Acrers and acrers of surplus(does it exist?)

[USS1943]

Every once in a while at a local gun show or military show I hear a couple of guys talk about this government complex out in Iowa or Kansas made up of dozens of bunkers that are full of old military surplus dateing back to WWI. Urban legend??

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[browningautorifle]

You can get those stories as far and as local as here on Canada. We were told the exact same stories here on the west coast. I know where the bunkers are but the are only filled with water. The same story seems to surface with every new generation.

[gunner]

Hey that is funny. If you find your bunkers and i find ours full of like new K98k and P08, than we can make a deal. How about 2 SMLE`s for one P08?
The same stories all over the world.

Regards

Gunner

[duggaboy]

I really did just converse with a colleage, he is in the army reserve, and a higher type officer, who is interested in getting a carbine and garand, and he informs me that when preparing to go to Iraq the first time, he went to fort , xyz, and went into the storage area, into the bunkers, and there was vast amounts of everything in the world there in mint condition, just waitng to be taken out of the mothballs, and used. Some really nice old stuff and new stuff of all descriptions. He said that the size of the storage buildings and bunkers was enormous. Just remember, how many rifles, and other things are sold by the CMP and other surplus outletof the US govt.

[browningautorifle]

Yes, the stories I got were from serving members or reservists who had either seen it personally or knew someone who firsthand saw it... I would have to see it myself. With you and Gunner of course. Then we could spit it all up.

[Harlan (Deceased)]

I've heard rumors there's a huge secret bunker in Modesto, CA stocked full of acres upon acres of only the rarest and most valuable USGI guns and parts!

[gunner]

Ups, i should come and help you to save this items. The flight tickets are cheap!

Regards

Gunner

[Patrick Chadwick]

Mmmmm??? Hold the tickets lads. As a long-term steam engine fan, I can remember that in the 70s, when steam buffs were sad about the disappearance of real locomotives, there were stories about a secret government hoard of pristine steam engines hidden away in a tunnel so that an emergency service could be provided if the country was starved of oil.
One of those "wouldn't it be nice if..." ideas that seem to turn into a legend.
And, don't forget, if a couple of million rarities really did appear - well, they wouldn't be rarities any more!

Patrick

[Mk VII]

Mmmmm??? Hold the tickets lads. As a long-term steam engine fan, I can remember that in the 70s, when steam buffs were sad about the disappearance of real locomotives, there were stories about a secret government hoard of pristine steam engines hidden away in a tunnel so that an emergency service could be provided if the country was starved of oil.
One of those "wouldn't it be nice if..." ideas that seem to turn into a legend.
And, don't forget, if a couple of million rarities really did appear - well, they wouldn't be rarities any more!

Patrick

British Rail always disparaged this legend, (which seems more like King Arthur-style wishful thinking), pointing out that the network of water towers and coal depots necessary to make it work had long been dismantled.

[Harlan (Deceased)]

Patrick,

I'm a huge steam locomotive fan too.

You are very correct about supply and demand.
We all talk about the guns that were sporterized, and all the rare guns destroyed, etc...

If these guns and equipment were as plentiful today as they were in the 60's, they wouldn't be valuable collector items today.