I've replaced more than I'd care to admit of those fastex buckles. That's actually something I'm stocking in bulk. You're right, those bar tacks are a pain to seam rip. This is a lot simpler than what I've been doing but I'll be darned if I won't be doing this in the future. I had been replacing those bar tacks with leatherworking rivets on reassembly in case I have to replace another in the future...I'd just side cut the rivet and replace it.
I've done the same as well with rivets. For thick materials chicago screws will work as well. Ive been doing the paracord thing for awhile now and Its been pretty robust. Definitely makes it easy for future replacement. The buckles are cheap in bulk. Always something good to have in the parts bin. Thanks for watching !
Great Idea. i had one to replace and found something from sea to summit at REI.. used a screw as the attaching bar.. wish i would have thought of the cordage idea. Thanks for sharing
I like what you've done here, that's an excellent field repair or even permanent repair. However... ...ANORAK ALERT!!! 8-o The damaged side release fitting, to me, doesn't look like a ITW* Fastex/Nexus buckle. I'm certain that the replacement is NOT ITW Fastex/Nexus. (* = Illinois Tool Works) Genuine ITW Fastex/Nexus items are always marked "Fastex", "Fx", "Nexus" or "nx". Dick Tracy (no really!) of ITW Fastex invented the side release fitting in 1977 and it first appeared on British military kit in the early 1980s. At some point the fittings became ITW Nexus and, in very recent years, the fittings became slightly chunkier - but are still Fastex/Nexus compatible. The very latest fittings are 100% compatible to very early ITW Fastex, though a tad tight. The moral of the story is that, if you have genuine Fastex/Nexus fittings on an item of kit, IF it breaks or is part lost, you can simply use ANY genuine ITW version (available in shops and mail order all over the world) to replace it. All you'd have needed is a male Side Release (part name "SR25 Latch"). These are easy to obtain or can be cannibalised from disregarded kit. I collect/restore Brit military kit, research military/outdoors kit and their manufacturers and repair/customise military kit for military/outdoor pursuits. On otherwise good kit, I always replace imitation side release fittings with genuine ITW Fastex/Nexus because, once fitted, I know that I'll have no compatibility issues and field repairs are less of a problem. I buy these fittings in black/coyote/olive in various sizes (typically SR20, SR25 and SR40) in bulk and, every few months, need to resupply stocks. I cannot recommend ITW enough! This item is worth a look, it's specially designed for this sort of repair: www.tactical-kit.co.uk/itw-1-repair-buckle-6199-p.asp As I said, I like what you've done and am intrigued enough to check out some of your other vids: a former Paratrooper, I'm into wilderness pursuits and survival.
