My Chinese PLA uniform and webbing collection

Recently I started collecting PLA webbing and some uniform pieces, mainly items that were used by the PLA but also exported to Africa. I mainly use this items for African Wars reenactment covering conflicts such as the Ultramar War (Portuguese Colonial War), the Rhodesian Bush War and the South African Border War.

. Chinese Type 56 chest webbing.

This is one of the first chest webbing systems to be developed and was widely used in the Vietnam War and also given away to communist guerrillas all around the World from Angola to Rhodesia and it still appears today in many armed conflicts.

I got this former PLA chest webbing from China.

Note: repro AK magazines were used to fill the pouches.

I have a few of these myself and have always wondered how or if it was possibly to decipher the symbols etc to date them?

One I have recently is an ex Iraqi Desert Storm era one and is a tan colour,thought it was just sun bleached but pretty sure it was made in Tan material and not the usual green.

A fellow collector from Hong Kong could read the date as 197?? I will ask him if he can read translate me more.

Chinese Type 56 rifle sling.

This is a Chinese Type 56 rifle sling issued with the Chinese copy of the Kalashnikov assault rifle, the Type 56 assault rifle.

This type of rifle sling was also widely exported to friendly regimes and communist backed guerrillas.

This particular example is former PLA and came from China.

Note: I asked a fellow collector to translate the markings for me.

I have got the translation for the Chinese writing on both items

AK rig:
1st roll:
Type56 Assault Rifle

2nd roll:
Magazine Pouch (same character means also "bag" or "rig")

3rd roll:
7319(stock#) 7_(last digit of year left blank for further classification stamp) Manufactured
Sling:
7.62 Gun Carrying Sling

Chinese PLA Type 65 canvas boots.

These are Chinese type 65 canvas boots issued since 1965.

This type of boots were issued to the boots were issued by the PLA and also exported to other countries like Vietnam and also many guerrilla forces worldwide.

The markings read "Main Factory Special Made".

This particular example is former PLA and came from China.