Rhodesian Camo Rucksack

Hi guys,

I just wanted to gloat a bit with my newly acquired Rhodesian Camo rucksack. It has no labels but probably made as a private piece by Fereday and Son's or North. Have never seen one like this before. Any comments would be appreciated. :-)

















and here is a pic with my Fire Force vest...Enjoy.


Cheers....

Hi there,

Sure, the vest zipper is "LYSTA" and the back pack is "FERNS". Ever heard of "FERNS" before?

Cheers
Matthew

I think your rucksack may be South African manufactured, probably post conflict. I've never seen the rip-stop Rhodie camo canvas. I'm led to believe that even the camo vests were late war and only saw limited use. The rucksack layout looks to be the standard South African Pattern 83 rucksack design. Could it have been used by a member of South African SF? Quite possibly so, but that, as with everything else I have outlined thus far, is just conjecture.

Thanks!!!

Hi Filupe,

Thanks very much for your comment. What you say is totally feasible. There is no label or even any signs of a label being removed. The pack did come with some contents, which i believe enables us to place the period as SWA / Angola probably used by a SF operator. The contents are 2 x Holiday Inn match books, and a Box of matches with a 2c on the box, bandages from "Johnson's" with the word "verband" (afrikaans for bandage), some soap in a small container from France, more bandages in a brown paper labeled 12c and then 2 x bank bags from "The Bank of Lisbon and South Africa Limited". To me all this points to Border War period. Whats your take on it?



Cheers
Matt

I agree the construction of the bag is verry simular to the SADF P83 ruck sack the frame could be civvie as if it was military the metal parts would not be left in shiny aluminum and the fabric parts of the frame would have been subdued but that having said there is no reason why id did not see service with a member of the SADF during the boarder wars. Just my 2 pennys worth.

Thanks for you 2 pennys worth Loski.

Cheers

a Niemoller assault vest was also manufactured in Rhodesian camo, used by some members of 5 Reconnaissance Regiment (I'll check my photos for a next quote)

Militaryman wrote:Thanks for you 2 pennys worth Loski.

Cheers

Thanks bousquet123, i would love to see a pic or 2 of that.

Cheers
Matt

That FireForce vest is outstanding.   

Thanks Koalorka, When i bought this vest which was a very long time ago, probably 20 years or so, there was a second one in the same condition. To this day i kick myself for not buying it!

as promised the Niemoller asasult vest in Rhodesian camo; same material as the original (nylon) same fasteners. Used by some members of the 5 recce who probably made some visits in Mugabe's paradise !

The other article is a camo large bag surely a private purchase; unfortunatly I've no longer these items           

Militaryman wrote:Thanks bousquet123, i would love to see a pic or 2 of that.

Cheers
Matt

Very nice items bousquet, thanks for sharing. I also have a bib type assault vest in period Rhodie canvas - I'll try and dig it out sometime ...

Awesome items bousquet thanks for sharing....i'm sure you wish you still has these items     

As we are on to different / strange niemoller vests check out my S2000 Niemoller.







Cheers...

Hi!
Probably the sak is a post rhodesian made, but the vest is rhodesian for sure
Here's mine with dark greenish/black tag (probably made before red tag w/o words "made in Rhodesia")
Cheers

Hi   

Never speak too soon   
I remembered seeing the texture of the jacket somewhere, but I could not remember where.
It was on this camo Fereday made jacket used by a Patu's guy of Hillside recce in Ngulumbi area.
Next to a green one for comparison. It has the zip Lysta in front and Ferns behind.
Cheers

Detail

Ferns zip is a known brand, as well Lightining.

Image from a bush jkt made by Rapier Garments in 1976

Thats a cool post war ruck !


owen

So my rucksack could be war period and not necessary post war as most believe if you look at Ettore's Fereday vest!!!! Thanks Ettore!

In this world nothing is impossable