Very nice to see someone actually explain the differences ! From an old camper; I also wish people learn the difference between a "burner" and a "stove"(which includes a heat source AND pot support). Another gripe: people who 'review' items but COVENIENTLY forget to mention COSTS !!
Indeed. Lots of different things often left out. I tried to focus on the one particular aspect here, and I am glad it came through. Thanks for watching.
Many of these mess kits were designed both for chow lines/field kitchens, and to cook rations in the field. The 3 part German army kit can be held with one hand. the top / lid and inner pan clipped together with the handle on the pan, and they held the deep pot with the bale. I served in the British Army back before the BCB Crusader system, with a metal cup, was issued. We were issued the chunky black plastic water bottle, with a huge cup which sat on top, but it was made of plastic so not for cooking in. We cooked in the 2 issued rectangular aluminium mess tins, this was also before pouch meals were issued, we used to heat up small cans in a bain marie (water) in the tins, and afterwards you used the water for washing or to make a hot drink. But we also took all 3 to field kitchens or the Norgies (Norwegian insulated containers) on the ranges for food and drink. Knipex Cobra pliers make great pot grips lol as well as being very useful pliers.
Interesting. I knew about the square tins but I did not know how you used them. I had forgotten to mention that most of the kits are dual purpose, chow line and field cooking, and had forgotten that about the german kit because I lost the inside pan years ago. Thanks for reminding me.
Pools Army Surplus Store in the UK have the inserts you are looking for, for your German mess kit. £2:99 each, they are selling them as suggested "travelling dog bowls" !
On (well-used) mess/cook kits, if the exterior is blackened, that actually helps heat absorption. I've used Blackie Thomas' trick of painting the bottoms of all my kits with flat-black barbecue paint. Same for stainless cups/mugs and even my old aluminum cofee percolator. Thinking of doing this on some home kitchen pots & pans too as will save time and electricity when cooking.
Blackie is a great inspiration and it was mostly his information I parroted in this video. Great woodsman. He told me a story one time about when he took a scout troop out into the woods and one of the prents was worried about his camp pot since there was so much char on it. The parent was worried it wasn't safe. That man is a wealth of knowledge and experience.
Hopefully the differences between the kinds of kits are apparent. I may do some videos on how to cook with the various systems and meals that are good for them.
All these old surplus mess tins have become harder to find and sky rocketed in price over the last few years. 3 or 4 years ago you could get the full Yugo mess kit in pouch with kfs for £10 where I am ($12), now they cost more than double that and are few and far between. 5 years ago I bought an East German mess kit in Holland from a surplus shop for just 3 Euros, $3.30, now in the UK they are £20 ($25) minimum. Wish I'd bought more of that gear back then. As it is I have a bombproof Dutch canteen cup I bought in Holland for 2 Euros, and a pair of Dutch stainless tins I bought here for £6 ($8), those are my go to for out in the woods, with after market lids (Pathfinder and BCB). There are Chinese knockoffs of the French M52 mess kit now, also not exactly cheap at £20/$25. The originals are very few and far between, saw one for £48 / $60 on ebay.
Indeed. It is frustrating because I used to get really cheap kits and then it all stopped. Now everything is expensive and is hardly worth it compared to buying new, civilian made stuff.
Great video. Very interesting, thanks for all the information. I Always use the German style cooking Kit from the russian Army. Its a Lot of fun. Thanks, GR 🤘🏻
on the german mess kit: It is really sad that you don't have the little cup. Because the Mess function of the mess kit only comes with the little cup. If you have both cups you can hang the one with the handle into the smaller one that sits in the pot. That would look like this: ( (---( ( with both cups connected by the handle. After that you place that onto the pot and you got a classic mess kit for a field kitchen. The end contraption would be something like: ( ((---(( (
Yes. That is correct about the german mess kit. It has been so long since I lost that pan that I had forgotten that aspect of the kit. Thank you for reminding me. I need to get a new german kit so I can have the complete set again. Thanks for watching, and apologies for the late reply. I never receive notifications for my videos.
