Yugoslavian MC-1 Civilian Protection Kit
Manufacturer: G 1889
Kit Model: KOMPLETOM ZA LIČNU ZAŠTITU GRAÐANA.
(Personal Protection Kit for Civilians)
Production run: 1971-1991
Country of origin: the former Yugoslavia
Mask Model: M-1 aka M-59
Mask size: V (large)
Year of manufacture: January 1982
Mask Model: M-1 aka M-59
Mask size: V (large)
Year of manufacture: January 1982
Issued to: Military and Civilians
Condition: Brand new and sealed
Vendor: private eBay seller
Price: £10 + £5 shipping
Condition: Brand new and sealed
Vendor: private eBay seller
Price: £10 + £5 shipping
First impressions
The Yugoslavian M-1 gas mask is quite easy to get hold of from eBay. These masks are often labelled as the MC-1 (which is really the whole kit)
Like the Russian GP-5 these appear in quite large numbers although not normally sold with the whole thing.
What I have here is a somewhat rare example of the complete MC-1 civilian protection Kit.
Apparently these Yugoslavian kits were made up in a few different way. Mainly you got the mask, filter, bag and chemical bandage.
Other times you could get the aforementioned kit with the NBC foil poncho.
Sometimes though you might get the complete MC-1 with the poncho and the additional LPD decontamination kit.
This is one of those "sometimes" kits
Like the Russian GP-5 these appear in quite large numbers although not normally sold with the whole thing.
What I have here is a somewhat rare example of the complete MC-1 civilian protection Kit.
Apparently these Yugoslavian kits were made up in a few different way. Mainly you got the mask, filter, bag and chemical bandage.
Other times you could get the aforementioned kit with the NBC foil poncho.
Sometimes though you might get the complete MC-1 with the poncho and the additional LPD decontamination kit.
This is one of those "sometimes" kits
Having only paid a tenner plus postage I thought I had stumbled across a real bargain.
Everything was advertised as brand new and unused. This statement certainly turned out to be true.
I felt really bad about cutting open the plastic bag which has kept the face piece airtight for the past 35years - just to test it.
I had to in the end. I just had to try it on.
*Note: Do I say this kit was complete?.......Well it isn't quite.
Unfortunately I'm missing the correct haversack to go with the kit and I'm short of the chemical bandage. It wasn't a deal breaker in the end as I think I could get these things separately in due course.
Everything was advertised as brand new and unused. This statement certainly turned out to be true.
I felt really bad about cutting open the plastic bag which has kept the face piece airtight for the past 35years - just to test it.
I had to in the end. I just had to try it on.
*Note: Do I say this kit was complete?.......Well it isn't quite.
Unfortunately I'm missing the correct haversack to go with the kit and I'm short of the chemical bandage. It wasn't a deal breaker in the end as I think I could get these things separately in due course.
What's in the bag?
- M-1 face piece
- 60mm Filter canister
- NBC Foil poncho
- Instruction manual
- Decontamination medical kit
- Cleaning cloths
M1 Face Piece
The M1 face piece is a blatant copy of the American M9 but much easier to get yours hands on.
My mask arrived in perfect condition and still sealed in its original plastic bag.
Inside the bag was the mask, filter and two Anti-fog cloths cunningly packaged together.
Markings on the mask suggest it was produced in January 1982 and a size V which is large.
The mask features a multi-point fixing harness at the back, textured rubber on the inside edges to help the mask stay in place and an extra neck strap over the back. Keeps it from sliding down your face with the weight of the filter.
Brand new with lens clothes tucked inside
Instruction manual translation:
1. The M-1 protective mask
"The M-1 protective mask is designed to protect the respiratory tract, eyes and face from radiological, chemical and biological agents (RHB) in gas, vapor or aerosol forms. The M-1 protective mask does not protect against: carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and ammonia."
Manufacturer guarantee label inside the bag
Inside the sealed face piece bag was the original manufacturer guarantee card. Something I don't normally see with gas masks.
The card states that the mask was made on the 26th of January 1982. - pretty old then.
In terms of build quality this mask is OK.
The rubber used here is a nice soft feeling rubber which is comfortable against the skin.
The fixings at the rear are well made and the textile straps don't show any signs of deterioration.
The metal eye frames are OK. Some of the crimping leaves a lot to be disired.
The M1 doesn't feature a voice Diaphragm to speak of so communications can be muffled.
I must admit, this mask is a little weird looking?!. Check out the strange nose piece!
The rubber used here is a nice soft feeling rubber which is comfortable against the skin.
The fixings at the rear are well made and the textile straps don't show any signs of deterioration.
The metal eye frames are OK. Some of the crimping leaves a lot to be disired.
The M1 doesn't feature a voice Diaphragm to speak of so communications can be muffled.
I must admit, this mask is a little weird looking?!. Check out the strange nose piece!
Fully assembled with the filter this mask is very easy to get on and take off. Really simple, easily adjusted and comfortable to wear.
60mm Filter
This brand new filter arrived tucked inside the mask along with the fog cloths. Thankfully it hadn't scratched the inside of the glass eye pieces over the past 35years.
The filter is dated to 1982 the same as everything else (it was sealed with the mask afterall)
This filter seems to be in good nick. Not only on the outside but more importantly inside. (from what I can tell).
The characteristic rattling and dust deposits often seen on damaged filters are not present here. Neither is there any trace of activated charcoal that has become loose and travelled up to the upper filter gauze.
It's as new as a 35 year old filter can be?! That doesn't make sense?
This particular filter has long since expired though, it only had a shelf life of 10 years.
It's alright for messing about with though.
Unlike the majority of Soviet and NATO gas masks, the M-1 uses a 60mm Filter can.
There are good and bad points to this larger size.
The extra width of the filter hole makes breathing much easier and smoother but unfortunately 60mm filters are not as common as the 40's. One solution is to buy a 60mm-40mm converter piece which costs about a fiver. Plenty of 40mm filter about should you need to adapt one.
This brand new filter arrived tucked inside the mask along with the fog cloths. Thankfully it hadn't scratched the inside of the glass eye pieces over the past 35years.
The filter is dated to 1982 the same as everything else (it was sealed with the mask afterall)
This filter seems to be in good nick. Not only on the outside but more importantly inside. (from what I can tell).
The characteristic rattling and dust deposits often seen on damaged filters are not present here. Neither is there any trace of activated charcoal that has become loose and travelled up to the upper filter gauze.
It's as new as a 35 year old filter can be?! That doesn't make sense?
This particular filter has long since expired though, it only had a shelf life of 10 years.
It's alright for messing about with though.
Unlike the majority of Soviet and NATO gas masks, the M-1 uses a 60mm Filter can.
There are good and bad points to this larger size.
The extra width of the filter hole makes breathing much easier and smoother but unfortunately 60mm filters are not as common as the 40's. One solution is to buy a 60mm-40mm converter piece which costs about a fiver. Plenty of 40mm filter about should you need to adapt one.
NBC Protective Poncho
This plastic poncho claims to protect the wearer from chemicals, gas and radioactive fallout during an attack.
I have no reason to doubt these claims, afterall the technical institute in Zagreb signed them off as effective.
This plastic poncho claims to protect the wearer from chemicals, gas and radioactive fallout during an attack.
I have no reason to doubt these claims, afterall the technical institute in Zagreb signed them off as effective.
Although perhaps not as good as a proper NBC suit it would still offer enough protection to at least have time to get away from the attack and make an escape.
I don't plan on opening this thing up and trying it. It's still new and folded and seems a shame to disturb it after all these years. There is a good chance that it might not go back into shape again so I'm leaving it as it is.
I don't plan on opening this thing up and trying it. It's still new and folded and seems a shame to disturb it after all these years. There is a good chance that it might not go back into shape again so I'm leaving it as it is.
Instruction manual translation
2. Protective cloak of PE film
"The protective cloak (poncho) is designed to protect the body from battlefield dousing poisons, biological agents, and to block radioactive dust from contaminating clothing.
The cloak is to be used with the protective mask. "
Instruction manual
Another rarity with surplus gas masks is a proper instruction manual. This is definitely the first mask I have owned to come with one.
Of course the manual is not written in English.
Infact the instructions are written in the native Croatian language. Not a big deal if you know how to work Google translator!
Of course the manual is not written in English.
Infact the instructions are written in the native Croatian language. Not a big deal if you know how to work Google translator!
This is what the kit should look like.
The instruction manual for the MC-1 kit is really well put together (once you translate it).
Everything you would need to know regarding what's in the kit, how to wear the stuff and even how to inject yourself with nerve agent antidote! It's all here....
Below are a few photos of selected pages I pulled from the booklet
Contents page
The LPD decontamination kit - more on that to come
Stick this needle in your leg and you'll be fine
I'm slowly working my way through this manual and learning some Croatian along the way.
Everything seems to be covered by this booklet.
There is even a price list on the back page should you ever had needed to replace any of the stuff. - get your dinaras out!
MC-1 LPD Decontamination Kit
I wasn't expecting to recieve an authentic field decontamination kit with my gas mask but here it is.
It's jam packed full of out-of-date medication!
It's jam packed full of out-of-date medication!
- Various wipes/swabs
- Blood agent antidote
- Anti--nerve agent injections
- Decontamination powders
- Eye bathing powder
LPD field medicine pack
There is so much to look at in this tin that I decided to do a separate post to explain what the medicines were.
👍 👍 Click HERE to see the LPD kit review...👍👍
Rating 5 out of 5 ✅✅✅✅✅
I really like this kit. It's in pristine condition and only cost a tenner + postage. At this price point it's very difficult to find something comparable.
I really like this kit. It's in pristine condition and only cost a tenner + postage. At this price point it's very difficult to find something comparable.
This MC-1 protection kit looks to be rare in its complete form.
A good investment perhaps for the cold war collector or just for fun.
A good investment perhaps for the cold war collector or just for fun.