July 29, 2025Jul 29 #1 I have been looking for an item for a while now. I don’t know if anyone else has noticed but the shoulder straps for the Vietnam era lightweight ruck sacks are not the easiest items to find. When they do come up for sale they are not cheap and I am not willing to pay more for the straps than I did for the pack and frame together. With that said I found this frame at the flea market Saturday and i was ecstatic that I finally found a set of the elusive straps. Well, on my way back to my vehicle I realized that the straps are just a set of the very easy to find Alice pack straps and I was rather frustrated and the hunt continues. Unfortunately this is one of the later frames with the rivets. However, I only paid $20 for it so I guess I can’t complain too much.
July 29, 2025Jul 29 #2 Maybe a soldier in the field had a hard time finding correct replacement straps too. 😁 mikie
July 29, 2025Jul 29 Author #4 1 hour ago, mikie said: Maybe a soldier in the field had a hard time finding correct replacement straps too. 😁 mikie The straps are actually dated 1975. So maybe that was all that was available and I also have to be honest and say that I would not have guessed that the Alice packs have been around since 1975. 1 hour ago, GUDMAR1975 said: That is a score for $20. Congrats. Yeah, but it would have been so much of a better deal if those happened to be the original straps. I actually found one, not even a set, at a military show and the dealer wanted an absurd amount of money for just one. I kindly reminded him that it that it wasn’t made of sterling silver and i still left without it. Oh well the hunt continues.
August 5, 2025Aug 5 #5 Great find! Those straps look like older LC1 straps. The quick release is only on the left side. Those straps are probably worth more then $20.
August 6, 2025Aug 6 Author #7 On 8/4/2025 at 8:41 PM, NBCguy said: Great find! Those straps look like older LC1 straps. The quick release is only on the left side. Those straps are probably worth more than $20. I must have 20 or so Alice packs taking up space and I never noticed that until you pointed it out. They are also dated 1975 so definitely early straps. Much appreciated. Thanks! On 8/4/2025 at 9:07 PM, daskrieg said: Check eBay seller "Paratroop1968" the straps are repro but very good quality I appreciate the information. Thanks!
August 7, 2025Aug 7 Author #9 On 8/6/2025 at 9:35 AM, manayunkman said: Ecstatic to frustrated are feelings I’m very familiar with. I appreciated the support. Thanks!
August 7, 2025Aug 7 #10 On 7/29/2025 at 6:50 AM, Manchu Warrior said: I have been looking for an item for a while now. I don’t know if anyone else has noticed but the shoulder straps for the Vietnam era lightweight ruck sacks are not the easiest items to find. When they do come up for sale they are not cheap and I am not willing to pay more for the straps than I did for the pack and frame together. With that said I found this frame at the flea market Saturday and i was ecstatic that I finally found a set of the elusive straps. Well, on my way back to my vehicle I realized that the straps are just a set of the very easy to find Alice pack straps and I was rather frustrated and the hunt continues. Unfortunately this is one of the later frames with the rivets. However, I only paid $20 for it so I guess I can’t complain too much. interesting so what is the tell for VN ERA Ruk shoulder straps ? I still have mine from 75 given to me by Army Ranger Sgt Hannah (No Toes Hannah) absolutely used in Nam but not sure if the shoulder straps have been replaced, Anyway the only difference I can pick out is mine look a bit thinner Here are the straps ORIGINAL ?
August 8, 2025Aug 8 Author #11 On 8/7/2025 at 10:51 AM, GAZOO said: interesting so what is the tell for VN ERA Ruk shoulder straps ? I still have mine from 75 given to me by Army Ranger Sgt Hannah (No Toes Hannah) absolutely used in Nam but not sure if the shoulder straps have been replaced, Anyway the only difference I can pick out is mine look a bit thinner Here are the straps ORIGINAL ? No doubt your straps are original. As far as the differences the originals are thinner as you stated and they are also straight with no angle in the middle. The alice pack straps are also noticeably shorter in length than the original straps. As NBCguy also pointed out the quick release is only on one strap. Which indicates that the ones I have are an early version. Which I hadn’t even noticed and with that said the later Alice straps, as in the vast majority of them, have the quick release on both straps. Hope that helps and have a good one!
August 9, 2025Aug 9 #12 22 hours ago, Manchu Warrior said: No doubt your straps are original. As far as the differences the originals are thinner as you stated and they are also straight with no angle in the middle. The alice pack straps are also noticeably shorter in length than the original straps. As NBCguy also pointed out the quick release is only on one strap. Which indicates that the ones I have are an early version. Which I hadn’t even noticed and with that said the later Alice straps, as in the vast majority of them, have the quick release on both straps. Hope that helps and have a good one! Thanks, Looking at the photos side by side I also noticed the top shoulder straps have a single sewn on strap attachment at the top of the shoulder strap, and sewn on at an angle, that may be a fast tell, I will keep my eyes open for you
August 10, 2025Aug 10 Author #13 9 hours ago, GAZOO said: Thanks, Looking at the photos side by side I also noticed the top shoulder straps have a single sewn on strap attachment at the top of the shoulder strap, and sewn on at an angle, that may be a fast tell, I will keep my eyes open for you Thank you!
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