the ultimate PLA (Chicom) gear collection

[Debil]

Hi all (my first post here )

I am big fan of chicom gear, these old school pouches, rigs and back packs.

Here is my collection of pictures so far:

the legendary 3 cell chest pouch


4 cell chest pouch


sks chest rig


sks chest rig, different version


sks chest rig, quite a rare version


rifle type 65 vest


5 cell AK pouch


drum pouch


drum pouch with a small side pouch (left pouch)


smg chest rig



smg pouch


pouch for 2 stick grenades


pouch for 4 stick grenades


backpack


smaller backpack with two external drum pouches


And now the remakes of old gear which are rock:

3 cell chest rig


sks chest rig


I hope you like it. Now I would like to ask you to contribute to this thread. If you know anything about the history of this gear, further information, pictures, other versions/products, whatever...please post it.

Also does anybody know which company is producing the remakes of the chest rigs? I thought it would be UTG??? Can somebody confirm this please.

Looking forward to your posts.

Debil

[airman3p031]

i would look at cheaperthendirt.com i see rigs like that all the time in the booklet and they arent badly priced. and real sword made the good old three pocket chest rig i think when they releases there ak model

that rifle type 65 vest is interesting what goes in the larger pouches second from the right grenades right?

[Kartoon]

Nice promo picture. Shouldn't the straps cross each other on the users back, and not on his chest like on the last picture?
:P

[airman3p031]

i have seen some pics with i think NVA troops with them like that

[Squeezee]

Very nice. I have seen lots of this stuff at my local surplus stores and in cheaperthandirt for very cheap. Nice collection, and good luck hunting for other stuff.

[Janjic]

My 6 Cell Chicom.

[Squeezee]

Nice.

And I was just on CTD, almost every vest or pouch in this thread can be bought there for under $10. I am not saying that to be a jerk or anything, but they are common.

[Debil]

Well guys, as you probably realised most of my pictures are from CTD. Unfortunately CTD doesn't ship to Austrlia Any suggestions how to work around this?

However, this is not exactly what I am after. I am more interested in history of this equipment. And also in other models/vest/pouches.

Debil

[Squeezee]

I guess if you tried maybe someone could order them for you and then ship them to you.

[Dan2004]

3 cell chest rig

I don't know who makes this one, but they have them on Center Fire Systems for like 7 bucks. I bought one for a former State Guard buddy of mine, who just recently graduated BCT and is now at AIT training to be a Nasty Guard 68W, and he loves it cuz he can carry his AR mags in it.

[Debil]

@Dan
I have it as well and it is great!!!! Light, robust, 6 mags and 4 frags, man, what else can you ask for!

@Squeezee
One of my friends is actually moving tomorrow to USA

@Janjic
Is that some sort of custom version? I mean since it has the divider for the mags in each pouch??? Pozdrav

Guys, does anybody have any historical information on like, when did the production start? I mean obviously they still produce it, now even more with the reenactement culture!

Debil

[Squeezee]

Well then it sounds like you might get a crapload of Chicom stuff later.

[drunkpunk]

some pics of the 3-cell "chicom" chest rig worn by various operators.

CIA-SAD in afghanistan




MACV-SOG



MACVSOG CCN LT Ken Bowra with south vietnamese soldiers



VIET CONG- short for Vietnamese Communist




KHMER ROUGE



SOVIET VDV in Afghanistan



US SOF(probably army SF) with UK SF in afghanistan



US ARMY SF in afghanistan





TALIBAN in afghanistan



IRAQI INSURGENTS





ANA with US ARMY SF in afghanistan

[weka]

There's also a mosin nagant chest rig/bandoler , holds around 100 rounds i think.

[joash]

for all their worldwide availability these sure seem hard to find to buy online.