Came here to look at the East German pack and enjoyed your presentation bigtime. I like your ethos, especially as it encourages youngsters (and others) to think - and realise that survival doesn't have to mean spending large amounts of money. You're a good man.
Kinda funny. I made saddle bags for one of my motorcycles out of a pair of these too. I picked up several from a local surplus store that was dumping large number of them for $5 each, complete with the shoulder harnesses and all. Going to use one as a kayak day pack, that I can just toss in the kayak and not worry about things getting wet.
East German bags and pouches are a viable and inexpensive alternative to many of the mil surplus kits. The camo pattern is surprisingly effective in pine-oak-grasslands.
Hi, a am German. This is called "Sturmgepäck" (assaultpack) and the camo is called "Ein Strich, kein Strich"(one dash, no dash), but rain-camo sounds funny, too! :D
Those East German packs are pretty awesome but I've always wondered why they didn't design them with some additional pouches on the outside. Your modification is fantastic! I like your kit changes as well...the Condor knife is much better choice and it's still considered by everyone to be a "budget" blade so it's still in keeping with the spirit of your kit. I'm looking forward to the series!
It does fit, however it sticks way out the bottom. That would cause problems sitting the bag down. It has been turned into a "haversack" type bag to carry camera gear....... Thanks for watching!
Great modification to the bag. The large pouch you bought is the AK 47 mag. pouch. I think the small one is the ammo pouch. I need to pick me up a few of those.
+BluegrassBushcraft Thanks Robert! I knew the small one did not hold my mags....lol. I just did not know what it was for. Actually either one will work, just some of the large one will stick out the bottom....
The moment you started talking about putting holes through the pack, I yelled at the screen "NO!" ... then you explained all the reasons why and how you did it. You know what you're doing! I'd put a coat or two of marine acrylic over the inner patch of leather, just for an extra bit of protection. I wonder if you proofed the modification by submersing it above the patch line? let us know if you did. As others have said, the large pouch is for AKM mags and the smaller one is for 3 grenades.. ( and don't you hate it when you spend a lot on something and find out the next day that you could've picked them up for a song?)
I think your bag looks good with the matching "pouch" attached to it. I've been thinking about using older gear versus modern stuff if it's still cheaper. Even WW2 gear is well made and less gimmicky than some of the new gear. Of course once the surplus is sold out it's gone for good.
+billy joe denny Thanks Bill. I traded or gave away all of my extra ones at last years meetup and still had people asking me if I had any more.....If you bring it I bet it will be gone pretty quick...lol
You could have just taken out the rubber lining at first. The early versions of the Sturmgepäck Teil 2 had a rubber bag that you just could take out and the later versions had it attached to the top sides of the bag, but you could just cut it of along the top sides without compromising the waterproofing. Then you have an early version of the Sturmgepäck Teil 2 where you can use the inner rubber bag when you need it and take it out to save weight (it weighs around 200 g) when you don't need the extra water proofing. The Sturmgepäck was divided into two parts. The soldier carried the Teil 1 (Part 1) on his back with some essential parts and Teil 2 (Part 2) was in the truck. The Teil 1 had a rubber coating but not the rubber bag. Teil 2 had rubber coating and the rubber bag as extra water proofing.
How do the backoack straps go on it, i couldn't figure it out and just put it inside? The straps or harness is also still in plastic inside my bag like yours but i couldn't see the back of your bag in your video good enough
Thank you Darby. here's a link to a mag pouch like the one I used. www.keepshooting.com/ak47-east-german-magazine-pouch.html The safety pins actually held pretty well, so I left them. I did like the pack, but didn't use it too often so I passed it on to David West. I do have another pack that has the waterproof liner, and like you I really don't want to put holes in it. It may be possible to pass safety pins between the liner and canvas. I still have one of the mag pouches. May have to try it. That's really cool that a few youngsters have taken inspiration from your channel. That's what it's all about. I'm always trying to share my love for the outdoors with my kids.
Very nice video! I know it is 4 years old, but it is very helpuf, thx. I am going to modify my pack. Do you think that 2 of those small pouches, like the one you put in your pack, will fit on one side? Like, one near the top and one near the bottom. On the other side I am thinking about a canteen pouch
