Polish Military Wz89 Puma Rucksack

Polish Army Wz89 'Puma' Camouflage Rucksack 25/50 ltr

Date of Manufacture: ? between 1989-1993
Materials: heavy Cotton mix / PVC base / Nylon straps / Steel fixings 
Capacity: 25 litre expandable to 50 litre approx
Availability: quite common
Price: Varies  - lowest price £8.00
     
Whilst was on the look out for a new backpack recently I came across this interesting specimen from Poland. And although I had my mind set on a small British army bergen the look, practicality and sheer difference in price made this Wz89 Puma bag more eye catching to me.
These rucksacks are not in any way new or modern by todays standards. Instead they are very basic designed military bags that have been kept in long term storage for the past 25-30 years and now finally seeing the light of day again - Nothing wrong with that so to speak.
So I decided to do a bit of research and found nothing but favourable reports about them.
I wanted to buy one and see what all the fuss was about...

                  

The smaller 25l size

The Backpack that changes shape
The one top feature and selling point for me is the fact that this rucksack can expand in size depending on what you have to stuff in it.
The smallest capacity of this bag is roughly 25 litre but if that is not big enough then the bag can be extended to roughly 50 litre capacity in a matter of seconds.
What a clever idea! Has this been done before on another rucksack? if so why have I never seen one before? 

Extended to the full 50l size

Never mind military applications, imagine how useful this could be on a normal civilian daily basis?
The ability to adjust the bag to carry a little or a lot of something depending on the situation.

When this rucksack is fully extended it does appear to hold quite a lot of stuff!
 

Double drawstring technology

The Wz89 puma bag works by having two drawstrings situated in the middle and at the top of the bag. When the rucksack is fully extended the upper drawstring is used to tie off the bag, when the bag is in small mode the lower drawstring is used to tie up and the remaining material which is not being used is stored around the inside edge of the rucksack.  Once the drawstrings have been tied then the large storm flap is pulled over the top of the bag and fixed with either 2 or 4 buckles on the front depending on the bag size at the time. A neat and simple idea it has to be said. (and it works!)

Reinforced PVC base

There is no need to worry about putting this bag down in a puddle! there will be no soggy bottoms or soaked contents here! Thanks in no small part to a special PVC reinforced base on the bag. The material used here is best described as the plasticky stuff they made school bags from in the 1980s? A bit utilitarian, a bit industrial, a bit dull and brown but it works.  

Although this PVC coated base cannot be proved to be 100% waterproof  (after all it is almost 30 years old!) it can be considered better than nothing at least. 

Tough steel fixings and nylon stitching

The two Nylon shoulder straps on this rucksack are fastenened on with stitching at the top and via a metal clip fixture at the bottom. It seems highly unlikely that any of the straps could tear off during use due to the high quality of the double stitching employed here. The metal clip and buckles on this bag are also of a high quality steel. Despite their age, none of the metal fittings are rusty or discoloured which is a little surprising.  

Polish Wz89 Camouflage

The Wz89 Żaba or "frog"camouflage design was the last pattern to be used by the Polish 2nd republic during the cold war.
This distinctive design also goes by the name of 'Puma' due to it's striking resemblance to the coat of the big cat as is generally known as such today. This pattern features a dark green reptilian scale print on a lighter green background. It could easily be described as Lizard skin as much as Puma.
The Wz89 pattern was pushed into service with the army, air force and marines in about 1989 and continued in service till 1993, a few years after the fall of communism.
The practical effectiveness of this style of camo remains to be seen. There can't be many situations where these types of colours can make a difference. That said, the Wz89 pattern is distinctive, unusual and surprisingly attractive making it much better as a fashion item - especially these days with the resurgence of camo clothing.


In terms of looks and practically the Polish 'Puma' is probably one of the best rucksacks on the surplus market these days. Another point in it's favour has to be the fantastic price. Buying a backpack for under a tenner is generally a recipe for disaster in my experience what with split seams, torn nylon panels and busted zippers to contend with. This bag is simple, no nonsense and well made so no more of that cheap bag aggrevation.
The Wz89 rucksack could be the perfect multi-size carrying apparatus for any number of situations and applications. Highly recommended.

Barr & Stroud Laser Protection Goggles

Barr & Stroud Military Laser Protection Goggles

Manufacturer: Barr & Stroud ltd - now Thales Optronics ltd
Model: unknown
Country of origin: United Kingdom
NATO supply number: 8465-99-865-3493
Issued to: British army + others
Year: 1990s
Condition: Brand new and sealed
Description: Laser protection goggles

And now for something a little different. A pair of military laser protection goggles.
A pair of goggles so interesting and yet so secretive that finding their back story has become an bit of an enigma.
what is known about these goggles is that they were made by reknown Scottish optical makers Barr & Stroud sometime in the 1990s. Barr & Stroud (military optics) would end up a subsidary of french optic makers Thales.
Apparently these goggles were supplied to the UK army and other NATO forces during that time period but then appear to completely vanish from sight.
I found this pair in a very limited supply on ebay a few months ago and thought I might buy some for using with my various lasers. After all messing about with lasers is pretty risky to the eyes if you don't have a pair of special glasses or goggles knocking about.

They arrived in a very well packaged cardboard container. Double lined and wrapped to the hilt, it seemed a little over the top to be honest.
Once the cardboard outer layers had been moved out of the way the goggles hoved into view completely sealed in a thick plastic bag. 
Inside the plastic bag was the goggles in their plastic case.

Removing the goggles from the case revealed a plethera of instruction labels explaining how to look after the delicately coated lens. Underneath the goggles was a piece of cleaning cloth.

The goggle frames are made from a one piece soft rubber material (or is it plastic?) with an elastic strip to attatch to the head.  The lens are glass with a fine red reflective coating - and that's about it. 

.

'Made in England' - Don't see that much these days

In terms of quality these goggles are really good. especially for the low price paid.  British engineering, british made.

Testing light penetration with a 532nm green laser proved to be very effective indeed. It was impossible to see the light through the lens.

Definately more protection than fashion accessory, these goggles certainly do what they claim to.  If that means I don't get irreversable burn spots on my eye balls then that's a good thing!

This post will get updated If any more information is found.

Czech Vz-53 Combat Helmet

Czech Vz-53 /M-53 Helmet

Country: Czech Republic (formally Czechoslovakia)
Manufacturer: Unknown
Model: Vz-53/80 last variant
Based on: Soviet Ssh39

A bit about the Czech Vz-53/80 (M-53)

The history of this particular piece of militaria dates back to world war two and the former Soviet union. During the war years the Russians manufactured the SSH 39 and later the SSH 40. Both were very similar in design except for a few minor tweaks here and there. Both helmets would be iconic in film and literature as the helmet of the powerful red army.
Sometime after the war the Ssh-39 and Ssh-40 found their way into the militaries of the Warsaw pact countries with Czech, Hungary and Poland being the most notable adopters. The soviet style helmets for each country were not carbon copies of the originals rather reworkings with subtle changes of each. These changes mainly involved different positionings of liner rivets or changes in liners. The basic shape of the steel shell remained the same.

This version of the Vz-53/80
It appears that the last Czech version of the Vz-53 was released in 1980 and continued for a few years afterwards. This final version did away with the usual leather chip strap and replaced it with a Nylon Y shaped affair. Presumably this was both a cost cutting exercise and a practical change as the Y Shape of the strap held the helmet more firmly on the head as opposed to the earlier two point fixing.

The helmet is made up of a handful of basic components.
Firstly and most importantly the outer metal shell is made from a standard quality of steel. Not the thickest of gages it has to be said and arguably thinner than the original soviet models. In practice it has the ability to deflect a 9mm pistol round without passing through but cannot stop a rifle bullet.  However many of the contemporary helmets of the time would fair no better. It wasn't until the advent of the Kevlar helmet did the safety threshold increase.
The soviet/east european helmets had the nickname of the 'bell' due to the noise the helmet made when it was struck. This is certainly true. The helmet dings very loudly when it gets bashed.

The other remaining components of the helmet are the riveted liner band and the chin strap.
The liner is held in place by a semi adjustable steel band which is secured in place by a few rivets which run around the top of the shell.  The size of the band can be altered a little but is very difficult to do as the original size fixing was clamped down in place. This particular helmet is sized at around 57cm which is a little tight on my head however with a little bit of effort is now nearer to 58cm.

Attached to the steel band is a blue strip of polystyrene foam followed by the main leather liner sitting over the top. This leather liner should be familiar to collectors are it seems to crop up on helmets from all over the place. It is quite simple in its concept. A simple draw string is used to tighten it up and thats it.
Granted, it isn't the most comfortable thing to wear but I guess it does the job.

Lastly is the Y shaped chin strap. This consists of a four point fixing system comprising a cheap nylon strap and a tiny slither of leather to cover the chin. Soviet functionality = zero comfort.
Like everything else to do with this helmet, it does the job.

This helmet is great value for the collector (or anyone else for that matter) due to their abundance on the surplus market.  Some varieties are harder to find than others but they are all generally the same old soviet lid from WW2.  With the original soviet models becoming scarce these cold war copies make great look-a-likes!

British GS MK6 Combat Helmet

British Army GS MK6 Helmet

Manufacturer: NP Aerospace Ltd, Coventry, England
Model: General service combat helmet MK6
Country: UK
Production run: 1984 - 2013
Composition: Ballistic Nylon
Service life: Unlimited
NATO stock number: 8415-99-132-6006
Replaced by: MK6a (from 2005) then MK7 (2009)

 The MK6 combat helmet

The British MK6 was one of the world's first composite combat helmets to come into service.  It was lightweight, tough and offered the army an almost indefinite shelf life negating the need for periodic replacement. 
The MK6 was designed so a soldier could use a radio headset or respirator without taking off his/her helmet. The helmet came into existence in the early part of the 1980s as a logical and long overdue replacement to the old fashioned all-metal 'Turtle Shell' which had been a stalwart of the army since the 1950s. These old steel shell helmets had been used in one form or another since the second world war but by the 1980s could not compete in performance with more modern helmets which used nylon and Kevlar materials in their construction.

The MK6 was in service with the British army during many conflicts in the latter part of the 20th century.  The troubles in Northern Ireland, the first and second Iraq wars, the Kosovo/Balkens war and the war in Afghanistan to name a few.

The MK6 has itself become a long lasting legend in the history of the British army. From it's early beginnings in the 1980s right up to present day, the MK6 has been in continuous service in some form or other. Today the new MK7 is officially the helmet of all units of the army but the transition from old to new starting in 2009 has only recently been completed. They were in no rush to phase it out.

Bulletproof?

Although not using Kevlar in its construction, the Ballistic nylon MK6 was considered bulletproof to many. Unfortunately this now appears not to the case. According to some ballistics experts the MK6 couldn't stop a damn thing!. Videos on YouTube provide a visual acknowledgement of this. Take a look at the video below and see how the MK6 performs with various types of ammunition. Quite surprising.

Video credit Mike B

Despite what some people say Balistic nylon and Kevlar are not the same. Both of these materials have different properties and perform in different ways. Kevlar is one of the toughest man made fibers and is used in bulletproof vests, body armour and helmets to name a few. The only problem with Kevlar is that it can degrade over time and lose it's original strength.

Ballistic nylon on the other hand is stretchier, more versatile and according to it's manufacturers can last an indefinite amount of time thus offering an incredible long shelf life. The only down side is it isn't as robust as Kevlar and (as demonstrated in the video) pretty useless in stopping bullets! 

Other than a composite shell the MK6 features a three point cotton/nylon strap system, foam padding front and back and a hard foam inner lining. Beside a few buckles and fixing points there is very little metal used in it's construction.

Despite its little flaws, the MK6 was a reliable helmet during its official time with the M.O.D. - so good in fact that the MK6 is still used today in some reserve and cadet units of the British army.
The unlimited service life of the materials and simple design of the helmet is surely a factor for this longevity.

Desert DPM camo cover 

This desert DPM helmet was made in the 1995 and saw duty in the war with Afghanistan. It's a little battle worn in places but good overall.

Woodland DPM cover 

This woodland DPM helmet was made in 1988 and saw duty in Northern Ireland during the 'troubles' . I actually bought this helmet from the soldier it was issued to. - he had really looked after it too. 

Latest Multi terrain pattern cover

This MTP covered MK6 was made in 1998 and is the youngest helmet in my collection. I have no idea where it has been and who has owned it but it is still a fine example.

MTP scrim cover

The MTP scrim helmet cover is an interesting one. Here we see a basic MTP cover with a multitude of MTP fabric strips hanging off. Looking like someone had been cutting up an old field shirt and stuck them on. 

A really useful helmet cover for use in dense foliage when a high level of camouflage is needed.

The MK6 combat helmet is a brilliant item for anyones militaria collection. The low prices on the second hand market coupled with an indefinite shelf life makes these helmets prime collectors items of the future.
Despite owning three of these helmets and stating that I would keep one and sell the rest I think I might change my mind and keep the lot! They are just too good to get rid of!.

NIC Personal Mine Extraction Kit

War on Terror Crap

British Personal Mine Extraction Kit - (Afghanistan)

Manufacturer: NIC Instruments Ltd, England
Model: Personal Mines Extraction Kit - PMEK
NIC Part Number: EOD009702
NATO  Stock number: 4240-99-458-9732
Pouch pattern: Desert camo
Country: UK
Armour Compatible: Osprey
Year: ?
Production Run: 2000's - Present
Issue: Currently issued to British Army personnel
Condition: Brand new and sealed
Vendor: Private seller on eBay
Price: £10 free shipping

First impressions

Every now and again I like to buy some a little out of the ordinary. Whether that be military or not .

Late one night last week I was scanning around for gas masks of a bizare nature when this equally bizarre mine extraction kit came along.
 Judging by the amount of interest in the auction at that point I thought I might end up winning it for a tenner.....and so I did.

Is this authentic gear?
Sure enough this kit has the authentic NATO stock numbers and Royal Engineers Cheat Sheet.  Apparently issued to all British soldiers stationed out in Afghanistan.
The PMEK kit is available in Molle or Osprey compatible armour fittings - this one happens to fit on the Osprey style.

The seller said it was brand new and sealed so I was expecting something good for my £10.

What's in the Bag?

Cyalume Lightstick Markers
Nothing more than the mini glow sticks you see fishermen with, these are intended to be night time illuminated markers for the stakes.
As the soldier gingerly prods his way through the mine field his trail can be seen as either a green or red lights for others to follow. Really simple idea.
Unfortunately both the green and red packets of glow sticks expired in 2010. Doubt they would work now.

Red and white marker stakes
And these are the all important marker stakes. The come in red and white for obvious reasons. The same kind of 'Dibbers' used by gardeners.

20x White (Safe) Markers
5x Red (Bad) Markers

Apparently the marker stakes can be laid down flat on the ground should it prove too difficult to stick them in hard ground.

Trip wire feeler tool
I have absolutely no idea how this thing works. Quite how a length of hose with a wire in it would find a trip wire is beyond me but it obviously works somehow.
I will update the review if and when I find out.

Multi sectioned mine prodder
The kit is no good without the prodder and what a prodder it is.
It comes in three sections which are screwed together to make a long looking skewer.
The handle is made from cheap shit plastic I'm sorry to say and it feels crap.  Not that important though.
Next is the two part non-magnetic metal rods. They seem to be similar in diameter to steel nitting needles.
Everything then screws together neatly, ready to prod some dirt.

This method of prodding the ground for mines with a stick is an old and trusted method of getting yourself out of a minefield. Similar kits were issued to soldiers during the second world war so it's far from new technology.

This system is effective if the person using it knows what they are doing

Aide Memoire/Cheat sheet
In amongst the bit and pieces is a rather helpful cheat sheet. One side is detailed drill instructions authored by the Royal Engineers and the other is instructions and inventory by the manufacturer.
The Aide Memoire card is made from a thin sheet of plastic rather than laminated card. It's very flexible and doesn't look like it would tear or anything.  Handy for soldiers who drag themselves around on their stomachs - prone I think is the correct name for the position. It will still be in one piece after a being bent and flattened in normal conditions.

How to spot I.E.D's etc...It's all here..

Overall the instructions are well put together and explained in an easy to understand way.
It's understandable why the army stuck these in the pack. In the heat of a situation it's good to know the drill and the correct way of dealing with the threat. - Especially when a land mine or IED is inches away.
It doesn't take up any room in the pouch

I really like the card

The only Mines to be found in Manchester

Overall I quite like this kit. Yeah the glow sticks have long since expired but who cares really.

As I'm not likely to encounter a mine field at any point in the near future I think this piece will be decommissioned and put away in the cupboard. - a curiosity to flog in the future maybe.


Rating: ✅✅✅✅ 4 out of 5
Not everyone's cup of tea but certainly a cool looking £10 indulgence.