Exploring New York’s Oldest Military Surplus Store With Alpha Industries 

I can remember when WW2 ended and my dad took me to an Army surplus store, it was amazing, I ended up buying a spring field training rifle, it had a dummy barrel but a real bolt action. I don't remember what happened to it, I also got a Navy P coat, everybody had one for winter, it was amazing. Yes I am old. You tube is amazing.

We were still eating WW2 rations in cans during the Vietnam era. I ate them in 1968, and opened them with the same can opener shown in the video.

I love it when the interviewer actually knows what they’re talking about

I love and respect how the interviewer had knowledge of the utility and history behind most of the pieces! Good job on this one!

Wow, I can’t believe this store is still around after all these years. My father brought me here when I was a kid, and that was many moons ago. I’ve been there several times over the years by myself as well. Nice to see it again now that I don’t live in NYC any longer.

I remember many years ago I bought an interesting shaped canvas bag to use as a bookbag from them. I went to a demonstration (late sixties) with the bag full and really got quite the reaction from several police officers who were also veterans because the bag was for a single use bazooka type weapon and the way I stacked my books made it look like it was still full of the weapon.

This place took a lot of my cash back in the late 70's when I went to school in NYC. I loved the smell when I walked in.

The very first time I went to Kaufman was in 1971. I remember, his farther or grandfather working at the store. I also remember Jim minding the store occasionally ,around in mid 70,s. Now he runs the store. Great to one of the NYC's oldest institutions still going strong!

So nice to know how knowledgeable he is about his craft so the brand comes from an authentic place.

Wow!! He's still alive! I used to go there back in the 80's to get military gear with my freinds. I always thought The Trader on Canal street was the oldest.

I was in the shop a year ago. It was bustling with people. The owner still gave time to come over and help with what I was after. Top man. Great store.

Pretty cool that this shop has survived in Manhattan this long but also sad that 90% of what’s for sale is not actually real surplus anymore 😢

I Like how respectful you are. How you ask questions. And don't act like you know it all. Thanks for these great videos. I've been enjoying them. BTW I am Surplus Store hound too. I don't get to go thru very many these days. But when I'm able to. And can find a new store to haunt I do so.

It's great to see Jim still in the store. it's also good to see a reporter who has an idea on the subject! :)

The interviewer looked like a kid in a candy store. Great to see someone with a passion for army surplus. I'd be the same, my mastercard would be hit hard in that store! Thanks for posting.

leave it to the sailors to wear a white laced dress

I grew up loving military surplus gear and then i joined the marines after high school and now i never want to see olive drab and camo ever again

I've been in a couple of gigantic surplus stores...those with jeeps in the interior (for sale) and half-tracks outside for sale...massive wardrobes, huge 'camping' gear allotments...could spend all day just browsing! Best 'hunting-camping' gear you'll ever find in most instances...stoves, lanterns, boots, parkas...if they have sane-prices, it's the best place to actually start to 'prep' from!

In my country all American stock shops have disappeared. We used to go there for any gear. Jerry cans, batteries, camouflage jackets, searchlights ,knives, heavy keys, scoops, water bottles, tents and baches, trailers, and boots. My first GI boots (high laced and round tips) came from there. In short, these tools are not available anymore in Belgium. Thank you.

Some years back we visted Kaufman's, and Jim was so wonderfully kind & welcoming. Made our day!

Cool. I just watched a 6 minute ad for Alpha Industries lol.

So happy to see this! Jim is great! He really knows his stuff!

We used to have a wonderful Army/Navy surplus store here in Norwalk, California in the 1950's but sadly it's gone now. Then in the 1980's my youngest son found a great Military Surplus store in Orange County where he picked out a Swedish Army overcoat for his birthday present. Your video brought back many happy memories. Next time I'm in NYC I'll stop in for a little shopping.

I love the smell of old military stuff. Reminds me of the old Army Surplus store I used to go to as a kid.

Had a great store in our neighborhood in the early 70's. My dad wouldn't let us buy anything. Said the used stuff was from dead soldier foot lockers. Not sure if that was true, but he passionately stood his ground with us.

Classic and timeless store I love going to these stores all over USA but never been to one in NYC will check out next time !

And now the price has escalated to $550 for a t-shirt.

Great video! This Canadians very first trip to Kaufmans was in 1985 - got to peruse and purchase some of the World's most awesome surplus as well as being able watch an incredible parade of Vietnam veterans. For your many years of service, THANK YOU Kaufmans!!

You can see the interviewer mouthing the old guys words at 1:02

The white jacket is winter camo for the m51 fishtail parka, its worn over the parka in snow environment.

Went to this place once, absolutely excellent. I showed up five minutes before opening, and the owner felt bad that I had to wait and insisted on giving me a 20% discount. I tried to refuse, but he didn't give me the option.

Use to live on 43rd between 7th and 8th. Went there all the time. Had no idea this place had that much history to it. It’s a fun store to just look around and check stuff out. Definitly would recommend to check out. Directly across from the port authority so really easy to get to. Thanks great vid

I got a bomber from here a few years ago. Still rock it till this day

I’m in my 70s now, as a kid my dad used to receive a Kaufman’s catalog. Mail order handguns and all, German Lugers $39.95!

New York City is great like this... Tons of excellent stuff in a tiny place. My friend's family runs a surplus store, Sherper's in Milwaukee, but now it is more of a camping/expedition supply store. They used to have crazy stuff in there. The real military surplus shops seem to be dwindling.

Here in DFW Texas there was Army Navy Stores but they all recently shut down and now the only military store I know of it Omaha’s Military Surplus in Fort Worth, Texas. Great store!

Cold War jacket was fire. I love this series. Keep em comin.

Best clothing you can ever invest in, value for money, tough, durable, warm and cool. Must go there next time in NYC! 👏👏👏👏

A couple things viewers should keep in mind, coming from a lifelong New Yorker. One, the place is smaller than it looks. Two, it's surprisingly not that well-stocked. Some of the items were clearly prepared for the video beforehand. Three, if you're just a regular customer looking for something specific, good luck. You're better off trying any of the other Surplus stores in Manhattan, first. For two reasons... Again, it's not that well stocked. And because, four, Jim is short-tempered and far from the friendly and humble guy you see in this video. Absolutely no help at all when I went there. I'm sure that if I were there to rent a major piece of gear for a production, or producing a RU-vid video to drum up a ton of free publicity for his business... I'm sure he'd be very friendly then.

I have been to his store so many occasions. Her is such a great gentleman.

I love my local army surplus store, Roy’s Army Surplus And collectables.

army surplus was where you went in the 70s and 80s to buy banged up mess kits/whatever. Really affordable camping goods, a parka that actually kept me warm for 12 winters. excellent quality.

Just came across the video and this made me miss NYC. I lived a few blocks away on 9th and 46th and I walked by this store probably thousand of times, specially because it was right across the street from Port Authority Bus Terminal. There was a Burger King on the same side of the street as Kauffmans. I'm living in Asia now but hope to get back there, and where I grew up. Weird to come across this after being gone for 4 years. Thanks for the vid (and memories) heh heh :)

Great store, I've never seen it that tidy before. I still wear clothes I bought from there 12 years ago. A must visit when going to NYC.

Have been to this store a few times and love their stuff.

When I was 4yrs old, the youngest of my older Brothers joined the British Army, 12 and a half years later I followed suit. But before then, my Brother brought home an American Army Jacket for my Father. My Brother had swapped, (traded) it with an American Soldier for a British jacket when they were serving out in Germany. I remember wearing the the American jacket as a child, it almost touched the floor and my arms were no where near the cuffs! My Father died when I was 11yrs old and the jacket was passed to my oldest Brother. I finally came to own it when I was 23yrs old and after 23yrs of serve and collecting a lot of cool stuff along the way, my Father’s olive drab M65 jacket remains my most treasured item. I’m 48yrs old now and I still cry whenever put that jacket on. On a happier note, I’d love to visit this shop one day but I bet the prices are through the roof.

Oh wow, I hadn’t even known about them, but considering New York’s centrality for trade and transport; it’s no wonder they have so much surplus and at high quality. If i’m ever in the area, I’d certainly like to check em out.

Jim is laid back, knowledgable and friendly. If I'm in NYC I'm going here.

‘Hi Jim’ ‘hey Jim’

Bought my first army jacket there in 1982 when taking the train to the city from Queens with my buds to hang out in the Village!

If you're ever in Albuquerque, check out Kaufman's West. It might not have as much authentic surplus stuff (it does have quite a bit), but it's bigger and very cool.

I shopped there when I was a kid in the early 1970's. I remember the white test pilot helmet with the glass face cover behind the register. That was back when Canal Street had crazy shops full of military surplus equipment like cameras, radios, all kinds of machine parts, gears, electrical - everything we needed to build special effects equipment for movie making.

I love this series would love to see more

I remember a few short decades ago when you could buy WWII gear of every kind dirt cheap. I found a letter in a back pocket of some winter paratrooper insulated jump pants once.

The owner reminds me of Hannibal Lecture mixed with Ned Flanders !

I went into this shop by accident and didn't even know how special it was until now. Very interesting. Cool place to check out in mid Town

He said that prior to Vietnam rations we're in a can. Then picks up a mre, and says they changed. Research before you open your mouth. I was still eating c-rats when I joined in 1981.

I like this store. I went there for the first time in November 1989, had a nice chat with the owner/sales manager. He was helpful and friendly. Every time I've went to NYC, I made a short stop at this store and by something. I just learned today, that he is the owner.

That parka at the end 😍

Dude, when I took basic in 1983, we had olive drab, steel pot helmets and, yes wait for it, "C" rations. I still have a P-38 on my key ring. MRE's, Kevlar helmets, and woodland cammies were all being implemented, but they weren't for trainees.

I'm honestly curious when the "home grown Tennessee" company became an "international clothing manufacturer" and started producing $400 color-change jackets in China, complete with Chinese zodiac signs and characters on them. What a crock.

Please tell me Kaufmans is still there. So good to see Mr. Kaufman again. Looks the same.

this series is amazing

I used to have a P38 can opener. It's a very useful device. I find the one on my multi-tool is just as good and very handy to have with me.

If you don't have a P38 can opener on your key ring then you're not quite ready for the zombie apocalypse.

being 73 years old and been to Kaufmans when they were on 42 street and present location many times..I have to say it is just a shadow of what it once was.

I’ve been in this store he’s such a nice dude

I still have the first P38 I was given in the field in 1979 and it still works perfectly.

I have walked past this place a couple of times, but it was either very early in the morning or late at night, so they were understandably not open. Even if the stuff is not 'authentic', I am just glad a place like this still exists in the 'new', glitzy, billionaire's playground that is Manhattan. It is sad to see so many longtime mom & pop businesses go under, in the past decade or so. Online shopping is great however, there are times it's better to try something on and/or see, touch and feel the item.

Visited Kaufmans twice on 2 visits to NY from the UK. This was by far the coolest place I visited (close 2nd was the Intrepid) Nothing like this anymore in the UK. Cool place and the guy who owns it is a real gent, took his time to talk to me when I visited and amazingly remembered me on my 2nd visit. Worth a visit guys

When I was young you had to have a 500 lb. practice bomb in front of your store if it was a real Army Surplus Store .

I’m 52 years old and been going there since I was a teenager. I used to hang out across the street with friends and would always go to look inside and wish I could buy everything.

Damn the smaller Jim is so little. He looks like he stopped growing at the beginning of puberty, everything he puts on is big on him.

I got some cool stuff from Kaufman's when I was a kid back in the 70s. By the 80's they were already selling this same crap. I remember I had a clip of ammo, an ammo box, a green shirt I wore as a coat and a pineapple grenade. Also a few ribbons and patches for the shirt.

Nice ad at the end lmao

Very Cool ! Years ago, In New York , There Was " Bannermans" Military Surplus- What's left of Bannermans Castle is on an Island in the Hudson River - Army-Navy Stores are always fun !

Back in 1992 I ordered US military patches from Kaufman through mail order.

My brother got his first rifle for Christmas at Kaufmans about 1964, a bolt action .22. The salesman in the back gun store was a fellow named Ben .

Sorry man, but we had the P38 can opener in Viet Nam and the canned food( MC)I to open, MRE's came later.

Wow, just learned about the Europe Theater ribbon color meaning. I still carry and use my original P38 can opener from the early 70s. I advise anyone to have one close. And a little side note, you as military were authorized 24 single ply sheets of TP for each meal. The pack in the C-rats were transparent, yeah they were real thin. Look up the single sheet technique.

"Food was really important" Highbrow content right here.

Green/olive parkas are my favorite jackets especially during cold winters

You know he's hiding some sarin gas canisters in the back lol

I could be in that store all day. It’s buying history - love it

Omg lol, I went to the US on holiday and when we went to NY we popped into this shop when we were walking to see the statue of liberty. I had no idea the shop had such a reputation.

5:10 I have heard a British WW2 veteran refer to that as a "string vest". They wore them under or between shirts to provide an air layer of insulation. Not sure which was their original purpose, but it's apparently very effective when used that way.

Should have given us a few prices . Am I right .

My goodness. I will visit NYC just to see this fabulous place with militaria.

I was expecting the old man from falling down to come out.

In the 60s I probably visited this store monthly. My brother, too. I bought a leather bomber jacket there. It held up for many years.

I bought some items from this owner (in the video) of Kaufman over 25 years ago. He sold me a watch and touted it as a "Trooper" (the name brand on the face). He pulled it out and showed me that he wore it himself on his wrist. I bought it. It faded quickly.The face of the watch faded quickly. It was a piece of junk. I think I pad $50 for it back in the day. The last scene in the video with the jacket was not a showpiece per say for the video. He tried to sell it to the journalist. I know. He did the same thing to me with a different item above. I was at Kaufman's one day a long time ago, and this is what I witnessed, some Asian kid came in and wanted to buy a gas mask. He told Mr. Korn that "he was fooling around with gas" in the country someplace. Mr Korn told him "that they don't guarantee the masks will work." That kid looked mortified after he told him that. On a positive note, a friend of mine found some hard to find Air Force gear there. He bought it immediately from Mr. Korn.

my granddad bought a B3 bomber jacket .the big one with sheep's wool right after ww2 used it many years duck hunting

Looks more like a Chinese import business than a surplus store. When I was there them mainly Seem to be selling Rothko and fox import items. Very few u.s. military items

EXCEPTIONALLY nice people work here who really care and treat you with respect, dignity. Thank you always Kaufman's

The Alpha industries have decreased the size of their M65 jacket pockets. The upper chest pockets are smaller and narrower than previous models.

I have a genuine Alpha US made M65 complete with liner. No matter how cold it is outside I can wear it over a T shirt. Fantastic item. I brought it 27 years ago and wear it every winter. Love the USA lettering stamped on the zip!!!

Surprised NYC would even allow a "MILITARY" surplus store .

History. Awesome stuff. Thanks for making this video. I love the fact that Mr. Korn knows his history. I would love to spend a whole day to glean some of the knowledge he has of the past.

I wish we have stores like it in Germany.

WOW! My dad took me here and bought paratrooper boots in 1960s.