Has anyone here ever ordered from Charleys Surplus ? It's an online army surplus place but I do see a "brick and mortar" store on Google. I cant find any reviews on them. Some of their items seems a little too good and some seems too expensive. Any information is appreciated.
Charleys Surplus online
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CapnMac
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These guys: https://www.charleyssurplus.com/ ?
Their DCU stuff is outrageous priced (but all of that is right now).
Looks like ther have a lot of "foreign source" items, too.
Definitely do not buy their UM-84 holster--they want US$70 for a holster I can get on eBay for $14.
You might want to link to specific examples to get specific opinions.
Their DCU stuff is outrageous priced (but all of that is right now).
Looks like ther have a lot of "foreign source" items, too.
Definitely do not buy their UM-84 holster--they want US$70 for a holster I can get on eBay for $14.
You might want to link to specific examples to get specific opinions.
I was looking at one of the shoulder holsters for a P89 by Montezuma holsters. They show it for $54
bdickens
Member
Yep. It is damn near impossible to find any actual military surplus any more.
CoalCrackerAl
Member
I make the trip to here now and then. They have a lot of stuff. You need to bring a flashlight along. It's not well lit. They do ship.
Coleman's Military Surplus and Army Surplus Store (colemans.com)
Coleman's Military Surplus and Army Surplus Store (colemans.com)
CapnMac
Member
Yeah, and you need a couple days to explore the nooks and corners, too. And the full yard of stuff.
Ranks right up there with Sam Neglieri's Woodhaven Surplus out in Las Vegas.
Or "Col Bubbie's" warehouse in Galveston.
I never got to visit either of Kaufman's locations, either East or West, but hear the Arizona location was a bit of a "pickers" dream.
Online sales (esp. eBay) have actually made such places largely obsolete. Although you wind up at the mercy of people's descriptions of things (and imagining dreams of avarice to make Croceus blush).
The Kaufman's West location here in Albuquerque, about 4 blocks from my house is one of those overpriced military themed boutique stores.
I've found better milsurp at flea markets than surplus stores.
Nowadays that is most often correct.
CapnMac
Member
Yeah, before the internet, when they were Mail Order, they had Good Stuff.
Been so long, I flubbed the location, too. Sigh.
They pretty much had no choice if they were going to stay in business. Since Vietnam our military is no longer engaged in large scale wars that produce untold tons of equipment which eventually are sold to the civilian market at bargain basement prices. Also as you pointed out earlier the rise of internet sales put a huge crimp in the brick and mortar surplus stores, it was a matter of adapt to the changing market or fall by the wayside.
Back in the 90s I bought a lot of stuff from SportsmansGuide.com, almost all European milsap at some amazing prices, now they still have some but even that's drying up and getting more expensive.
.455_Hunter
Member
Pawn shops outside Army posts are still a good bet.
CapnMac
Member
They way DoD disposes of "surplus" is also different, too. So, both the factory over run side is truncated and the "surplus to needs" side is squeezed down.
I can remember going to Ft Polk &Ft Hood to go buy wooden crates off their surplus docks. You never quite knew what you were going to get. Then, all that stuff got diverted to DRMO. It's a different world.
Didn't know that, thanks for the info.
I got my holster in the mail and it was very nice ! Very well made and very thick leather. It was so nice that I ordered another one for my Beretta 92. These are solid leather holsters that are well worth $190 or more. I was very pleased with Charley's Surplus. I called before I made the order and he was able to verify some things for me about the product. I give him an A+ on service and products.
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