British S10 NBC Respirator Part 1

British S10 NBC respirator number 1 - 1989

Manufacturer: Avon rubber, England
Model: S10
Country: United Kingdom + many others
Production run: 1986 - 2011
Replaced by: Scott GSR
Issued to: Military, Police
Condition: Used but in good shape
Year: 1989
Price: £12.50 + £3.90 postage
Availability: quite common
Source: private eBay seller
Shipped from: UK

What was in the kit?

• S10 face piece (used)
• Standard 40mm NATO NBC filter (new)
• old S6 40mm NATO filter (Used)
• British MOD radiac dosimeter watch (new)
• British army DPM camo haversack (used)

What should have been in the kit. (to be complete)

• Spare Standard 40mm NATO filter
• NBC rubber gloves
• Decontamination kit
• Chemical detection papers
• Protect to survive booklet

At last! an S10 for my collection
The S10 Gas mask kit by Avon rubber is possibly the most recognised gas mask in the world. It was synonymous with the british armed forces and highly regarded as one of the best mask of all time. Many of it's features live on in more modern mask designs today.
Fortunately for me this fine S10 fell my way quite recently so now I can appreciate what all the fuss is about.
Until now I had often considered the S10 a rather expensive mask for building my collection. Usually Several cold war masks could be bought for the price of a single S10 and so it hadn't seemed that appealing.

Whilst skimming the ebay listings one night I came across this kit which was being auctioned at a low price. Due to the S10's popularity I was half expecting to get gazumped right at the end of the auction by someone else (which normally happens) but this time it would be different.
The final price I paid for everything was £12.50 plus £3.90 postage which didn't seem bad at all. Normally a decent S10 can go for between £30 -£70 depending on the seller so this kind of price was not that common.
  

A bit about the S10
The S10 NBC respirator was first pressed into service in 1986 as the natural successor to the hugely popular SR6 (S6) which had been the mainstay mask of the british army since 1966.
The S10 kits were issued to all of the UK armed forces and also to civilian police forces and others making this mask truly universal.

The S10 NBC respirator was manufactured by Avon rubber in England and was exported to many other countries around the world as well as the UK
Many consider the S10 to have been a technical leap in design and the blueprint to modern masks. They remain extremely popular with collectors, preppers and the people who run about in the woods with pellet guns. Simply stunning.

The S10 was scheduled to have been phased out by 2007 and replaced by the newer Scott GSR. This didn't happen and so the S10 continued in active service until 2011.



The face piece

The S10 face piece is made from good quality materials. The rubber used in the construction of the mask seems very robust and sturdy whilst also being supple to the touch.
It doesn't take long to realise that this mask is top notch in terms of design and build quality. It has some clever innovative features and looks like it could get you out of a sticky situation without breaking a sweat.
I expected nothing less from a company like Avon who have a track record of making some of the best quality respirators in the world.
Time to take a closer look....

The right side of the face piece features a 40mm NATO filter fitting and the size marking of the mask. In this case it's a size 3 (small)
Running around the mask from right to left is a raised rubber ridge which is in fact a chemical hood stop. This ridge prevents the hood of an NBC suit from falling backwards and exposing the users head. A neat idea not often seen with gas masks.

On the left side of the face piece the date circle is stamped into the rubber. This mask was manufactured in 1989.
Moving down slightly the mask we discover the voice diaphragm. This circular part presumably helps to clarify the voice comms. It will be interesting to see if this side fitted diaphragm makes any difference.

The front of the face piece features a large circular structure which is home to the exhale valve, drinking system and a voice trumpet. It looks like a very well designed assembly on first glance and it becomes apparent where some of the more contemporary masks had got their inspiration from.
The drinking tube starts inside the mask with the mouth straw then it passes out through the side and around the outside of the disc ending with a water bottle adapter which is secured underneath the chin.
A small lever is situated on the left side of the disc next to the tube (see above photo) which acts a direction adjustment for the mouth tube inside. When the time for rehydration comes around it can be very difficult to locate the tube inside the mask once it has been donned.
A quick swing of the lever can get direct the tube into the users mouth quickly and without much fuss. A clever design in my opinion.
The exhale valve/voice trumpet section consists of a single rubber disc acting as the valve whilst the surrounding cavity is shaped in such a way as to amplify any sounds coming from inside. 

The inside of the face piece features a rubber inner mask which helps with making a good air tight seal and it offers a little extra comfort for the user.
Another feature of the inside is the nasal cup. The nasal cup is designed to divert warm air into the exhale valve and away from the eye pieces. It seems quite substantial on this mask so the need for anti-fog cream shouldn't be required.
The drinking straw required for rehydration is situated on the right side of the nasal cup and unlike the straw on the Czech M10M, it can be stowed to one side and away from the users mouth when not in use. I found the straw to be very annoying and intrusive on the M10M as it was always getting in the way.
The drinking system on the S10 seems far more useful.   

The last things to mention on this face piece are the eye pieces and the rear head harness.
The head harness is a six point strap and clamp system. Nothing special. Just some plastic clamps on the fixing points where you might expect metal buckles and the six corresponding straps made from a single piece of moulded rubber.
I'm not a fan of rubber harness straps but these are made from very soft and flexible rubber. I may not run the risk of having my hair ripped out now!
One remarkable design on this mask is the eye pieces. They appear to be made from Perspex/Plexiglass and not from traditional glass. They have an interesting shape to them. They Sort of look curved when first seen but on closer inspection are flat but with curved edges. I presume this shaping helps with the overall field of vision?   
Considering this mask has been issued the eye pieces have only superficial scratches on them. Nothing really noticeable.


The Filters


L12a1 or SP10

The SP10 is the filter which originally shipped with the S10 mask. It's a full range NBC protective filter housed in a plastic casing rather than the usual metal type. The SP10 has a NATO 40mm threading and will fit other NATO masks.

Old S6 filter - MK2 pattern

The other filter which came with my kit is an old british style piece which originally shipped with the Avon S6 - The mask which came before the S10.
The filter is dated 1981 and dinged up to hell but it still works (I think?)
Once again this is a full range NBC protective filter with a NATO 40mm thread and was the filter to SP10 replaced.


The Haversack

The photo above shows the british army S10 haversack which came with my kit. Its decorated with army standard DPM camouflage and dated 2007 so not the original haversack which came with the mask.
This haversack is every bit as formidable as the S10 itself. It's strong, tough and well designed.
The quality of materials used here are far more superior than the vast majority of other gas mask bags I have had my hands on.
The only criticisms are that maybe the haversack is a little large and cumbersome and the lack of a waist strap to prevent it flapping around if running away from danger.

There is plenty of room inside the haversack for 2 filters, the face piece and all of the regular accessories without having to squeeze anything in. This can often be a downside to the soviet haversacks which are generally smaller by comparison and carry the risk of the face piece being squished out of shape.


The mysterious extra item

One surprise with this S10 kit was the addition of a brand new and sealed British M.O.D. dosimeter watch. 

These are supplied to people tasked with working in a radioactive environment (obviously!) and have been in service since the early 1980s.  

They work by means of photoluminescent glass that is exposed to radiation and records the levels over a period of time. 

unfortunately this dosimeter does not display the radiation readings for the user to see rather the dosimeter is hooked up to a special reader to extract the information. (available separately). 

The dosimeter watch is a nice little extra in the bag which I wasn't expecting. I don't intend on opening the foil pouch as it might affect it's value one day. A quick google image search indicates that the watch isn't all that interesting to look at. 

Just a blank watch face and a crappy looking strap.   

Donning and Doffing
Getting the S10 over the head and sealed for business is quick, easy and pain free.
The straps on the read harness seem to be flexible enough to left set in the desired position whilst the mask is taken on and off negating the need for readjustment after every deployment.  One concern with the fixing clamps is that they may get weaker over the years and allow the strap/s to slide back out.
Getting the mask off again is just as easy.


Overall the S10 is a great quality respirator which certainly lives up to it's reputation. I would certainly reach for this mask first in the event of a disaster without a doubt.

Baofeng BF-888s - The disposable radio pt 2

Baofeng BF-888  - The disposable radio pt 2

Baofeng 888s twin pack

Manufacturer: Fujian Nan'an Baofeng Electronic Co Ltd
Model: BF-888s
Country of origin: China
Frequency: 400MHz - 470MHz UHF FM
Power: <5W. - often rated at 1-2W
Battery: 3.7V 1500mAh Li-ion
Price: £8.80 including postage
Type Certified: No
Shipped from: UK

This post serves as a follow up to an earlier post titled " Retevis H-777 - The disposable radio" . I once again return with another bargain radio deal which defies rational belief.

Click HERE for the original H-777 post.

So now a few months on from the first post I find myself staring across a table at a pair of original Baofeng 888s radios.
How did they get there?  Well being a sucker for a good deal I just had to make a purchase.
I wasn't actually looking to buy any more ham radio / PMR gear for the time being but the price I found these at made it rude not to.
I wondered how on earth can these guys make an profit?

The usual Baofeng bits and pieces

The seller on eBay who was peddling these radios had a very limited number available so without really thinking about it I pulled the trigger and paid the full £8.80 asking price.
That's TWO radios for £8.80!
If you break that down its £2.95 for each radio plus £2.90 postage. And they are not fakes or clones either!
I honestly thought that I wouldn't get better radio deal than that of the H-777 which only cost a fiver all told but I stand corrected.

Generally speaking the 888s model sells for around £10 each on eBay and quite often are sold in multiples which in itself is good value for money.
Considering the 888s capabilities compared to main stream PMR446 gear for instance, they really do offer great value for money. Who really wants to be paying £60 or £80 for a set of Motorola PMRs or £160 on a Yeasu handset which covers the amateur radio stuff? The 888s will work on both bands quite comfortably.

Although it sounds contradictory, these radios should NOT be used on the regular PMR 446mHz frequencies as it is illegal to do so in UK and probably the EU too. This is because all PMR type approved radios must have a fixed antenna and only pump out half a watt of radiated energy. (0.5W!) These Baofengs are up to x4 more powerful and can have larger antennas fitted allowing them to transmit over a much greater distance.
Technically speaking these Baofengs are only really legal for amateur radio use however for those wanting them for PMR use and are willing to break the law then these cheapo radios offer more power, channels and range than almost all of the commercially sold PMR446 walkie talkies.

Simple stuff but it works!

So is the Baofeng 888s another disposable radio?
Yes, disposable in the sense that once the battery has died for good you might as well chuck the whole lot in the bin and that includes the radio!
What would be the point of trying to buy replacement batteries for these? The complete kits are so cheap!
Even If you did manage to find someone selling spares then it's almost certain you would pay more for a battery on its own than buy a brand new radio kit.
It's seems a little crazy but these are the times we live in!
The 888s can also be described as disposable in the sense that if any accident or mishap should befall it, no one would really care! Just go and buy another one. Very cheap to replace.
You perhaps might not say that about a £200 Kenwood which accidentally slipped out of your hand and into the local lake.

 All the same underneath 

Style over substance?
Admittedly, the Baofeng BF-888 is an old radio now in terms of technology and very little has been done to upgrade the internal hardware since 2011.
When it comes to model updates Baofeng has a habit of only changing the style of the outer casings and tends to leave the electronics alone. This seems to happen across the whole product range and the UV-5R model is a prime example of this.
Despite its design age, the performance of the 888 family of radios is still good and offers great communication over short to medium distances.


CAUTION! 
I have to say this but anyone who buys a brand new Baofeng  888s MUST first wipe the channels which come on the radio.
The channels that were stored on the radio at the factory are not suitable to use in the UK and could cause interference to others Including some emergency services. The online sellers should make customers aware of this important aspect at the point of sale but NEVER do for some reason so the responsibility is with the customer in this case. It's illegal in the UK to use these radios as they are straight from the box.
Purchasing a UV-5R programming cable from eBay and download ing the software will sort this problem out.


Verdict
These are the disposable radios for the masses.
A decent pair of UHF transceivers for the price of a pack of cigarettes!
If they happen to break, chuck them away and buy another. Repairing a broken 888 is just not worth it considering the cost of labour and availability of spare parts.
Chucking these into landfill seems crazy and irresponsible from an environmental view point but no one seems to care these days.
Its definitely worth getting a few sets whilst they are at this low price point.

Stock Update - More IP-5 rebreather canisters

Stock update - IP-5 Oxygen generating canisters

Price: £30 for four units
Model: RP-5M
Source: Ebay seller bea27storee
Description: Soviet IP-5 rebreather oxygen canisters

This time on stock update we have the unique IP-5 rebreather once again and more specifically the oxygen generating canisters which fit in it.
Basically these canisters work by scrubbing the exhaled air of carbon dioxide etc and replacing it with fresh oxygen by way of a chemical reaction. Think potassium superoxide.
This reaction happens continuously over and over until the can is empty.

An East german instruction booklet

I already own three IP-5 rebreathers but didn't have many of the canisters which go with them. The reason for this is because they are hard to find and expensive generally.  The IP-5 rebreathers don't normally ship with these canisters when you buy them from the internet. Mainly because they weigh a ton and pose a potential health and safety issue.
Some ebay sellers will sell the canisters indirectly but the cost is still more than the rest of the kit as a rule.
Buying an IP-5 rebreather kit without the canister is fine but it's incomplete as a kit if it's left out. I like to have a filter for every gas mask in my collection so I was always going to buy a few of these when I had the chance.

Remember this fella? He still looks happy in his IP-5

Finding spare IP-5 canisters on the surplus market isn't as easy as it sounds with only a couple of sellers on ebay UK. The cheaper of the two stores were selling them for around £17.50 each with free postage but there was the opportunity to barter with the guy.
As I already owned one canister I still needed two more for my other kits so I decided to make him an offer of £30 for two which would be a saving of a fiver.
The seller happily accepted my offer and I awaited my canisters in the post.

To see my original review of the complete IP-5 kit click HERE

3 polish and 1 Soviet RP-5Ms

A large parcel arrived a few days later which looked much bigger than perhaps it should. Upon opening the box I found that rather than sending me two canisters he has sent me four! What a bonus! Looking through the loot it seems that I have been given three polish made cans and one original soviet can. So in the end it seems that these accessories have ended up costing me about £7.50 each. A price that's much easier to swallow. 

IP-5s are still being used today!

The video Above shows some russian lads taking a tank through a river and deliberately flooding it out. Check out their breathing apparatus! @ 2:00 min

The Polish RP-5M

Faser manufactured Can

It wasn't only the Soviets who were making these canisters during the cold war (and beyond) It seems that Faser in poland were also making their own licensed version for use in the IP-5.
As far as I know poland never adopted the IP-5 rebreather for use in their own armed forces so one can only assume that they were being made there and shipped out somewhere else - probably russia and east germany.
These canisters are made from what looks like stainless steel and feature all of the same ports, bungs and priming handle as the original.
Most were made in the late 1980s

The Soviet/Russian RP-5M

These are the proper canisters that go with the IP-5

And here we have an original canister dressed in cacky coloured brown paint.
These canisters are much harder to find than the polish version for some unknown reason. There are no discernable markings on it apart from what looks like a manufacture date of 1988.

The problem with the Polish versions

The photo above highlight a small problem with the polish version of the canister.
Around the top and bottom of both canisters is a metal lip which acts as a seal around the canister during manufacture. The lip on the left canister is noticeably bigger than the one on the right canister.

Hard to make out but the polish can is longer in comparison

and here in this photo the silver canister on the left is longer in size than the brown one on the right. It's not that noticeable here but there is a difference.

So what's the problem?
Well the problem only becomes apparent when it comes to fitting the canister in it's harness. It's virtually impossible to securely buckle the straps in place when using the silver canisters. The straps just won't pull far enough round to fasten in the buckle.
Fitting the original brown canisters is absolutely no problem at all.
The straps fits perfectly around the unit and into the buckle with ease.
I couldn't understand what was going on? Poland never made an IP-5 of their own and certainly not one which had a slightly larger canister pocket so why are these bigger?
It remains a mystery but for now there may be a work around to solve the issue.
If the metal lips on either end of the silver canisters could be bet downwards then they would fit snuggly. The brown soviet version does appear to have its edges curled downwards. 

Using the canisters
The IP-5 rebreather was originally issued to soviet tank crews as an underwater rescue system should the tank get submerged. They were also issued to soviet special forces frogmen for stealthy underwater missions (allegedly) . The oxygen generating canisters could provide up to 180 mins of air (depending on work load) and work in depths up to 30ft. As the IP-5 is a closed circuit rebreather it does not release any air bubbles and so could be considered a stealth item.

The canister in it's holder

Personally I wont be jumping into my nearest lake and have a swim about. Not only is there a small risk of the canister exploding if there is any water ingress but its also very difficult to tell when the oxygen stops being generated. Carbon dioxide will eventually stop being scrubbed by the canister and the build up could asphyxiate the user without them even knowing about it.
Its all sounds a little scary so the wise thing to do would be to keep them as part of the complete kit and never activate them. They should be perfectly safe on the shelf with the plugs left in.

Still a great looking rebreather

The IP-5 rebreather has to be one of my favourites, it is a unique diving gas mask which has never been copied or emulated. I suspect that one day this will become a most curious collectors item but without the canisters they are incomplete. I'm just glad I could get a few now before they become even more scarce!

Polish MC-1 - Halloween masks for £2.50!

Don't spend a small fortune this Halloween! Get a £2.50 Polish gas mask!

Manufacturer: Faser SA, Poland

Model: MC-1 "Dzik" gas mask kit
Country: Poland
Price: £2.50 + £3.30 postage each
Source: seller Bea27storee on eBay UK
Year:  Beige mask = 1985.    Grey mask = 1989
Size:   Beige mask = 2.          Grey mask = 3
Condition: New/Unissued surplus. Filter still sealed
Shipped from: Wales, UK
Where can I find one?: Link to the ebay deal HERE.

Halloween?
Apparently wearing a gas mask on Halloween is the thing these days. I have no idea why? I mean I don't remember any ghouls or monsters ever wearing a gas mask but there it is. Perhaps people have taken to them because they might be considered scary looking? Anyway, my old friend the polish gas mask peddler on eBay has come up with a few Halloween style mask deals to cater for this new trend.
A few of his listings feature the Polish MC-1 "Dzik" gas mask and the one which caught my eye the most was the £2.50 "rusted up" kit.
Basically he is offering a complete MC-1 kit, that's the face piece, filter and Haversack for only £2.50 + £3.30 postage!
Normally you can get an MC-1 for around a tenner but I have never seen one for sale at this low price rust or no rust. I figured that I could live with a bit of rust. And having already owned a MC-1 and a Czech CM3 (which is basically the same) it's only likely to be the eye pieces that would have rusted as everything else is either plastic or bakelite. I'm not going to grumble at some oxidation at that price!


Just to familiarise ourselves with this mask, The Polish MC-1 kit was a mass produced civilian respirator produced from the 1970s - 1990s by Faser SA in Poland. These masks would have be available to every civilian if an emergency should ever have  happened.  Of course nothing ever did happen during the cold war so millions of MC-1s were kept in their storage crates until now. These masks along with the soviet GP-5s are perhaps the most numerous types of gas mask found on the surplus market today.  They are cheap and easy to find but never this cheap normally.

What you get for your £2.50

• MC-1 face piece
• New 40mm Faser made NBC filter
• Either anti-fog grease or anti-fog cloth
• Instruction leaflet
• Wz.68 Moro camo shoulder bag

What rust?
According to the ebay listing these masks have rust on them. Perhaps this was why he was flogging them off so cheaply? After ordering these masks from the seller I half expected some rotten old skanky masks which had gotten damp over the years.
After inspecting both masks thoroughly I can say that neither mask has any rust what-so-ever. The only thing i could see a little bit of tarnishing to the grey mask eye pieces. Nothing that dramatic though.

The Filters

Brand new sealed filters

The filters that came with both kits are in brand new condition. There doesn't seem to be any dents, dings or rust on the outside of the filter cans indicating that they have been stored correctly and plucked straight from the original crate. Neither seals on the top or the bottom of the filters have been broken which is always nice especially if you plan on collecting the mask.

⚠⚠Do these filters contain Asbestos?⚠⚠

I would say no on this occasion as they are much newer than the filters I would normally be dealing with.
I think that Faser would be using fiber glass in place of asbestos by 1985. It wouldn't stop me using them anyway unless the filters rattled when I gave them a shake. (which could indicate a break down of the internal elements)
Using old expired filters will always carry a risk however small so its down to the individual user to decide.
Alternative 40mm modern ABEK filters can be obtained relatively cheaply from ebay if people don't want to risk it.


Instruction Sheet/s

Polish and English instructions

Its always nice to find an original instruction manual in with your mask and these two bargain MC-1s are no exception.
Buried deep inside the pockets of the shoulder bags are these two sided instruction sheets explaining the basics on how to don the mask and how to look after it.
One interesting thing I noticed was that the grey mask from 1989 has the instructions written in English?!  Every other MC-1 I have owned came with the text written in Polish as you would expect. This is a little strange - I wonder if it is a coincidence that the english instructions were made in 1989 at the same time as the fall of communism in Poland? Were Faser once restricted from selling outside the soviet block and were now free to look further afield for their sales? who really cares?
Im not sure if this little slip of paper makes the 1989 kit more collectable or not? I will certainly make a point of mentioning it when I come to sell it! ha ha.

Overall then this mask kit represents great value for money even if its isn't bought for halloween purposes. The average prepper will find this deal tempting I'm sure.

Rating:    ✅✅✅✅✅5 out of 5
Of course this bargain was going to get full marks! There is no better gas mask deal than this online at the moment. The price is simply too good to miss. The quality of the masks is excellent despite the 'Rust' nonsense in the description. Everything is new and unissued and well worth the tiny £2.50 price tag. Im tempted to a buy a few more whilst the offer is still on!

Link to the ebay deal HERE.

Soviet IP-4M Rebreather review

Soviet Union

Soviet IP-4M Rebreather

Manufacturer: NPO
Model: IP-4M Rebreather kit
Country: Soviet union / Russia
Year: 1988
Production run: 1980s - still in use
Replaced: IP-4
Condition: New / Unissued surplus
Size: 2 (medium)
Price: £50 + £12 postage
Availability:  Extremely rare
Source: private collector
Shipped from: UK

What's in the package?

• Rubber face piece
• Protected fixed hose
• 2 X oxygen generating canisters
• Aluminium storage case with air bladder
• Ballistic outsert eye pieces
• 1 X set of anti-fog stickers
• 1 X spare voice diaphragm 
• 1 X spanner

Well what a stroke of luck! What were the chances of coming across an IP-4M?
The name won't mean much to a lot of people but for the gas mask collector it has to be one of the most elusive to find, especially in its complete form.
The face piece can be bought on its own from certain places online but it's often the haversack and oxygen generating canisters which are hardest to source.
The reason why this IP-4M came up for sale was because a serious collector was selling all of his stock. He cited a change of interest in his hobbies and thought he might sell up and do something else. His collection was impressive with many gas masks I hadn't seen before including this one.
The seller had priced this kit at £65 + £12 postage which seemed OK but after negotiating I managed to buy it for £50 + the postage. It's probably the most I have ever spent on a gas mask/rebreather but it is very rare and it does come complete with an extra canister. It seems a good investment.

What do we know about the IP-4
The IP-4 is a closed circuit rebreather system capable of operating in zero oxygen situations. It has the ability to generate its own oxygen whilst scrubbing unwanted CO2 at the same time.
The Soviet union were pioneers of the self contained chemical reaction rebreathers. The IP-4, IP-4M and the IP-5 are perhaps the best known models. - all of which are hard to find on the surplus market.
The exact details concerning the identity of the manufacturer and years of production are vague.
Some have suggested that the IP-5 rebreather was a direct replacement to the IP-4M but this is not the case.
Both models work on the same principal but differ in their application.
The IP-4M was designed for general emergency work whilst the IP-5 was designed as an underwater escape mask for tank crews and a stealth divers mask.

Click HERE to see my original IP-5 rebreather review.

Although the IP-4M was an innovative design it was not adopted by any of the other warsaw pact countries. Quite surprising.
Other than a handful of facts the IP-4Ms true story is an enigma.

The face piece

The IP-4M face piece is made from a single piece of thick rubber and has a rubber head harness. A mask that is very reminicent of the soviet GP-7 and PMK masks which were appearing towards the end of the 1980s.
It features two triangular eye pieces which look to be made from a coated steel or zinc alloy.
At the front of the mask is a round rubber voice diaphragm which sits behind a plastic cage.
Underneath this diaphragm is the all important hose input which carries inhaled and exhaled air in and out of the mask.
This rebreather system was not designed to be used as an underwater rescue aid as was the IP-5. One main reason for this was the design of the face piece.

Was this design robbed from the americans?

United States M4 lightweight service gas mask

It's easy to notice the similarities between the IP-4M and the ancient US M4 from 1942. The face piece section is almost a straight copy if you ignore the larger nose piece. It has the same triangular eye pieces often found on old American masks and it has a similarly identical-ish voice diaphragm piece around the mouth.

There was plenty of cloning going on back then as there is these days and the russians were masters at it.

Compared to the original IP-4 

When the Soviets replaced the original IP-4 with the IP-4M they only really changed the design of the face piece while the oxygen canister and bladder haversack seems to have been left unchanged.
The main differences between the face pieces is blatantly obvious. A complete switch from a GP-5 round eyed hood design to something like an american M4 (as previously mentioned).
This could be considered an upgrade by some and a hindrance by others. Opinion is sometimes devided on which Soviet mask style is the best.
Many prefer the GP-5 all over hood style as it offers the best air tight seal whereas some say the strap system has its other benefits.

The inside of the face piece is well made and well designed. Although it doesn't incorporate a Tissot anti-fogging system it does has an inner nasal cup to help channel the warm air away from the eye pieces.
The IP-4M also has an inner mask or overlapping section which helps to make a better air tight seal.
When it comes to securing the mask to the head a series of rubber straps are moulded into the rear of the face piece. Much like the GP-7 and PMK these have numbers on them so the wearer can taylor an exact fit time and again. no need to readjust every time.
Overall it's a good quality face piece. No complaints here.

The oxygen canisters

Not to be confused with regular gas mask filters, these oxygen generating canisters  provide the essential air required for work in low or zero percent oxygen levels situations.
regular gas mask filters require a minimum level of oxygen to operate despite what nasties it can protect the user from. No oxygen means suffication so gas mask filters have some limitations.

 Spin the plunger to active the canister

The IP-4m canister is cylindrical in shape and has a hose port at each end.
As well as a hose port on the canister top it also has an activation plunger which is wired tied until it is needed for use. The canister weighs around 2Kg and is noticeably heavier than the haversack frame it is mounted to.
Although this canister doesn't contain any cancer causing Asbestos it isn't exactly risk free either.
Like the IP-5 canister it's likely to explode or produce some nasty toxic alkaline solution if the contents come into contact with water. Not something you want to think about if you plan on using it.
The best advice for the user is treat it with respect or don't use it at all.
  
How it works

 Canister is mounted on the top of the haversack

A rebreather canister has the ability to sustain the user with fresh oxygen within a closed system regardless of whats going on outside.
other rebreather systems use an oxygen tank worn on the users back to provide the fresh air but the IP-4M and IP-5 system work by way of a chemical reaction.

The IP-4 canisters works by first connecting the bladder hose on the right hand side. Then the hose from the face piece is attached to the left side canister port.
The big black screw plunger is then turned counter clockwise and depressed to start the process. 
A small amount of air is then required in the system to kick start the process.
Carbon dioxide expelled by the user is then scrubbed essentially by a chemical reaction involving sulphuric acid and potassium superoxide. The result is fresh oxygen recirculated into the face piece and so on until the canister is depleted (you can tell I'm not a chemist can't you!)
The IP-5 system is almost identical to the IP-4 in the way it works it's just a different shape.

Bladder and overflow valve in the bottom of the bag

These russian rebreathers can withstand a 0% oxygen situation for quite a long time. arguably longer than an average scuba diving tank.
According to the paperwork this canister will last:

• 30 mins under a heavy stressed load 
• 60 mins under normal energetic work load
• 180 mins when the user is resting - essentially sat on their arse.  

Quite impressive! I believe the IP-5 canisters have a similar run time to these despite them appearing to be larger in size.

Accessories

 Outserts for placing over the eye pieces

For a little bit more eye protection the IP-4 kit comes with a pair of ballistic outserts. Basically a couple of toughened plastic lens that fit over the existing glass ones. They are a pain to get on due to the tight fitting of the rim rubber. I must admit they do look good when properly fitted.
And no, this mask is not suitable for air soft activities despite the double glazing and tough look.

Anti-fog stickers, spare voice diaphragm and a spanner

A nice surprise at the bottom of the kit bag were these little extras.  The usual round anti-fog sticker tin, a round tin containing a spare diaphragm membrane and a proprietry adjustment tool presumably for tightening the hose connections?


Instruction leaflet/Service record

 It's all in Cyrillic text but nevermind - it's a historic document

This page features the inspection signing 

You know when you get a complete kit when they leave the paperwork inside.
This service booklet is very similar to the IP-5 in terms of layout and content.
Granted I can't make much sense out of it being solely written in cyrillic text but It's essential for collecting purposes none the less.

Overall this is a most unusual looking kit. I think perhaps its the fact that the box haversack thing has to be worn on the front of the users chest. It reminds me of something from a 1950s science fiction movie.
It's a really well made piece of equipment which I am happy to have gotten my hands on.


Rating: 5 out of 5 ✅✅✅✅✅
The price may be off putting compared to other Soviet Rebreathers but is justified when the availability of this kit is considered. You just don't see these things for sale.
These russian masks were well made and unique in design.
An absolute must for any gas mask collector in my opinion. A fascinating historical piece. I won't be parting with this any time soon.