in conjunction with my Sawyer.
Much of the time, I also carry a four ounce collapsible stainless steel cup on my keychain. I use it for two things. 1. To grab a drink from a sink faucet when there is no other source. 2. It's my whiskey cup. You just never know when someone is going to produce a bottle of good whiskey, and I like to be prepared. I might even be the one who produces it.
Thanks Blackie. I used the Aluminium mess tins (similar in size to the ones shown) in the NZ Army for a few years. I remember loosing a meal or two and seeing others do the same due to those handles. This was usually when moving around at night and carrying the loaded tins. In the darkness you could easily lose sense of balance and the angle the tins were carried at. If we tripped over something the tins could start swinging. Other times we just could not tell that we were carrying the tins on an angle, the tins would flip at the handle and the food would spill onto the ground. Great memories lol.
Good stuff...Australian one is a tad smaller.
Great review - fair and detailed. If they are stainless steel they are Dutch. Like all mess kits one gets used to them and adapt to them. ATB. Nigel
On ya mate thanks
you carry a folding "tablet" or metho Stove inside it.All in all it carries EVERYthing except the food and water.I love mine
I think their dutch mate
cant hang that over a fire
I prefer the German kidney style mess kits.
They are NOT stainless steel, they are aluminium.
If they really are British as he says but I think he's mistaken and he's got a set of Dutch mess tins which are stainless. I was issued the aluminium ones. Now in civvy street I have the stainless Dutch ones but I only ever take one out with me in the field, together with a lid / frying pan I bought online - they were around when I served but like rocking horse shit - and a Dutch stainless canteen cup with a Pathfinder lid for boiling water. That set up means I can do many types of cooking in the field, from fry ups to mres.