Thread: What have you found at a "Surplus" store?

So today my girlfriend and I were looking for a bed set.. She thought this surplus store in my city was the furniture store we were looking for. It turned out not to be the store we were looking for but I did find a sweet pair of combat boots. They were used but in great condition. I bought them for $50 what a steal. Wet weather combat boots that fit perfectly. I brought them home, re-laced them, put some new insoles in and now I've got a pair of boots I can wear daily. Now to clean and oil them up.

What have been some of your "Surplus" store finds?

p.s. This wasn't even an army surplus store...

I used to frequent surplus stores all the time, but quit about 30 years ago. Unless you are next door to a main base like Camp Lejeune, where there is a high discharge rate after service commitment, then you find mostly garbage in my opinion. Today though, most store owners are asking top dollar for items, just short of new retail prices.

To answer your question though, I would have to say tech manuals on weapons were my most sought out purchases,,,, not you can get them as ebooks for free,,, times have changed.

Pencils. The erasers were gone from the ends, but it was a Loonie for as many as you could get in one hand.

I have never seen too many surplus stores, the ones I did come across were more "Dollar Store" type stores; great places to find CA glue for €0,50 but that's about it.

I do happen to live about two kilometres from one of Europe's largest army surplus stores. Needless to say, half my clothes are form there (I am quite a minimalist). They're not terribly cheap, but in general they have decent prices for great stuff.

Best finds would probably be boots in great condition: a pair of low Swiss army boots and a pair of Czech motorcycle boots (perfect for winters with loads of snow and/or slush), both from the 1980's, both under €30. A bit of elbow and leather grease, a few stitches that needed to be fortified and good as new. My local cobbler/shoemaker was impressed too. Both pairs will outlast me.

Oh, and wool. Lots of wool. I love wool. Wool, wool, wool, there it goes, into my clothes.

I grew up with Surplus stores...Three! German Mausers, one of each caliber for ...$14.95. Mark One Webley for ..$14.95. US cal 30 carbine for $28. Bayonets and knives for a pittance. Cords and cable for little or nothing. Flight suits $12, Bunny Boots for $5

Not No More. The onliest ones I find in the area are $2 dolla stores.
~Richard

surplus stores here in oz at least the ones I used to frequent used to be good 30 yrs back now days they sell nothing more that chinese made junk ..it dont matter now we have ebay

I hate to say what I bought at one and it was very good. I bought some mesh like long underwear at one. New but from some other country not the USA. It was the warmest stuff you could find even though it had large openings in it. Almost like a fishing net looking material.

I know I will pay dearly for telling this.

Originally Posted by pathology101

I hate to say what I bought at one and it was very good. I bought some mesh like long underwear at one. New but from some other country not the USA. It was the warmest stuff you could find even though it had large openings in it. Almost like a fishing net looking material.
I know I will pay dearly for telling this.

Worth the price if your buns are warm!
~Richard

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Remember when you could buy old surplus WWII and Korean War vintage khakis at those stores for nothing? Good times.