The small arms pouches could actually fit FOUR M-16 20-round mags (I've SEEN it, in my days), 6 M-1 Garand clips, 4 M-1 carbine 15-round mags, 24-.12-gauge shotgun shells and two additional grenades. I've still got my M-56 gear from when I was in the hobby 30-years ago, but I remember the sky cops wearing their web gear when I was fueling Looking Glass and other birds in my Air Force days, 1979-1983.
I was a marine in 1970. When did they start sticking the trouser legs in the boots? We used the trouser blouses. One of the main reasons the trousers were rolled up ( usually to the knees when on patrol ) was to try to detect tripwires before you set the trap off.
@@ronanfitzgerald7524 You can't use a mine detector in the jungle. Only in nice cleared areas like roads. And trousers stuck into boots last about 30 minutes. That;s why we had blousing rubbers. They also helped keep leeches out somewhat.
I recently found a MINT 61 butt pack. Found it at an indoor flea market. At first I thought it was a repop. Then upon further inspection I was shocked to find it is indeed real. I swear it's unissued too. Too bad I don't have anything else other than 1 ammo pouch with reinforcement, and one m-67 canteen pouch. I mostly collect Alice gear, and us gear from Alice to around 2003ish. I still want a ar-15a1 (m-16a1) clone. I have the A4 but want the entire collection. A2 and A1. Personally I really like the A1. Especially with a modern twist rate.
It's interesting looking at that old Vietnam era 782 gear, it's not all that different from what I was issued in '90s in the Corps. The main difference is that everything was nylon, plastic quick release buckles on the mag pouches, and a Y style suspender (we still called H harnesses for some reason though), but the basic appearance wasn't all that different. I just wished they had stuck with the H harness though, they always seemed better at distributing the weigh than the Y style.
Good job going over basic web gear. We could never carry enough ammo. Our LRRP rations were light so we piled on ammo and water. Looking forward to your next vid!
@@MikeB128 usually 3/4. Bandeliers and bunch in Alice pack. We were 6 man teams so we carried more than a line company grunt. Resupply was rare for us.
Hi Mike, i've found your content really helpful so putting together my impression so thank you for that. I just wondered if having 2 sets of ammo pouchs was seen early was as well as later on? I'm a bigger guy like you so I have the belt space to spare. I know the Aussies tended to mount a second set on the sides on the butt pack wondered if that was a US seen practice too? I haven't come across it in my photos though. Thanks in advance.
And Ammo Boxes Too! My M14 Was Hungry Since It Was A Full Auto. When I Was With The Front Line Troops They Liked The Full Auto M14 However They Didn't Like The Weight! Good Video Thank You!
Nice video, Mike - And equipment too. I was lucky to buy XL suspenders and XL is also embossed on buckles. Also L vertical belt with davis buckle - and it was cheap. What is bad to find some good cotton - or nylon stuff now. I collected some stuff over years - bu like I said - it is hard to buy something nice for good price. Last one was brand new tropical rucksack - USD 250 on ebay - but I was lucky.
I have this gear that I bought that had three pouches on both sides and two canteen covers on the back with the suspenders that you show in the video. The three pouches seem to be attached together and is using the same buckle system
It would be nice if you could get some of this and M1967 gear for your store. The only web gear you see in most surplus stores is ALICE gear if you're lucky.
This stuff and the 67 is no longer surplus, it's a collectible. I would have to pay retail and sell the stuff for more than retail, then I would have people complaining and saying they can get them elsewhere for cheaper.
@@MikeB128 If the condition of what you could find is worth the price I'm sure it would sell. Maybe not as quickly as most stuff but the demand is definitely there. Seems like pawn shops and eBay are the only places to find original Vietnam era gear.
@@potatogun2845 There's a reason it's hard to find. I can't get it wholesale. I was extremely fortunate to get jungle fatigue shirts and boonie caps New Old Stock. Trust me, I want to, but for now I can't do any better than you can.
Mike, love your content. I have a question. Where would one keep their entrenching tool? I'm an aspiring reenactor and I keep my gear pretty close to the original m56 specifications, with the e-tool on the hip. Was that in anyway how troops carried their e-tool?
@@parallel-knight Yeah, I was joking. Not going to do that without support. If you want to see that, become a Patreon supporter and I'll get some vests. If not, you'll have to send them to me to make vids on or I'm not going to be able to do the vid.
@@snipergames4565 Rotchco is cheaply made chinese bullshit that falls apart after two uses, and looks like shit. It's not anywhere NEAR accurate or worth the money. Maybe if you're 12 years old you might think it's okay, but they just make cheap garbage for people who don't care if they look like shit and if their stuff falls apart.
I wonder, Are the M-1956 vertical weave belts just straight up nylon? All the pictures I have seen of them, they seem to show Wear in similar way to nylon belts, and don't seem to tear at edges in same way all the other canvas webbing does, even when well worn. I'm wondering this, because I recently accuired a set of M-1956 webbing which came with vertical weave belt, which absolutely felt much harder than canvas would. It was not in the olive color as M-1967 gear, so I don't think it was one of those belts. Of course it could just be construction, but I still think cotton would start to show more fatigue after all these years? Can anyone else with vertical weave belt confirm this?
@@ronaldrobertson2332 Ah but you can attach the bayonet to the Etool carrier though. that is really where the bayonet is supposed to attach to. I have my M8A1 scabbard attached to my M61 butt pack.
Its amazing how far war-fighting gear has gone to my modern stuff im issued now. Everything is all mounted on the mandatory plate carrier.
>body armour
Hahahahahahahahahaha
Only cherries had gear that hadn't faded out in the sun and wash. That dark green look was a sure sign of being in country for about 5 days.
K.
The small arms pouches could actually fit FOUR M-16 20-round mags (I've SEEN it, in my days), 6 M-1 Garand clips, 4 M-1 carbine 15-round mags, 24-.12-gauge shotgun shells and two additional grenades. I've still got my M-56 gear from when I was in the hobby 30-years ago, but I remember the sky cops wearing their web gear when I was fueling Looking Glass and other birds in my Air Force days, 1979-1983.
How would you stack the m16 mags?
@@teutonicarmory7743 put em in horizontal
Imagine a world where M16A1 magazine pouches are rare while your issued weapon is an M16A1 lol
Bit of a tight fit for L1A1/FAL mags but they do go in. It was enough of an issue for to Aussies to introduce enlarged versions.
I've never had an issue fitting two mags per pouch in mine. Maybe they were trying to jam 3 in there, then it would be tight.
I was a marine in 1970. When did they start sticking the trouser legs in the boots? We used the trouser blouses. One of the main reasons the trousers were rolled up ( usually to the knees when on patrol ) was to try to detect tripwires before you set the trap off.
did you not use mine detectors?
@@ronanfitzgerald7524 You can't use a mine detector in the jungle. Only in nice cleared areas like roads. And trousers stuck into boots last about 30 minutes. That;s why we had blousing rubbers. They also helped keep leeches out somewhat.
@@bobdegroff1683 that and the ticks too.
Thanks for helping me set up my crap
"Ammunition was very important" *Me who somehow got a cloth .50 cal belt confused with a WWII normal belt and ordered it* I made a good mistake
I recently found a MINT 61 butt pack. Found it at an indoor flea market. At first I thought it was a repop. Then upon further inspection I was shocked to find it is indeed real. I swear it's unissued too. Too bad I don't have anything else other than 1 ammo pouch with reinforcement, and one m-67 canteen pouch. I mostly collect Alice gear, and us gear from Alice to around 2003ish. I still want a ar-15a1 (m-16a1) clone. I have the A4 but want the entire collection. A2 and A1. Personally I really like the A1. Especially with a modern twist rate.
Thanks for the demonstration actually got a pair of m56 suspenders in my collection now
They also fit a bandolier of M1 Garand clips, and 5 M1 Carbine 30rders
It's interesting looking at that old Vietnam era 782 gear, it's not all that different from what I was issued in '90s in the Corps. The main difference is that everything was nylon, plastic quick release buckles on the mag pouches, and a Y style suspender (we still called H harnesses for some reason though), but the basic appearance wasn't all that different. I just wished they had stuck with the H harness though, they always seemed better at distributing the weigh than the Y style.
Great vid as always!!
Excellent series, Mike!
Cat: Whattup Mike, we going to Nam today?
I have been studying the Vietnam war. And their uniforms and all equipment worn
Good job going over basic web gear. We could never carry enough ammo. Our LRRP rations were light so we piled on ammo and water. Looking forward to your next vid!
Thanks for the feedback! A lot of the infantrymen I've talked to said 20-24 mags was the average load for each guy. That's a lot of ammo!
@@MikeB128 usually 3/4. Bandeliers and bunch in Alice pack. We were 6 man teams so we carried more than a line company grunt. Resupply was rare for us.
A note- I've read that guys would put socks under their mags to get them out of the pouches easier.
Socks, cardboard,wood
Really whatever they can get their hands on it was personal preference
The amount of cat involved in this was pleasantly surprising lol
Great series Mike like I said before just keep em rollin.👍
Hi Mike, i've found your content really helpful so putting together my impression so thank you for that. I just wondered if having 2 sets of ammo pouchs was seen early was as well as later on? I'm a bigger guy like you so I have the belt space to spare. I know the Aussies tended to mount a second set on the sides on the butt pack wondered if that was a US seen practice too? I haven't come across it in my photos though. Thanks in advance.
And Ammo Boxes Too! My M14 Was Hungry Since It Was A Full Auto. When I Was With The Front Line Troops They Liked The Full Auto M14 However They Didn't Like The Weight! Good Video Thank You!
Nice video, Mike - And equipment too. I was lucky to buy XL suspenders and XL is also embossed on buckles. Also L vertical belt with davis buckle - and it was cheap. What is bad to find some good cotton - or nylon stuff now. I collected some stuff over years - bu like I said - it is hard to buy something nice for good price. Last one was brand new tropical rucksack - USD 250 on ebay - but I was lucky.
All of the dislikes are from the Vietnamese lol
I have this gear that I bought that had three pouches on both sides and two canteen covers on the back with the suspenders that you show in the video. The three pouches seem to be attached together and is using the same buckle system
At the very tail end of Nam, we were still using mainly 1945 issue 782 gear in the Marines.
The Marines always get old outdated crap. The Navy doesn't care about them lol.
@@MikeB128 Actually, most of the time anyways, we prided ourselves on doing more with less.
@@sonofslade8235 Yeah. Marines are a special breed.
It would be nice if you could get some of this and M1967 gear for your store. The only web gear you see in most surplus stores is ALICE gear if you're lucky.
This stuff and the 67 is no longer surplus, it's a collectible. I would have to pay retail and sell the stuff for more than retail, then I would have people complaining and saying they can get them elsewhere for cheaper.
@@MikeB128 If the condition of what you could find is worth the price I'm sure it would sell. Maybe not as quickly as most stuff but the demand is definitely there. Seems like pawn shops and eBay are the only places to find original Vietnam era gear.
@@potatogun2845 There's a reason it's hard to find. I can't get it wholesale. I was extremely fortunate to get jungle fatigue shirts and boonie caps New Old Stock. Trust me, I want to, but for now I can't do any better than you can.
I couldn’t find any dummy lemon gernades only had the lemons at my surplus store
Love those gun belts. All the D.I.s wore them.
This is awesome
I have a similar kit except I have bore cleaner instead of bug juice. Do you have an original sweatband in your helmet?
Yes.
Mike, love your content. I have a question. Where would one keep their entrenching tool? I'm an aspiring reenactor and I keep my gear pretty close to the original m56 specifications, with the e-tool on the hip. Was that in anyway how troops carried their e-tool?
Pat Geren most e-tools would be on your p65 or 68 ruck, but if you’re early war, clipped on your field buttpack carry handle loop.
In the Alice manual it’s on the back of the belt- in the small of the back
IT'S A TIGER!....
Nice video! Were the pouches designed to fit 2 or three M14 mags?
2
I'm a collector aswell
You should do a video about m1967 gear and how it was used
Become a supporter on Patreon so I can grab an entire 1967 set and show you.
@@MikeB128 yeah that shit is expensive as fuck.
🙋🏻♂️ hello from Sweden 🇸🇪
Mike please do a full episode on the flak jacket please I’m so interested in it and the different varieties
Yeah I'll just get right on that, spend $1,000 to get all the variants, just for you.
Mike B would be really interesting and cool video plus really cool to own. You’re a legend
@@parallel-knight Yeah, I was joking. Not going to do that without support. If you want to see that, become a Patreon supporter and I'll get some vests. If not, you'll have to send them to me to make vids on or I'm not going to be able to do the vid.
Mike B ahah fair couldn’t tell And didn’t want to rude
@@MikeB128 Damn...
Great job 👍 do you have a contact for the jungle boots I see to many China repos keep up the good work
I don't. I got mine off Ebay.
As of now it's best to get original unissued off of eBay but if you plan on using for just mannequin purposes pick up a pair of fox outdoor
You can also go to rothco they make a lot of Vietnam era gear fatigues and boots and that stuff they are a good company I recommend them.
@@snipergames4565 Rotchco is cheaply made chinese bullshit that falls apart after two uses, and looks like shit. It's not anywhere NEAR accurate or worth the money. Maybe if you're 12 years old you might think it's okay, but they just make cheap garbage for people who don't care if they look like shit and if their stuff falls apart.
@@MikeB128 Rothco is garbage.
Didn't the name of the grenade change to m61 when they started putting jungle clips on them? Great vid.
Anyone know where I can get some of the dummy grenades?
I used to carry them but PayPal froze my account because they don't understand that California rules don't apply to the rest of the goddamned world.
i m sorry for your magazines
I wonder, Are the M-1956 vertical weave belts just straight up nylon? All the pictures I have seen of them, they seem to show Wear in similar way to nylon belts, and don't seem to tear at edges in same way all the other canvas webbing does, even when well worn.
I'm wondering this, because I recently accuired a set of M-1956 webbing which came with vertical weave belt, which absolutely felt much harder than canvas would. It was not in the olive color as M-1967 gear, so I don't think it was one of those belts. Of course it could just be construction, but I still think cotton would start to show more fatigue after all these years? Can anyone else with vertical weave belt confirm this?
Hey Mike B, I was wondering if you would find any 1967 nylon field gear integrated with 1956 field gear in the later stages of the war likely 1969-71?
Sometimes. Wasn't super common but I've seen plenty of pictured of mixed gear from 69 onward.
@@MikeB128 Ok thank you, Im currently working on an impression so I just needed some guidance, thats why I watch your vids. Thanks!
@@MikeB128 Also one more question, did the Marine Corp ever use any 1967 field gear or was it strictly the army who used it?
@@henloyes549 That I don't know.
Where can i get The helmet from?
I like video
How do you attach the scabbard?
A lot of cussing and poking the prongs correctly through the holes in the pistol belt.
@@ronaldrobertson2332 Ah but you can attach the bayonet to the Etool carrier though. that is really where the bayonet is supposed to attach to. I have my M8A1 scabbard attached to my M61 butt pack.
Will mosin ammo pouches fit on the belt?
No..........
They will fit on a MOLLE vest though go figure. the leather straps for the pouch fit perfectly through the loops and securely attach.
Didn't they have a pistol?
Not everyone.
Where can I buy the uniform and m1956?
How much weight would all that be?
The basic kit all loaded and such with no rucksack and what not, full mags and water is only about 25-30 pounds
were buttpack adapters used in vietnam?
Huh?
@@MikeB128 Like the m56 buttpack adapter
Do the pouches fit ak mags?
No
Never wore a helmet just od base ball cAp no jungle boots did not work good with tree climbing gear a s
Can the tall ammo pouch hold 30 round m16 mags?
No, wont fit.
@@scottstetzer 2 will fit
Okay, this is DEFINITELY broadcasting from Mommy's basement, judging by the kitty picture on the wall 😆
I wonder does G.I.s in 'nam collect their used mag during/after combat, if so, do they have anything similar to the dump pouch troops used today
They put them back into the pouch, brass to grass, that is if it as ammo in it (brass) the top of the mag goes down. If its empty, you put it up