A very nice quality and unusual  Vintage RAF SAS Desert Survival Kit with various contents; including an SAS stores kit list dated 1964 and also including an original 1953 dated British Silk Escape Original Escape of Cairo/Alex- Tobruk named on the kit list; all contained in a lightweight fast grab / attachment two compartment nylon pouch. Considering the individual value of the items a bargain price !

Overall nice / very nice / excellent original condition...please refer to photos and main description.

The pouch has some of the type of contents on the SAS kit list with additional relevant items ....please refer to kit list and photos.

Would say some of the of the contents are 1950's - 1960's era ;  with some later issue survival items and that the kit is a project to put back together a vintage 1960's RAF / SAS Middle East Desert Survival Kit rather than a complete issue kit of the period. 

Consists of...

(A) A very nice quality miniature mess tin in excellent condition with lid with roll fasteners, which fits perfectly  in the rear compartment of the pouch containing the following...

(a) A large signal heliograph  in excellent condition that fits exactly in the bottom of the miniature mess tin with a length of very strong sand coloured thread attached that also makes it easier to take the heliograph out of the tin.

(b) Silva mini escape compass ( please refer kit list )  in excellent condition with a length of very strong sand coloured thread. There is a tiny bubble in the compass; these of course are a mini E / E item so you cant expect exactly the same accuracy and defintion as a full sized compass but appears to be working fine when put against other compasses. A tip is to put it under your armpit for a while to loose the bubble before use if necessary.

(c) A hacksaw blade in the usual grease proof paper in excellent condition

(d) A mini fishing kit  ( please refer kit list ) in excellent condition and instructions in Desert Survival Booklet.

(e) A folding wire saw  in excellent condition ( please refer kit list )

(f) Brass wire  in excellent condition ( please refer kit list )

(g) A folding pair of small original WW2 SOE Goggles slight staining and fine marks to mica lense but perfectly clear when worn and in otherwise nice condition.

(h) A small length of  very strong sand coloured thread on card in excellent condition

(i) Sewing needles, safety pin, and so on wrapped in black tape in excellent condition

(j) An orange clip on large survival whistle in excellent condition with a length of very strong sand coloured thread. 

(k) A length of multi purpose fine para cord

Front compartment has the following...

(a) A genuine 1953 dated British Silk Escape Original Escape of Cairo/Alex- Tobruk   in excellent condition ( please refer kit list ) ...please scroll down for full detailed description.

(b) Blood chit phrase sheet backed onto white linen, some folding and creasing but otherwise  in nice condition ( please refer kit list ) Appears original but would say that this is a copy an original.

(c) SAS E/E Kit List dated 1964. Some staining and folding to paper. Appears original but would say that this is a copy of an original.

(d) A small but very detailed 48 page military issue booklet on "Desert Survival" This series covering various parts of the world has been reprinted a number of times. Lower section of inside front page taken out ( no contents missing and booklet complete and in nice condition ).very secure

SURVIVAL KIT POUCH.

A very nice quality compact two compartment lightweight pouch made of top quality Olive Drab Butyl Nylon with back and velcro attachment made of  OD PU SAS /Para Rucksack Material. The pouch has a very secure wrap over and velcro belt attachment which means the pouch can be instantly attached or removed from a belt or pack.

Pouch also has an improvised shemagh or neck cover would say simply cut from a length of vintage desert cotton netting vehicle camo and is about the same size as the E/E map. The edge is fraying but could be hemmed otherwise overall nice condition Wrapped around with about a 1.5 metre length of military desert coloured draw tape

SILK ESCAPE MAP DETAILS........

VINTAGE 1953 DATED BRITISH  SAS AND RAF  SYNTHETIC SILK  ESCAPE AND EVASION MAP MOSTLY OF EGYPT AND REVISED AND REPRINTED IN 1952 FROM A BRITISH O/S SURVEY MAPS OF 1943 AND 1949. PARTS OF LIBYA, ISRAEL, JORDAN, SAUDI, AND THE SINAI PENNINSULA AND UNDOUBTEDLY USED

This particular map is listed on the copy of the Official Issue 1964 SAS Escape and Evasion Kit List as "Maps Fabric (Cairo/Alex- Tobruk). ..please refer photos. 

One side "CAIRO" shows large areas of Egypt (including the "Gulf of Suez", the "Sinai Penninsula" the "Gulf Of Aquaba",), Israel, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. The other side " Alexandria-Tobruch" shows the entire Egyptian Coast from "Alexandria" to the border with Libya. Then as far south as the Bahariya Oasis in Egypt. Also part of the Libyan coast and the area of Libya to the south.PARTS OF LIBYA, ISRAEL, JORDAN, SAUDI, AND THE SINAI PENNINSULA.

One side "ALEXANDRIA-TOBRUCH" is simply a revised reprint of a 1943 Cloth Escape Map.The other side "CAIRO", is a reprint of a 1949 map.Although the Cairo side of the map map has a print date of 1952, is states "Magnetic Information 1953", so was probably printed in 1953.Although this is a big map, about 67cm by 69cm, being made of synthetic silk, it will compact down to a very small size. Also, the fabric being very quiet and rustle free means it can be easily hidden by being sewn into clothing. Fortunately given the rigours of E and E the synthetic silk is a very strong fabric.

This is quite a scarce map printed for, or just after, the Suez  crisis. Throught the 1950`s and 1960`s this particular  region of the Middle East  was regarded as highly volatile. The West was constantly trying to counter Soviet influence. The tension between the Arab nations and Israel was constanly a source of potential war which could give the Soviet Union an excuse to deploy forces to the Middle East State.

THE MAP IS 100% GENUINE AND ORIGINAL. Some loose threads as you get with these vintage maps, but the map itself is excellent unissued condition.

PLEASE NOTE We are selling the Survival Kit  with no guarantee of suitability for use and is sold as a collectors item only

.SHIPPING COSTS

Please email me with any questions, or telephone my officeMonday to Friday, 1pm to 7pm Uk time on 01524 64204 (International Europe 0044 1524 64204) (USA/Canada 01144 1524 64204) ( Australia 001144 1524 64204). Always happy to chat to fellow collectors.