Cold War Crap
Polish MUA SzM41M MK 2 NBC kit - mini review
Nelly the Elephant packed her trunk....
Price: £8.00 with free shipping
Vendor: seller. bea27storee on eBay
Shipped from: UK
Shipped from: UK
Manufacturer: Phaser S.A.
Model: MUA SzM41M Mark 2
Country: Poland
Year of manufacture: 1984
Production run: early 1980's - 1989
Size: 2 (medium)
Only a few marks and blemishes on this mask
First impressions
Another day, another gas mask it would seem and this time a newer variant of the the rather impressive MUA SzM41M mask.
I was so impressed by the quality of the MK1 mask that I thought I might grab a MK2 version for the hell of it!.
The MK2 version of the Polish MUA kit was the direct replacement to the MK1 (obviously) and served the polish military from the early 1980's to 1989 - the MK1 saw service through the 1970's
The MK2 version of the Polish MUA kit was the direct replacement to the MK1 (obviously) and served the polish military from the early 1980's to 1989 - the MK1 saw service through the 1970's
Unlike the last time I bought one of these, this gas mask came with the whole NBC kit.
That is, the face piece, the breather Hose, the filter canister and finally the carrier (haversack).
The price I paid for this complete kit was only £8.00 with the postage paid. I don't understand how this seller can do it for that price? Especially when postage charges are quite high.
I don't intend on reviewing the face piece on this mask as it is almost identical to my other MUA mask.
Click here to see the MK1 SzM41M review from last week.
Instead this post will highlight the minor changes between the MK1 and MK2 and also the extra parts to the NBC kit.
The minor difference
Both the MK1 and MK1 MUA face piece (mask) feature a voice Diaphragm on the front. Most of this style of Soviet mask came without the voice piece (the GP-5/OM-14 for instance)
The voice piece was a useful update for any wearer deligated to give orders clearly. (it doesn't make much of a difference actually!) So military officers, tank commanders and group leaders got these in their haversack.
The pic below shows the only difference between these two MUA masks.
The voice piece on the older mask (left) is made from plastic whereas the newer mask (right) features an updated metal voice piece. Not such a massive difference.
In reality, both voice pieces shown here are a waste of bloody time. Nothing intelligible can be heard when barking your words through this.
This minor change between the two masks is probably a big deal to your average gas mask collector. Both of these masks are listed as being 'rare' or 'uncommon' (which means the same thing!) so it's entirely possible that these could be worth something to a collector one day? - there seems to be shit loads of these on eBay at the moment so it's not like they are hard to find.
The Kit
Inside the haversack apart from the face piece we have..
E014 'Coffee Can' style filter
The package complete
This particular kit was unissued and it certainly looks it.
The complete kit is in great condition considering its over 30 years old. Only the usual storage talc residue to get rid of.
Almost brand new you might say.
Everything fits snuggly into the haversack and is comfortable to wear over the shoulder.
Muppet in a mask
It's not pretty, but it works well and looks freakish at the same time.
Rating: ✅✅✅✅ 4 out of 5
There's no point just buying a mask. Getting a complete MUA kit like this works out to be only a few pounds more expensive than the mask alone. Collector or not, it's a great inexpensive costume/SHTF ensemble - replace the filter with a modern type and you're good to go.
I don't intend on reviewing the face piece on this mask as it is almost identical to my other MUA mask.
Click here to see the MK1 SzM41M review from last week.
Instead this post will highlight the minor changes between the MK1 and MK2 and also the extra parts to the NBC kit.
The minor difference
Both the MK1 and MK1 MUA face piece (mask) feature a voice Diaphragm on the front. Most of this style of Soviet mask came without the voice piece (the GP-5/OM-14 for instance)
The voice piece was a useful update for any wearer deligated to give orders clearly. (it doesn't make much of a difference actually!) So military officers, tank commanders and group leaders got these in their haversack.
The pic below shows the only difference between these two MUA masks.
The voice piece on the older mask (left) is made from plastic whereas the newer mask (right) features an updated metal voice piece. Not such a massive difference.
In reality, both voice pieces shown here are a waste of bloody time. Nothing intelligible can be heard when barking your words through this.
Different nasal appendages
This minor change between the two masks is probably a big deal to your average gas mask collector. Both of these masks are listed as being 'rare' or 'uncommon' (which means the same thing!) so it's entirely possible that these could be worth something to a collector one day? - there seems to be shit loads of these on eBay at the moment so it's not like they are hard to find.
The Kit
Inside the haversack apart from the face piece we have..
E014 'Coffee Can' style filter
Original in every sense of the word this filter can was still sealed and wrapped in brown paper. I can't find an actual date of manufacture but it's safe to say it probably expired years ago.
Due to the potential risk that these old E014 filters could contain white and blue asbestos. I won't be using this one unless it's a life or death situation. (Which is highly unlikely) Dying instantly from poison gas is more an immediate problem than perhaps getting asbestosis in 30 years time.
So for the time being it's probably safer to buy a new style tuna can filter for messing about with and dressing up etc etc.
40mm Breather Hose
Although not an essential part of the kit (a filter can be screwed directly on to the snout of the mask) the hose does seem to add a little more sci-fi to the mask.
Its screwed on by way of a 40mm thread. Russian 40mm that is... slightly wider threads than the European equivalent I have discovered.
At the opposite end to the mask the hose attaches to the filter can in the same way. It's not the longest of hoses but is long enough to be able to run the whole set up from the haversack. A brilliant idea
The package complete
This particular kit was unissued and it certainly looks it.
The complete kit is in great condition considering its over 30 years old. Only the usual storage talc residue to get rid of.
Almost brand new you might say.
Everything fits snuggly into the haversack and is comfortable to wear over the shoulder.
Muppet in a mask
It's not pretty, but it works well and looks freakish at the same time.
Rating: ✅✅✅✅ 4 out of 5
There's no point just buying a mask. Getting a complete MUA kit like this works out to be only a few pounds more expensive than the mask alone. Collector or not, it's a great inexpensive costume/SHTF ensemble - replace the filter with a modern type and you're good to go.