Being able to repair your gear is important out in the field. In austere conditions you probably will encounter missing buttons, holes, and damage and will more than likely need to have the basics of sewing to be able to make sure your gear is in tip-top shape to continue on.
Like most military surplus gear there are usually different grades or conditions of the gear. Unlike new gear the grading is incredibly important and will dictate the price and work that may or may not need to be done as soon as you get it. The subject of grading has been discussed in other entries here on this blog but for the sake of making it easy for new comers this is the way it works, generally.
Grade 1 - New or nearly unissued condition
Grade 2 - Used. Seen field use. Faded, stained, marked up. May have small holes.
Grade 3 - Damaged. Large holes. Not considered repairable by CIF turn in.
Grade 2 will be the most common grade of surplus gear on the market. For the most part Grade 2 will be in complete functional use but will definitely show signs of wear and tear. Knowing this ahead of time having basic repair knowledge can make the whole hunting for harder to find gear cheaper and overall a better experience. A lot of the used grade 2 items I have purchased have needed repairs. The most common is fixing small holes.
Large resellers of surplus items usually have a lot of stock and not a lot of time to go over each piece to assess damages.
Like the grading system implemented by our military branches equipment distribution centers, the repairs I run into I rank by level. This helps with clarifying the degree and skill necessary to be able to properly return it to full functionality with no worry. This is especially true when it comes to selling, trading, or buying gear with people as well. Typically this is how I personally rank repairs.
Level 1 - Superficial. Small tears or holes, laundry marks, dirt or stains.
Level 2 - Moderate tears. Zipper issues. Seam problems. Very Worn or damaged.
Level 3 - Large holes. Missing parts. Closures not operational. Cannibalize grade.
Similar to the grading system set forth by the equipment issuing departments, the level system I have used to aid in reselling or trading gear helps gauge the experience level needed to make repairs. This also helps explaining if you are trading or selling the gear to give the new owner an idea of the actual condition for the pieces they are receiving.
Remember. Grading system is very open and varies greatly. With a repair level paired to the items there is a much more clear picture of the individual unique state of a piece.
Buying surplus is a gamble. When trading or reselling its better to note and document and take pictures of every possible details that could potentially be scrutinized. Almost the same way Ebay outlines listing policies regarding the condition of an item. There should be no surprises for the end user.
Assessing damage and wear is imperative to making a decision about repairs. And ultimately helps with listing and resale practices if repairs are not worth your time. Is it worth the time or energy to fix this item or not? Will it be better to sell as is for parts or for cannibalizing materials for other similar item repairs?
Repairing gear is a great skill to have. Lots of militaries issue sewing kits as part of their load outs and have basic skills to make superficial repairs in the field.
There is the outline about assessing potential repairs and grading. The next entry we will go over the basics of Level 1 repairs.
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