hope everyone has a good weekend

Hi Blackie, the windshield/Trangia combo is the Swedish Army issue, together with an oval shaped pot & lid/frying pan. The Swiss Army, in common with most central European armies including the German Army, use kidney shaped pots/lids like the one you have. I'm pretty sure that those are based on the old German Army M31 mess kit which was then adopted by many other armies, including their enemy in WW2, the Soviet Army. The easiest to come across nowadays are old East German kits, or Polish and Hungarian kits, they vary in the relative depths of the pot/lid. The Swiss Army cook on the ''Notkocher 71'' (emergency cooker 71) which is just a small can containing gel, with a clip on pot stand, a lot like what we know as Sterno stoves. I had an East German version of this mess kit which is actually 3 part if you get it complete, consisting of the pot, lid/frying pan, and an unpainted aluminium insert bowl too which nests inside the main pot, with a fold out aluminium handle, it's about 2 inches deep. The West German version most commonly found is likewise 3 part but the inner pan/cup doesn't have a handle, it has a slot in the rim through which you can hook the handle of the outer lid/pan to join the 2 together. This was designed for standing in line at a field kitchen (the chow line), all 3 pots/pans can be held in one hand together. All in all a good piece of kit, the deep pot is good for boiling larger amounts of water, heating MREs (you can get 2 retort pouches in together) or making soups/stews, or rice or pasta, with the accompanying sauce or stew being made in the other pan. I've made proper Japanese ramens in the big pot, with pieces of chicken, carrot, mushroom and greens as well as pre-cooked Udon noodles, properly done with soy sauce, rice wine and powdered dashi bouillon. Much better than the cheap packet ramen but that does have it's place too, I'll often carry one as a backup or for a mid afternoon snack. My personal customised cookset consists of a US GI type Dutch Army canteen cup with Pathfinder lid, one rectangular Dutch Army issue mess tin in stainless steel (the British and other Commonwealth issue mess tins e.g. Australian, South African etc. were made of aluminium), with an after-market lid which doubles as a frying pan. My preferred stove is a folding pocket LIxada type twig burner with a Swedish civilian Trangia alcohol stove which fits perfectly in the twig stove.

I love those Swedish "Stink Pots" (Former Swedish Soldier told me that was what they called them back in the day), when Sportman's Guide was dumping them for around $20 for two, I started grabbing them up just to get my hands on the Trangia Stoves that may or may not be in them. Also, you would either get an all stainless steel kit or newer issue aluminum version. It was like playing the lottery, with some being new/unused, and others looking like they grabbed a ride on a time machine and spent some time in Stalingrad. Some had stoves and fuel bottle, and others did not. Same with wind screens.

That is super practical Blackie. I just got gifted my Grand Dad’s New Zealand Army issue mess kit he took to World War II. Can’t wait to try that out. The mess kit was with him in Greece when they got chased out by the German Army in 1941. Cheers Dave 🇺🇸 🇳🇿

I am seriously considering getting the Pathfinder version. This kit is growing on me and has peaked my curiosity.

I use Polish version of such mess kit. It has deeper lid. Funny fact Blackie, Polish soldiers used to eat from the lid and drink from the pot. It was easier this way. It is too big for my outdoor use, but I use it in kitchen. Very versatile

USGI MOLLE 200-rd "SAW" pouch is perfect for this stove. Available in multiple colors/camos, and the greyish USAF ABU units and the greyish Army UCP units can easily be dyed with common RIT dye. If desired, add 2 x 1" "D" rings to the PALS attachment straps on the back of the pouch and a shoulder strap.

I really like my Polish kit: it's a copy of the German kit, and I like it better. The loop on the handle you talk about on these is plenty big enough for a strong stick for a handle. I notched the handle on a spoon I carved to fit it snugly with a flat so it won't rotate. I'd like to find a wind shield/stove like that one. I use a large fruit can as a stove. It fits my Trangia and nests my Stanley Adventure pot too, and its a great little twig burner...and best of all, it's recycled trash, so zero cost beyond my time. I am planning a review on my channel when I have time. I enjoyed this one! Good info, well presented and easy to see and watch. A friend sent me one of your other videos. Good stuff! Looking forward to browsing more!

Great option for a bargain kit, Blackie. Gotta say, I had no idea SRO / Pathfinder had a kit like that at all. Much less one for $55. I've been blessed enough to be able to afford the Pathfinder kit so I'm gonna order me one of those. Thanks for including that as an option in your video. God bless you and yours.

That design has always been one of my favorites! Especially during Georgia burn bans

Thanks Blackie....I made mine just like this. I have the Austrian one. Great Job!! Keep up the good work!

hi, you're correct - the Polish and Hungarian mess kits work with windscreen but don't go as deep when combined. I wonder if one could just cut-off the thick collar of frying pan to make it work? anyway the biggest differences between PL and BW except the pan depth are: the finger tab above the rivets ( very useful) and a belt loop ring on the inside of D shape that allows joining two pots and carry one handed, have a great weekend!

👍 Excellent work around for those on a tight budget or with a stack of surplus gear. I bought one of the 1st SRO versions of the Swedish Mess Kits, at $55 it is a real steal. Have also had the original aluminum and stainless Swedish kits. I don’t care for uncoated aluminum cook gear and the stainless versions are prohibitively expensive for me. The SRO version solved this problem for me. I agree with you these are 1st Class complete cook kits, the trade off being they are heavier than a similar system set up around a 1.2 liter stainless Bushpot kit. Life is a series of compromises.

I use the same setup. I just widened just the bottom part of the front opening of the windscreen so that the lid handle goes all the way down.

Outstanding tips and tricks, Blackie! I especially like the tip about setting the U.S.G.I. cup on the edge of the stove. That's slicker than owl shit on a linoleum floor!

I have three or four of (I think) the Polish sets. Got them for around $5 each. Also have a couple of carry bags that for them - maybe even made for them - that I got around the same time. I have never had a trangia. Would kind of like to try one but if I'm not building a fire I like to use the little gas backpacker type stoves that just screw on top of a fuel bottle. The carry bags I mentioned have a little pocket on the side that is a perfect fit for a Coughlan's version (and probably original version) of a Nesbitt stove. I haven't used those kits a whole lot, though. If I am just going to cook something on a day hike, etc. I will usually just build a small fire and throw a dog or burger on a little grill, maybe use the small Stanley pot to heat some chili for the dogs and call it good or just use the Stanley pot and a small skillet and cook on the backpacker stove. If I am camping I will usually have a pan and a couple of small pots, all in stainless, to do a little more involved cooking. Still, I'd like to try out a trangia and put my sets like this to a little more use as time goes on I wonder how they might work on a fishing trip to put a couple of inches of oil in the big pot and batter/deep fry some fish.

sweet home alabama Blackie this new englander loves ya videos

You just gave me ideas for my new pack. Thanks Blackie.

You Southern boys aint Slow i learned alot from you and really big Monkey .....Thanks for the video 😊🙏🙏

Thanks Blackie. Have a great Memorial Day weekend.

I used the Hungarian with my sweedish stove but I modified the stove I cut it down about a thumbs width from the top all the way around and cut the side slots a little bit wider and I pressed it to a kidney shape a little and it now fits like a glove. Sanded all the cut edges and everything else then barbecue painted it I also Made a new bail handle like the sweedish one and wallah presto it came to life. I'm happy 😊 it now goes all the way down to the folded pot rest brackets I even did the mod you did for the handle so the flame don't burn the bandana.

I like the 3 piece East German mess kit with its 2 handled pots, and the Polish mess kit with the larger lid which is better for fixing a bit more soup for one. Both can be nicely fit into the Swedish wind screen with a small widening of the front slot, and fit the rear notch you wisely advise making to keep the handles cool. With the East German 3 piece kit you can fix a bit more complete meal, 3 courses, or as I did today, brats and rice without using the big pot.. Repainting the kits is easy and looks great, covering scars of many years...my Polish kit is '84, for example; East German one is undated as I believe most of those are. But had to add a Pathfinder kit as it's so inexpensive for a stainless steel outfit!

If I didn't already have 20 mess kits I would pay $150 for your set up , It's a better set up than any of my 20 kits .

👍👍👍 .. nice. Thanks for sharing.

Thank you Blackie, good tip on using the US Army canteen cup with the set.

Every time he says Swiss, you substitute Swedish. Great vid.

Blackie; your videos are always informative; really enjoyed this one. Cheers!

Wow Blackie! I never thought to combine US GI cup to my kit! I have always used the GI set by it's self, or the set like you have. I have already modified it for the cup to be turned around after I saw you do it, so later tonight I'm going to combine both for the next outing! thanks again!

I just used my Pathfinder M40 kit. It's very well made. I have the original, but I can knock the pathfinder around and not cringe. SPOT on advice on how to snuff out your trangia. Do not use the cap with the oring seal, unless you like buying new o rings for your lid.

Well over a decade ago now, my son "borrowed" my Swedish cookset. Knowing I'd never see it again, I bought myself another one. At the time they were about £15 a set. Now, they are as rare as hen's teeth and cost a fortune. Good kits but bulky and heavy.

Hi Blackie, greeting from Australia 🇦🇺 thank you for your time to make these videos. If you put a lid on the canteen cup, you can put on top Pf stove and close it other pot , it will be a tight fit.

One of the best common man videos ever. I just ordered a canteen cup to add to my Pathfinder Swiss Army set. Super video! Thanks again

Hey Blackie- Its real neat that you pieced this mess kit together with other parts. It looks like you have room not only for condiments, but I bet you could stash a couple small instant meals in there too. Youve got protection from the wind and you could use the burner stand and make a small stealth sneaky warming flame. Im glad you showed this as Im sure their are a few people out there with surplus stuff just laying around. Thanks for another cool video and how-to on putting something like this together. Till next time- Be safe out there-

PLEASE READ!!! I gotta couple ideas that could change the game. 1 is taking a spray adhesive and glue one of those space blankets to the inside of a poncho. 2 take a bushcraft buck saw frame that doubles as a pack frame. I gotta couple prototype ideas. Much love to you and everything you do

Hi Blackie, I gave up looking for the Swedish mess kit. Last year I got the Pathfinder M-40 kit. Didn't know about the East German ones. I have the Swiss windscreen and Trangia stove that came with the fuel bottle and a Polish (I think) pot and lid. Thanks, great video. Have a good Memorial Day weekend. 👍

Good video Blackie , thanks for sharing , God bless brother !

Nice hybrid kit. Way to think outside the box (cook kit), Blackie.

Blackie, Great Video and Information. You are always thinking how to make it better and easier, cheaper too. Thanks for sharing. I Greatly Appreciate You Sharing Your Time and Knowledge and Wisdom and Experience and Passing on the Craft and how to enjoy the outdoors more comfortable. Thank You for all you have shown me . The Silver Wolves series is awesome .I hope one day to meet you on the trail and Thank You in person for helping me in my rehab from a Spinal Stroke due to Covid, still looking for a Barlow Tree Brand Boker made in Germany with a bone handle to gift you to say Thank You. Tim L.

I found a MilTec knockoff 3 piece "German" mess kit in aluminum. I haven't used it in the field yet, but I did cook pasta using it on the stove top with maximum heat (orange hot coils). Worked fine. I don't think it would hold up for hard daily use, but for $20 it'll serve.

Hi Blackie. Thanks for some great ideas and tips. Stay safe. ATB. Nigel

In my opinion. It's funner to piece things together. In my camping and all together EDC it's constantly evolving. Appreciate your video.

Sportsman’s Guide had Swedish kits for I think $20…I bought three of them! The joke was on me, kind of, all parts were Swedish EXCEPT the pot, it was I believe an aluminum Polish kit. Still nice sets but kind of a bait and switch. When I think about it the genuine M40’s used to be sold for pocket change, now you can’t find one worth having without paying a fortune. I got the Pathfinder M40 and it’s a great set.

i use mine with the Emberlit Fire Ant stove for wood or Trangia burner. It fit nice innside the mess kit, together with salt, pepper, sugar and cream powder, tea,spoon different smal food packages and homemade fire starters etc. It does not weigh much, i have alot of these mess kits, from different countrys. But mostly Norwegians, my father in law bought several hundreds of them some years ago.

Nice mess kit. Unless I am mistaken the oval shaped windshield is Swedish and not Swiss army. Maybe worth checking. It is also the Swedish army complete stove/mess kit that is super expensive ($150) now. I coupled my Hungarian mess kit with a Swedish Army windshield, a Swedish army fuel bottle and a Trangia burner. The Military burner is a bit larger than the commercial burner currently on sale. It may hold more fuel but is no more efficient. The WW2 Swiss army mess kit is not oval (more kidney) shaped. I think you may possibley have got Swss and Swedish a bit muddled. They are two very different countries. Apologies in advance if I am wrong. Regards.....Dave

Hi Blackie, great video as always. I have this setup with a civilian Trangia burner and Hungarian mess kit which works well and is the setup I carry daily in my pack. I also have the Swedish M44 kit with military Svea burner which because of its originality and nowadays rarity, I use less frequently. Keep posting your informative and interesting videos with passion. Regards Broadlander 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Try the British BCB Crusader Mk 2. It is a very good substitute and less than half the price of a swiss kit, new. It comes with a nice mollie pouch and you can use the burner in the wind shield. They were designed for hex blocks or fuel blocks of all kinds. But I use a spirit burner and it works just fine.

Very cool thanks for taking us along.

You're the best Blackie, thanks for sharing your wisdom.

I have a Swiss volcano stove I've been carting around 30 years, still works for me

I'm using the PFM40 from Pathfinder as a replacement for my poor old Trangia set which I recently retired after 30 years. Love the fact that all of it is stainless steel including the windshield - use it with my very old Trangia burner. Totally agree with how compact they are but able to cook such a great variety for weeks of camping. I'm totally a meth stove nerd - fuel always available and cheap, no finicky maintenance and here in Australia safe during the summer months when there is an open fire ban. Stews, fryups, curries, stir-fry and more. I just take a Yeti mug which can act as a bowl as well, together with a long handled spoon and a Ferro rod and I'm totally set!

Great kit, Blackie. If the Pathfinder set doesn’t stay on sale long enough, I know where to look for an alternative😊

Good video Blackie, lots of useful information. Thanks much for sharing!

I went with the pathfinder I will carry it in my saddle bag on my scooter got to take coffee break when riding.

Thanks Blackie!!

Awesome ideas! Thanks, Blackie!

Thx for the vid Blackie

After watching your older video about the Swiss stove I picked up the Pathfinder version. My favorite pot so far.

Thanks Blackie! I have a few of the E German sets and you gave me a way to expand their use. U DA MAN!

Thank you.

Good video. God bless. From Glenn CATT in Massachusetts.

Great setup, now I gotta go mix n match my miscellaneous kit piece’s to see if I can come up with a similar kit. 👏👍✌️

Great video! I have the Pathfinder set up w the bigger stove like you have. That GI cup would make this a complete eating system. Good job! Thanks again😃

Have a Swiss and German. Didn’t know about the canteen cup . Thanks for the tips. Have a great weekend

Ol' Blackie gettin' tricksey with the mess gear! Thanks for the tips, good sir, I will use them and share.

Isn't that a Swedish Army mess kit wind cover?

Awesome video Blackie. Thanks for sharing 👍

Great modifications! Thanks so much for the video!

Yummy now we gotta cook something. Have fun stay safe.

Great video Blackie I've been using the Swedish army trangia for years & just used gloves for moving the windscreen to snuff out the burner but the knife is clever good advice as always

Great info and demo, Well Done 👏 THANKS ...Alan in 🇨🇱

Trangia did not make the m40 cookset another company did. The burner is a bit bigger. Came across german cooking utensels in my service not army. And east german after the wall was taken down both were very good i remember. I tend to use a kelly kettle, bcb crusader or flat stove and trangia 27 all are very good. Depends what i am doing.

Nice! I love military gear like that Blackie, good info...

Ordered the P.F m40 today..yes a bit high for my current budget but i "NEEDED" it

😮😊thanks Blackie, looks like a good kit there. Take care.

I’ve used the bottle kits, canteen cup sets, various bushpot setups, but never tried this type of cook kit. Maybe it’s time…..

Nice setup amigo. Thanks for the info!

Never took to those German style mess kits, it's like many Americans don't like the British style ones because they didn't grow up around them. It's nothing conscious, I like the idea of the German style kits. Have a litre and a half Billy Can for a couple of people. The East German one you have was my favourite out of them because it was a little smaller and was more manageable all round.

Cheers brother

Windscreen stuff is from sweden army surplus..I have same ..

I have that German kit and canteen cup , very cool. Need the screen and I'm all set lol.

Awesome review sir..! I see a trip to the surplus store in my near future..! 🐻

I have 4 original Swedish army stoves 2 aluminium 2 stainless steel.🇸🇪Also i have a original SWISS army Gamelle mess kit.🇨🇭. Its a lot different from the 🇸🇪 mess kit.

Silver moment Blackie? btw that combination is exactly what UK online surplus dealers have been doing for the last couple of years due to the shortage of genuine m40/44 pan sets to the uninitiated the West German and East German mess kits look identical easist way to tell them apart, there should be a second 'cup' sitting internally the East German version has a small foldover handle the West German version the 'cup' has a slot to fit on the end of the lid handle to pass down the mess line 😇

Swiss - from Switzerland, a central European country: Swedish - from Sweden, a Scandinavian country in the north of Europe.

Thanks Blackie for another great video, ? Blackie what up with the knight hawk knap sack I see waypoint survival do a video on it and include the link to your website no luck.thank Blackie 👍

👍❣️

Fleabay wants $34 for the mess kit so you will want to shop around. For that kind of money plus the windscreen you are better off with the Pathfinder. What prefer in the one Blackie is showing is the kidney shape and the mess cup. Not sure if it works with the Pathfinder for nesting.

☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺

Blackie do you have a video on how to set up a one wind hammock and tarp in strong winds?

Well, Blackie.. Lets get some things straight: You started of by referring to the Pathfinder School version of the Swedish m/40 mess kit. A few sentences later, I find you referring to the SWISS SETS. Sweden and Switzerland are not the same place. There are several hundred miles (and a couple of countries) between them. Thus: The wind screen and the cook set is Swedish m/40, not SWISS…. You are referring to Swedish kit as Swiss for some reason, that I don't understand. As You ended your lecture: Educate yourselves.. Given that: You are my go-to-guy for some relaxed bomb-proof outdoorsmanship. I will keep on followin' you, although You ticked my national pride this time... Take good care, pal.

Please help me understand, is this a SWISS or SWEDISH stove? The terminology used is difficult to ascertain. But a great video!

You could put a canteen cup lid in the bottom.

Surplus and eBay stores here I come!

I got the same thing blackie took me a long time to get all the parts for it but but I got it

I having a hard time finding the cheaper larger capacity alcohol burner. Do you have know a plce to buy?

Am I mistaken, but did you mean to say "Swedish" instead of "Swiss"? All best wishes!

I have used those German kits too. I have found them the most useful in the chow line at Winter count. The way all the pieces join together when open is super handy. Oh wait yours does not have the third bowl.

Swiss and Swedish are two different things.

Switzerland (Swiss) is a different country and geographic region than Sweden.

Tateltale NOW the Retailers will raise Their prices LOL !!!!