Posted: 8/23/2007 9:36:19 AM EDT
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A guide to BDU’s. First, I will start by saying that none of the BDU’s or ACU’s distributed commercially by the major manufacturers are the same as issue ones. If for no other factor, it is because even those that also supply the government do not make their BDU’s in the same facilities. Companies like Propper have US facilities for making government contract BDU’s and ACU’s, but DO NOT make their commercial products in the same facility, they are made overseas. Second, anyone and everyone labels their stuff as being MIL-SPEC, such claims are meaningless. I will rank these by manufacturer based upon my experience with 20 years in the business, I literally grew up in it, and I test anything we are considering carrying. Tier 1: These are BDU’s ACU’s etc made to as close as you will come to the real issue, and I would have no issues wearing them deployed (In the case of Tru-Spec/Atlanco I actually have) TRU-SPEC/ATLANCO (But NOT the Atlanco “Basic” line) Propper Camo Distributers in most cases, although when I sold them I found QC to be lacking Crye Percisions in-house stuff Tier 2: I would wear these fishing Atlanco “basic” line Rotcho “Military Division” stuff is US made, but quite frankly is junk. The only reason I rate it tier 2 instead of tier 1 is that it is US made, but quite frankly the TRU-SPEC stuff made in Honduras or Dominican Republic is 100X better. M.S.I> Brand…same facility as the Rotcho “Military Division” stuff Military Outdoor Clothing (M.O.C.) Tier 3: Rubbish. Improper patterns, cheap cloth, cheap thread, crappy sewing. If someone gave me these I would change my oil in them or cut them up for gun cleaning rags Any of the Rothco line: Ultra-Force, Basic Issue etc..its all crap The junk Sportsmans Guide sells, they switch suppliers often but always buy crap ANY BDU UNDER $20 This is a quick, incomplete guide but covers most of the major players. If anyone has a question about a brand post it, most of the other brands come from the same facility as these do with other labels. As a side note, I recently have had a good amount of time wearing the new Tru-Spec Tactical Response Uniform, they took the ACU design, made it better, and offer it in a variety of colors/patterns. These are very well made, comfortable, and a great design. In the end, it boils down to one thing…. YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR. |
I would rate the "Combat Cloth" ones as tier one, the "Adventure Ready" and "Street Ready" lines are nothing more than the Atlanco/TRU-SPEC basic line that I ranked Tier 1. The rest I have not laid hands on. |
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Can you tell us the ways of distinguishing between Atlanco and Atlanco "basic"? U,S. Cavalry sells this stuff as well, including house brands. Comments? Usually I go to my local surplus store where the guy has pallets of the stuff. I just find good ones in my size that have mil patches, remove patches, and go from there. They are not new (some nearly so), but then neither are the prices. |
Yeah, used stuff accounts for about 50% of my BDU business, but sizes are always limited and you can't do a lot of the newer patterns. |
If it is actually stuff purchased by the US Military, it is above the Tier 1 commercial gear. The best. My favorite manufacturer for ACU's is Woolrich, but aside from a few irregulars that slip out they are all for government purchase. |
As far as quality, you can't go wrong with any of them. As for manufacturers, over the 20+ years BDU's have been in use there have been hundreds. |
That's what I can find here locally. It's either used surplus or brand new but all carry the same "Unicor, Beaumont TX" standard GI type labels. Don't know much about them but they sure looked like the real deal when I bought some. |
UNICOR= United Corractional, or Federal Prison Industries. |
Made by inmates in federal prison, Federal Prison Industries and should not be available in any store as new to the general public. Can be sold at base clothing retailers. If it is showing up in regular stores new and not second hand then someone maybe selling it after appropriating it. Beaumont TX has a federal prison.
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They can, however, sell the Irregulars that are government rejects. 1 small blemish in the print or ugly (but functional) seam and the governmnet inspector will reject it. Odds are this is what he is seeing. |
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I can contact some people I know in UNICOR and find out if they are able to sell the stuff. The helmet bags and such that were made in prison industries in my experience are provided directly to agencies such as BP and the Air Force through government purchases. Irregulars were either destroyed or provided to staff members (helmet bags) at the prison at a reduced cost. Even that was discontinued. The sale to the public was expressly prohibitted in federal law due to unfair competition with private industry which could not compete with the gov't due to the wages that are paid to federal inmates which starts at $0.12 an hour and for UNICOR/Federal Prison Industries inmates tops out at around $1.00 an hour. For the most part, the Democrats have attempted to shut down prison industries in the BOP in recent years. The helmet bag factory was shut down in AZ. They do recycling of old electronics now. Once prison industries sells the items to other government agencies, those agencies could sell the items as surplus or dispose of them at gov't auctions but I don't see the Bureau of Prisons selling to a surplus store. |