Polish OM-14 Gas Mask Kit
Manufacturer: Maskpol SA, Konieczki, Poland
Face piece model: Maska przeciwgazowa OM-14
Filter model: Filtropochlaniacz FP 203/1 - IV/W
Country: Poland
Year of production: Mask: 1989. Filter: 1993 or 1997?
Size: 3 (large)
Production run: 1954 -1989
Issue: Ludowe Wojsko Polski (Polish people's army)
Price: £10.00 + £3.40 postage
Condition: New/Unissued
Source: Private ebay seller
Shipped from: UK
The OM-14 was one of those masks which I never really rushed out to buy.
As I already own several polish MUA and soviet GP-5 gas masks it wasn't a priority for my collection.
That was about to change when during a late night ebay trawl this handsome specimen hoved into view.
A new and unissued late 1980s OM-14 complete with filter, hose and haversack.
The seller on ebay was asking a tenner for it so I snapped his arm off without question. It's difficult to get a decent mask in good condition for a tenner these days so I wondered if the guy really knew what he was selling?
The face piece
This look of this mask may be very familiar to some as its almost identical to the hugely mass produced soviet Shm-62U or GP5 as its more commonly known.
Contrary to belief it isn't a copy of the GP5, in fact the OM-14 was first produced in the decade before the GP5 came out. More on the history of the mask later.
The mask is constructed from a single piece of thick latex rubber.
Punched into the rubber are two glass eyepieces and an inhale/exhale piece. The eye piece rims and inhale/exhale piece are made from a good quality zinc alloy unlike the steel used in other similar looking masks. This should prevent some degradation.
Inside the mask we have a pair of tissot tubes which run from the inhale/exhale piece to each eye piece. These tubes provide air to the eye glass to help prevent to build up of condensation. In practice this system tends to work but to be on the safe side a set of anti-fog stickers are always provided by the manufacturer. They usually come in a little round metal tin. (which I didn't get on this occasion)
Longer snout than it's Soviet counterpart GP-5
There isn't a great deal more to say about the face piece really. Its made from good quality rubber and although its a size 3 and my usual size is a 2, it still fits quite well.
The soviet style hood masks are much better at making an air tight seal than more modern designed strap fastening masks. They also offer good all over protection as the hood stretches completely over the head.
The filter
A red E-014 canister
A red filter? I thought they were all green?
Indeed the overwhelming majority of the larger E-014 filters are painted a drab green colour. There is a reason for this of course.
The green E-014s are full Nuclear/Chemical/Biological protection filters that are only issued to the military generally speaking. whereas the red painted E-014s are designed for short term emergency work or short term laboratory work.
Each filter does a slightly different job essentially.
I never knew they made two!
Finding a red E-014 filter in your haversack is indeed a rare treat! This is the first time I ever seen one in the flesh.
This fancy filter arrived in fantastic condition. the original bottom plug was still sealed and had not been removed.
The top cap had been opened for the purposes of setting the kit up for a photo shoot according to the bloke I bought it off.
Half way down the filter canister is a printed paper band which has a few instructions and warnings on it. Definately not your regular army issue.
Still sealed with MASKPOL SA label across the plug
According to the official paperwork the FP 203/1-IV/W filter was intended to be used with the MUA, MC-1, MP-6, MP-9 and GSP-M gas masks.
Strangely I own five MUA kits and none of them came with the red filter?
Essentially the FP 203/1-IV/W is the same E-014 metal canister but with different guts.
This pamphlet is pretty thorough
According to the manual this filter is effective against 63 nasty chemicals.
I'm not going to list them all but in amongst the nasties we have Sulphur Dioxide, Phosgene, Toluene, Amonia, Chlorine gas, Hydrogen cyanide and Hydrogen bromide to name a few.
An ideal filter for emergency responders.
I also got a standard soviet style rubber hose for connecting the filter to the face piece but I don't consider that worthy of a mention other than to say that the hose is in good condition with no leaks.
Does this filter contain asbestos!?
As this filter was produced in 1989 then the possibility of there being any Asbestos inside are very slim indeed. The only problem with this filter is that it has expired.
The Haversack or carrier is your common or garden heavy cotton polish bag. Nothing special, nothing to write home about. I have loads of these knocking about with MUAs and MC-1s in. These haversacks are actually OK. Everything fits nicely inside with some room to spare. The shoulder strap is fully adjustable allowing the filter to be used in the bag whilst attached to the mask.
Inside the bag are various pockets for anti-fog stickers or cleaning cloths.
Its a bag and it works.
Evolution of the Polish hood mask
MUA MK1, MUA MK2 and the OM-14
When it comes to Soviet style hood masks the Polish only really adopted one design, the original Soviet SHM-41M. The polish decided on an adopt and adapt approach to the SHM-41M and came up with the OM-14 in the early 1950s. The main adaptation was the lengthening and angling of the inhale/exhale piece. The exact reasoning for this change is largely unknown but I suspect it was to aid mobility. The "snout" is angled away and down from the wearer's chin in comparison to the shorter SHM-41M snout.
Later in the 1970s the OM-14 undertook another revision albeit only a small one. A round black plastic voice emitter was added to the nose area of the mask to aid communication. This additional part did make a huge difference to the mask.
The mask was renamed "MUA" to coincide with the change and this model would become the MUA MK1.
The last revision of the OM-14 came during the 1980s with the MUA MK2. This time the plastic voice emitter was replaced by a stainless steel one.
Once again the reasoning for this change remains a mystery. When comparing both versions of the MUA it's hard to see any difference in the quality of speech.
Although the MUA was introduced as a replacement to the OM-14 mask, the OM-14 continued to be issued along side other models until at least 1989 making it the oldest polish hood mask in use.
Much better quality than a standard soviet GP-5
Overall this OM-14 kit is pretty special. A mask that in my opinion is the best of the GP-5 style hood masks.
It is also special because it has that rare and unusual red filter included (rightly or wrongly).
I think the ebay asking price of a tenner was an absolute bargain considering that a replacement filter normally costs about 6 quid on its own - and that's for a green one.
Rating: ✅✅✅✅✅ 5 out of 5
The addition of the fire engine red filter makes this 0M-14 kit stand out from the rest. The mask itself is in immaculate condition and looks like it was made yesterday.
OK its not the right mask and filter combination but only an anally retentive collector would be bothered by that.
Cheap price tag, interesting filter - you cant go wrong