Another batch is being finished up, and we’ll post these as soon as we have them all ready. They’ll go quickly, so keep checking back. We tried to work a list with the last batch and get the customers who have been waiting since last summer. This didn’t work out too well. I couldn’t keep checking emails all the time and coordinating who’s buying what and how many. I’ll give all the guys who are on the end of the list a “heads up” but won’t add any new names. Looks like a couple dozen in this batch, and hopefully after that a few more big batches through the summer and into the fall. We’re working out the painting issues, and gearing up for more production. It’s been a tedious and frustrating process- if you’ve been waiting for a grenade you know. However realize this- if I really could make the production issues just go away you know I would because we could sell a hundred of these a month if that were possible. Too many things are just out of my control- for that I’m very sorry for customers- we are trying our best to keep up.
Author: SOS
Owner of Service of Supply Militaria & WWII Reproductions
Spring Cleaning & Scrounging
Service of Supply will have a delay in shipping orders between April 2nd and April 8. Anything ordered will go out about the 8th or 9th- sorry, but we’re going to revamp some space in the shop and take a little “junking” tour. Call it a vacation, but really, who doesn’t work through vacation when your job is eat, sleep, and breath military history? We apologize in advance for any inconvenience this may cause. You can still text Bryan with any questions, but if you need an item in 3 days, it can’t happen. Gotta do what we gotta do. Thanks for understanding.
Veterans Day 2021
Running for Veterans
My son, and one of Service of Supply’s employees, ran a 🎃 fun run today wearing full Vietnam era combat gear. The 5k is raising money for great community organizations, but Ian is asking for sponsors to help raise money for the VFW Foundation. Help him through his GoFund Me.
Highlights of 2020- Surviving Quarantine
Coronavirus Face Masks
We’ve made over 1,200 masks at the time of this post. It’s crazy to see the demand for these keep steady. We’re not out of the woods yet, this dumb virus is persistent for sure. We humans have the power to stop it. Unfortunately it takes a lot of knowledge and a team effort. Wear the darn masks people. It’s not going to kill you to wear a mask- but it’s going to kill our economy, our whole way of life- if we don’t. And that’s the argument I can make if you aren’t already thinking of your fellow humans who can die from COVID-19. I wear a mask in public because I don’t want to be the one who inadvertently passes it along. I’ve been VERY safe over these last few months. I wear a mask, I touch nothing (except with Lysol wipes which I stocked up on pre-covid) and I avoid crowds. Other than run Service of Supply, I’m a high school history teacher, and we’ve been out of classes since March 13. When working in my shop, I use hand sanitizer like crazy. I wouldn’t say I’m paranoid. Not at all. I’m just going to be the last person on the earth who gets this virus. The masks have been pretty fun to make, I can successfully binge watch Netflix while sewing at the same time. I’ve been making reproductions since 2001, so it’s safe to say I sew more than a dozen pajama-making grandmothers. 1,200 masks, but that’s nothing. To date I’ve made 1,548 first aid pouches, 1,307 bandoleers, 1,130 gas brassards, 604 handkerchiefs, 536 neckties, and 479 PE bags. That’s a bit of sewing. Worn out two sewing machines along the way too. So I’m going to keep cranking out COVID masks, you all keep wearing them. Do it for a fellow citizen if not for yourself. And wear one with a little style. I’m keeping the price WAY low so you can be sure to wear one. Please, let us work together to make the coronavirus extinct.
Corona Virus – Delays with products
Well, so far we’ve all avoided COVID-19 here at Service of Supply. Bryan is a classroom history teacher by day, and all the other guys are pretty much self-employed, so you can feel safe ordering from us. We are seeing some delays with products thanks to this mess however. The stock of tubes we use for the rifle grenades come out of San Francisco, California- the company is shut down right now. Even the rubber is getting spotty to find and get shipped. We are also coming to the end of any available handles for the smoke grenades. We already have made our own resin fuses- but those handles are very expensive and difficult to make. Really hoping we find some surplus tops for these. So… sorry about the delay on all these popular products. If you want to get the word as soon as we get more made, email bryan@serviceofsupply and we’ll make sure we save your email and shoot you a message. Then you can get in on the first batch we make.
Art in Arms Press
Very interesting website with some great photography and incredible information about vintage and modern weapons.
Paratrooper Boots – Great Deal
I just ordered some US Army reproduction jump boots from Work Boots USA. They were $152.99 with free shipping and for my state no sales tax. Free shipping is worth $20 all by itself. I’m wearing them right now and I love them. They were shipped quickly, and they feel great right out of the box. They come with leather laces or the brown and tan traditional boot laces.
https://www.workbootsusa.com/come10hilemi.html?gclid=Cj0KCQiAkfriBRD1ARIsAASKsQLv-EAl9etEqLFe-Lv82wL9wUOvp6BpQFfLuhiNuFKVZC0411RBSpoaAvQYEALw_wcB
Veterans Day School Assembly and Yakima Veterans Day Parade 2018
I had the privilege of working with 24 awesome high school students who wore the uniforms of American service men and women from the last 100 years. I’ve collected uniforms for a very long time, and this is the best, by far, way to display them! Walking in the parade for the 100th commemoration of the end of WWI was incredible. Yakima turned out in great numbers to honor our veterans. It was an awesome day!
Redding California Military History & Combat Vehicle Show!
Shipping Options
Dear Service of Supply Customers,
Be sure to check the available options for shipping. We offer both UPS ground, and Priority Mail, and for the lighter items, USPS first class. With the Postal Service First Class Parcel you still get timely delivery and tracking for your package. In many recent orders we’ve noticed that UPS is the selected shipping service, yet the price for first class or Priority Mail is much less. I’m not against shipping UPS, they have an excellent record and tracking for packages. However we just want to remind customers that in the shipping menu, you might find a less expensive option. All of our shipping prices are set to cover costs, we don’t make a point to charge extra for shipping. Every month, Service of Supply breaks even on what we charge, and what is collected. If you put an item in your cart and the shipping way too high,, text and we can change it.. usually the setting for dimensions or wight are off. We also will automatically refund any massive overage directly too.. Unfortunately, for most of our East Coast customers, the rates are higher because we’re in Washington State! Thanks again for coming to Service of Supply Militaria and WWII Reproductions.
Students Involved in Military Tributes, Parades and Events – Over the Years…
Service of Supply is not just a business. It’s a personal collection, a way to honor our nation’s military veterans, and a vehicle for getting students involved in our patriotic history. Bryan Dibble collects uniforms of all eras and puts them to use for Veterans Day, demonstrations, living history displays, and much more. Students from our city eagerly volunteer to represent the military men and women of the past. Our group is called SERVE – Students Engaged in Re-creating Veteran’s Experiences. SERVE teaches students about the period of time they are representing. We meet veterans at the VFW and learn more about what they experienced in the service. Students who are wearing uniforms also are called upon to teach others, especially younger kids, what that uniform represents and who the people were called up to serve at that time in American history. Since the late 1990s, hundreds of students have worn the uniforms and “walked a step in their shoes.”
Bryan Dibble in one of many Veterans Day parades over the years
KATS FM Radio giving us a cool tribute for Veterans Day
KATS FM posted a cool little video last year for Veterans Day. We do this every year, and it’s fun to see the students wearing the uniforms and interacting with the vets at the FVW in Yakima, WA. Thanks to KATS for being there and sharing what these great kids do for our vets!
Separating a sticky helmet liner and steel pot
Fix a hole in a wool jacket
This is a YouTube link for a great video using fuse it powder to repair holes in wool suit jackets. We have a number of uniforms on the site that need this, but for the price, we’re not going to do the work. I’ve done it with a few of my jackets, and it works. You can buy the Bo Nash Bonding Powder on Amazon and other places.
Reenacting Event Reviews
Did you go to an event recently? Provide some feedback for the event organizers and other reenactors.
Best of the Reproductions
Give your take on who is making the best reproductions when it comes to authenticity, quality, and price.