In my endless search for the unusual and gadgety, I recently acquired a 3-piece West German mess kit. After playing with it for a while, I became rather impressed - it can do all sorts of things. If you haven’t see one, it is similar to the German WWII version - but slightly larger and with a nesting 1/2 litre dish inside. The nesting dish hangs on the handle of the cover/cup/fry pan to create a two dish food tray. The main pot also holds about 1.5 litres of food/liquid, or 1 litre with the nesting dish inserted. The whole thing is made of aluminum.

I am thinking of using it to replace my cook kit for camping.

Question to my fellow ETS posters: Do any of you have any experience with this kit? Opinions, tips on it’s use, etc., would be most welcome. Any former Bundeswher vets among us?

…..CLIFF

cliff : the w. german messkit is a great item of kit and a good bargin...i got turned on to mine while i was stationed in germany...i also use the stainless steel Bw knife, fork and spoon set and the esbit stove...all the items are made in germany and are well built and made to last .....i have my messkit strapped to my ruck with extra chow inside the kit ....i have also mastered over the years to boil rice in it without burning it. <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />......vince g. 11b inf..

I've got a Swiss mess kit of similar design.It is stainless steel and does not have the internal pot.But it does have a Trangia alchol stove and a fuel bottle in it.The kit nests into a wind screen/stove assembly.It is a great design worth more than the fifteen dollars I paid for it.The Trangia burner I've seen go for $20.00.I found it in a Army/Navy store and I'm sure you can too.These are built to last a couple of life times.
BOATMAN
John

Boil rice in it without burning it?

Do tell. Any other tips?

I figured out you can squeeze two MRE's into the thing, save for the crackers - the insert dish prevents that. <img src="images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

But, using a US canteen cup stove and two Esbit tablets, it boils 1.75 litres of water in about 9 minutes (With the top on. On a nice, in the sunny day in the 70's......) <img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

.....CLIFF