US Cavalry Store 1997 Catalog East German Items

[ehrentitle]

In the thread, Value of a Mint East German Para Knife in Box? , someone mentioned KM66 knives being sold cheap by the US Cavalry Store in the 1990s. I dug out my Cav Store catalog from 1997 and found the KM66 knife...and it wasn't cheap. I've also scanned some other East German items that were for sale in this catalog.

[torstenbel]

wow. I am sure those fashion models were well pleased for being photographed wearing east german uniform surplus ....

[ehrentitle]

wow. I am sure those fashion models were well pleased for being photographed wearing east german uniform surplus ....

There are still auctions on E-bay that list East German uniform items as fashion. Anything to make a buck or two.

I would also like to add a caution. The descriptions on these items were written to encourage sales. For example, the Bundeswehr Combat Pack that has the East German state seal on it. So you should not use them as references for how these items were used.

[ehrentitle]

Here are the remainder of East German items in this catalog:

[Kraftradfahrer]

Oh the memories...

[torstenbel]

There are still auctions on E-bay that list East German uniform items as fashion. Anything to make a buck or two.

I would also like to add a caution. The descriptions on these items were written to encourage sales. For example, the Bundeswehr Combat Pack that has the East German state seal on it. So you should not use them as references for how these items were used.

don't worry. I will not be using any of those pics or descriptions as references on how these items were used ...

[Capt. R]

just as I remember it. Seems like a long, long time ago. Thanks for taking the time to scan these in and create a thread!

[Mike G.]

I'll have to look for my copy (buried somewhere); but if memory serves me correctly, the Cav Store one time offered a used East German parade sword for sale, and the price was well over a $1,000.00. This was the very early 1990s.

[Jan Klaassen]

Seems that all was being sold then for the same prices that these items bring today... Only the Volksmarine Peacoat is "cheap" in comparison to current prices!

[TimoJ]

I'll have to look for my copy (buried somewhere); but if memory serves me correctly, the Cav Store one time offered a used East German parade sword for sale, and the price was well over a $1,000.00. This was the very early 1990s.

The trick with US Cav is always go to the store! The catalog was a notorious rip off, but the deals out of the store are (were?) amazing. Even picked up an XXL set of Polish made BDUs which had been destined for Syria, for $19.95!

It would not be surprised to still find DDR items in their Bargain Bins.

Timo

[ehrentitle]

It would not be surprised to still find DDR items in their Bargain Bins.

Timo

I visited the store outside of Ft. Campbell when I was TDY there for a month in 2003. About all they had left of East German items were canteens and other miscellaneous field gear at what I thought were high prices.

[ehrentitle]

Seems that all was being sold then for the same prices that these items bring today... Only the Volksmarine Peacoat is "cheap" in comparison to current prices!

The irony is that much of this stuff could be gotten dirt cheap on e-bay for around 10 years after 1997, it's only been in the last 4-5 years that prices have risen close to the level in the catalog.

[Pauly]

Like I wrote in another thread, I bought a bunch of stuff from the US Cav store at Ft Knox, KY some time in the late 1990s. Buying from the store was the best way to get things. They had a warehouse sale and everything was being almost given away; uniforms (1 dollar for a dress uniform set), 5 dollars for a full combat pack. I remember I filled the trunk of my car with east German stuff for about $77. I didn't see any falli knifes though, maybe those were special stock?

[BowlofRice]

Oh, I really wish I started collecting a lot earlier...Wait, then again, I was only 2 years old in '97...So I never even knew about East Germany at the time.

[ehrentitle]

Like I wrote in another thread, I bought a bunch of stuff from the US Cav store in Ft Knox, KY sometime in the late 1990s. Buying from the store was the best way to get things. They had a warehouse sale and everything was being almost given away; uniforms (1 dollar for a dress uniform set), 5 dollars for a full combat pack. I remember I filled the trunk of my car with east German stuff $77. I didn't see any falli knifes though, maybe those were special stock?

Paul, That brings back memories, I got similar deals through Sportsman's Guide about a decade a go. They were selling full combat packs for $9.97. You had a choice between the Enlisted Ready Pack which had shelter half with poles and stakes wrapped around it. Or the Officer's Ready Pack with had a grey wool blanket wrapped around it. They were both chock full of stuff. I bought one of each along with a couple of extra sealed plastic ready packs for $5 each.