m1ashooter Posted August 12, 2010 Share #1 Posted August 12, 2010 I have the smell on my hands and its in my den. I've decided to start collecting web gear verses putting money into the stock market. I've just received a korea era M1945 pack and suspenders. Oh the smell, it reminds me of the surplus stores of the 60's and 70's. I'll post pictures ASAP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patriot Posted August 12, 2010 Share #2 Posted August 12, 2010 "Old" has a very distinct smell, in many shades. I love the sweet smell found on some cloth and web gear. I will begin selling this scent in the form of cologne at the next MAX. You may have old ladies from the "cane and walker brigade" falling in love with you, but you will smell fine! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
militaria360 Posted August 13, 2010 Share #3 Posted August 13, 2010 It certainly has a unique smell to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kjones5452 Posted August 13, 2010 Share #4 Posted August 13, 2010 I ordered a large square helmet net a while back. When it's out of the envelope,the room is filled with the smell. When it first hit me it was like I had gone back in time to when I was growin up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoovieDude Posted August 14, 2010 Share #5 Posted August 14, 2010 "Ooooohhh that smell. Cant you smell that smell" or however the lyrics went. Of course they were referring to something else But, I sure do know what you mean. I love that smell and the nostalgic feelings it brings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'Flage Guy Posted August 14, 2010 Share #6 Posted August 14, 2010 WHEW- sure glad I'm not the only one who goes all nostalgaic at the scent of that cosmoline/mothball SMELL. Even after all these years, the first thing I do on reciept of a new item is to take a whiff Sure brings back great memories of them old jam-packed surplus stores... :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
37thguy Posted August 14, 2010 Share #7 Posted August 14, 2010 Can someone post a scratch-n-sniff? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garandomatic Posted August 14, 2010 Share #8 Posted August 14, 2010 I have section of old tent material sealed up to preserve the smell. Luckily, my local surplus store reopened after a freaking drug store bought it out, and their Nam era paratrooper equipment cases stink real good of surplus. Whole closet has absorbed it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gpw_42 Posted August 14, 2010 Share #9 Posted August 14, 2010 If you're REALLY desperate for a fix, order a little fabric from one of the military vehicle canvas vendors...not cheap, but it'll smell that way nearly indefinitely... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kjones5452 Posted August 14, 2010 Share #10 Posted August 14, 2010 If you're REALLY desperate for a fix, order a little fabric from one of the military vehicle canvas vendors...not cheap, but it'll smell that way nearly indefinitely... Never thought of that,but now that you mention it,it do make sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoovieDude Posted August 14, 2010 Share #11 Posted August 14, 2010 If you're REALLY desperate for a fix, order a little fabric from one of the military vehicle canvas vendors...not cheap, but it'll smell that way nearly indefinitely... Presents a rather funny vision of the newest form of "huffing". Can you picture some guy walking down the aisle at Wal-mart pulling a small, well folded and much used swatch of canvas out of his pocket, and with furtive glances, hunches over and inhales deeply. Leaving a a happily moronic glaze to his eyes and a drooling smile to his lips as he continues on his way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'Flage Guy Posted August 14, 2010 Share #12 Posted August 14, 2010 Presents a rather funny vision of the newest form of "huffing". Can you picture some guy walking down the aisle at Wal-mart pulling a small, well folded and much used swatch of canvas out of his pocket, and with furtive glances, hunches over and inhales deeply. Leaving a a happily moronic glaze to his eyes and a drooling smile to his lips as he continues on his way. *gulp* ..Didn't think anybody saw me... :ermm: This definitely has a potential for becoming a pandemic among Old Guys (though it is catching on among younger collectors as well)- "USM1 Virus" (often referred to as Stuff Flu)... :think: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Marine Posted August 15, 2010 Share #13 Posted August 15, 2010 That smell is distinctive. One day I was with my wife and we walked in to a Salvation Army thrift shop. As soon as we walked in that GI smell hit me and I said to her "there is something GI in here somewhere." Sure enough in the back part of the store they had a huge pile of Desert Storm vintage, desert tan, insulated carriers for 5 Gallon water cans. She still laughs at the fact that I can find war surplus by smell. Dennis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capa Posted August 15, 2010 Share #14 Posted August 15, 2010 Yes, I can smell OD as well and it's the best. I hope someone will make one of those man-candles with that smell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Got da Penny Posted August 15, 2010 Share #15 Posted August 15, 2010 About 15 years ago i was buying Military items with a co worker of mine. We always talked WW2 stuff on break etc. One day he turned and looked me in the eye and said ..... "Ya know, if we could bottle THAT SMELL, .... We'd be millionaires" !! Yep, i still take a whiff and just "grin" .... Definitely a GUY THING. Carey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'Flage Guy Posted August 15, 2010 Share #16 Posted August 15, 2010 "...one of those man-candles with that smell." :hapy0004: :hapy0004: :hapy0004: Between the various comments above and Got da Penny's avatar, I'm ending my Saturday with a sore gut from laughing :thumbsup: Thanks guys!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garandomatic Posted August 15, 2010 Share #17 Posted August 15, 2010 How about how WWI stuff is just a LITTLE bit different, too? Almost sweeter, or richer, or maybe just dirtier from being stored in the attic... Got a WWI gas mask bag in a pile of stuff at an auction today, and she sure smells different from the 2 musette bags that were with it. Good story there, one is the late war OD green with a 1943 date, other is more green than "khaki" with a 1942 date! Looks like I got the hole range of colors now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Baker Posted August 15, 2010 Share #18 Posted August 15, 2010 Hmmm....... :think: I used to wonder if this was normal. Still don't know if it's normal, but I know now that I'm not alone. Anybody like the smell of old books. That's one that gets me too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m1ashooter Posted August 15, 2010 Author Share #19 Posted August 15, 2010 +1 on old books also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgtdorango Posted August 15, 2010 Share #20 Posted August 15, 2010 Im sure glad to find out Im not alone!!......mike :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THAT GUY Posted August 15, 2010 Share #21 Posted August 15, 2010 This is a great post! My closet used to smell like a 3 by 4 surplus store when I had more G.I. than I do now. But, to preserve the smell, I keep the remaining G.I. gear along with my Great Uncles Gear in his footlocker (its like a vault of mint stuff) and open it once in a while to smell it. And I too can smell out good antique stores from the bad ones, although I'll have to admit I depend on my OD#3 and OD#7 vision from time to time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kjones5452 Posted August 15, 2010 Share #22 Posted August 15, 2010 I gotta a good question.Ever try and explain "The Smell" to that current or future lady in ones life? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
67Rally Posted August 15, 2010 Share #23 Posted August 15, 2010 That reminds me...who here is familiar with the smell of mothballs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Baker Posted August 16, 2010 Share #24 Posted August 16, 2010 I gotta a good question.Ever try and explain "The Smell" to that current or future lady in ones life? Yep. Everytime she asks, "Can you open a window in here?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted August 16, 2010 Share #25 Posted August 16, 2010 I had forgotten about "that smell" until I got the Handie Talkie phone I just picked up from a local estate. I used to love it, but honestly I'm not a big fan anymore. Maybe if it was a nice fresh smell on my Jeep in the garage, that's one thing...but inside the house, no thanks. As for mothballs, my skin breaks out and eyes swell...so no, I don't love it at all... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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