Field Guides 05

Field Guides.

plain language reference articles on military surplus identification, care, and history. Written by the counter staff, sourced from seven decades of cataloging.

AUTHENTICITY Filed 2026.03 8 min read

How to tell real military surplus from reproductions.

Stitching, fabric weight, contractor stamps, and the small details that separate genuine government issue gear from costume quality copies.

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KNIVES Filed 2026.02 10 min read

A working guide to military knives and blades.

From the KA-BAR to current issue MK3, what each blade was built for and how to tell a fighting knife from a field knife.

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DOG TAGS Filed 2026.01 7 min read

Dog tags: history, format, and how stamping really works.

From WWI identification discs to current GENESIS compliant tags, the format has changed often. What's on each line, what the notch was for, and how to spot a fake.

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CARE Filed 2025.12 6 min read

Care and storage for vintage uniforms and field jackets.

M65s, peacoats, woodland BDUs, how to wash, store, and repair vintage uniforms without destroying the value.

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COLD WEATHER Filed 2025.11 9 min read

The military cold weather layering system, explained.

ECWCS Gen III, the seven layer system, and how to mix and match for actual winter use without overheating.

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AUTHENTICITY Filed 2025.10 7 min read

Reading contractor stamps and spec tags on US military gear.

DLA, DSCP, MIL-SPEC, NSN, what each part of a US issue label actually tells you about a piece of equipment.

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