When is a bargain not a bargain

[klondike]

Years back I bought a couple of army surplus jackets. I gave one which had a small hole to a grandson telling him that the hole was made by a bullet. The other I kept and it has been a good fishing coat and other scruffy outdoor use.

I saw these on eBay https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/165631364441?var=465146536773  Same coat and cheap so I got one. It arrived yesterday. It ponged so I bunged it in the washing machine along with a few other bits. It came out still ponging. The stuff that was with it ponged too so will need washing again. I left it in the kitched on the back of a chair. When I came down late this morning as it seems I was catching up on sleep the kitchen ponged.

It's outside and will probably be there a week or more. I now remember that the previous two smelt like somebody had died in them and had to be left out in the rain quite a while before the pong went away.

[Michael Rolls]

clothes peg on nose time?    

[Alex]

Made in China ?

[klondike]

No it's good quality, heavy duty and made for Dutch army. The pong will go and it will last longer than me. 

I thought the first one I had was American. I got another as that one looks pretty scruffy now. They must treat them with some evil muck when they store them. Either that or they are a chemical weapon. I'll try google to see if there is anything about whiffy army surplus clothes.

November 09, 2023, 10:41:06 AM
First hit and somebody has the same smell problem = https://bushcraftuk.com/community/threads/army-surplus-stink.155716/ 

I'll check more and see if I can find what it is.

November 09, 2023, 10:46:19 AM
I don't believe this one..

that smell is "stackers bum", the worse the smell the more stackers have sat on that piece of kit for tea breaks while it's on its way through the system.

No real answer. Giving up looking.

[Michael Rolls]

Years ago I bought a couple of somewhat similar jackets which were surplus East German army - tough as old boots, lasted ages - and they didn't smell!

[klondike]

Must be the Dutch then....

[GrannyMac]

Shouldn't be a problem getting rained on ATM...😂