As
many of you know when it comes to buying firearms, the used cases can provide
you with a great value. The same can be said for many of the parts and accessories
available on the used market. That being said, we have to make sure that the
quality is there and that the prices reflect previous ownership and/or use. We
all know this and I have written on the subject before so I am going to discuss
some of the other “used” items that many of us purchase… military surplus.
Personally,
I am not one to buy surplus firearms parts simply because of two factors… heavy
use and price. It seems that most of the surplus for modern firearms fall into
one of those two categories and most of the time quality parts can be found
from aftermarket manufacturers for a much more reasonable price. Of course,
older firearms are a different story altogether as there are many of us who
enjoy taking the old Mosin out of the safe every once in a while and peeling
open a spam can.
However,
this is only a fraction of the surplus market and while the old surplus stores
that used to be common place along countless main streets are now few and far
between, there are still places where quality merchandise can be found at good
prices. And it is not just at the local gun show either. While I know of many
stores in my general area, most of my surplus purchases have come through antique
stores and online retailers because the prices and overall quality have been
better at each.
Antique
stores generally have the uniforms, manuals, and other smaller items which they
basically try to move inexpensively as much of their stock is either purchased
as part of a large lot of miscellaneous items or from a private individual at a
fraction of the wholesale price. Usually you can find the best prices here and
some of the best quality as well. However, that is just one recourse and it is
one that takes time.
Usually
I end up going on line if there is something I want to buy and most of the time
the searches for a particular item lead me to Sportsman’s Guide. While there
are some that swear by this retailer and others that have had a less than
pleasant experience, I have generally had good luck with the purchases that I
have made and, most importantly, they have been the best prices around because
of two simple factors… price match guarantee and coupons. This site has been
particularly good for the “I don’t need it but I want it” items as well as some
of the more unique items like Kevlar helmets, gas masks, etc. Personally, I
have found great deals on ALICE packs (with frame) and clothing items like
undershirts which are tremendously useful.
I
guess the point of this whole post is that while the market has changed,
military surplus items are still a great value and quality items can be found
if you know where to look. And, like most things, if you are patient, you can get
a lot of these items for really cheap which is nice whether or not you are
buying completely useful items, ‘I might need this someday’ items, or other
things that you just want for whatever reason. Most importantly, enjoy these
items, use them, and beat the heck out of them because that is what they were
built for.
