Why Military Surplus?

Military surplus comprises a relatively large collection of gear, from surplus firearms to field gear to outerwear and personal items - with everything in between.

In essence, military surplus, whatever it is, is what manufacturers have produced for the military, but which the military ultimately doesn’t need.

So, to prevent a loss (or to minimize a loss) the manufacturer or distributor sells directly to civilians to help recoup some of that investment. Occasionally, retailers will buy large stocks of surplus and then serve as a broker between the manufacturer and the consumer.

Either way, military surplus is popular in some circles, especially among outdoorsmen and collectors, and there’s plenty of value to capitalize on. Here are some of the best reasons to get into military surplus if you never have.

High Quality, Low Cost

Arguably the main reason that military surplus gear holds so much value is that it is built to uncompromising standards of quality and durability as specified by military contracts. Often military surplus is rated to stand up to hard use in uncompromising environments. Despite the lack of bells and whistles, milsurp, as it is commonly called, is designed to perform.

The best part of this, however, is that since it is sold secondhand to the civilian market, it is often sold at a steep discount. To get the same quality from new production gear not sold as surplus, you’d often have to pay significantly more.

It’s the Only Way to Get Some Things

There are guns, and there is gear that you won’t be able to encounter except on the used market - or new, as military surplus. This makes milsurp sales a potential treasure trove for those looking for a bargain on military gear that wasn’t ever sold by manufacturers directly to civilians - except as surplus.

Potential for Increased Value Over Time

Some military surplus deals represent a potentially lucrative investment, especially in the case of guns, uniforms, and some field gear. While most are run-of-the-mill and will depreciate as expected, some rare platforms and other personal items like insignia and uniforms, will not only not lose value, they will increase in value over time. For some collectors, this makes military surplus a highly viable investment.

Versatility

Another thing about military surplus gear is that there is such a wide catalog of it that you can find a whole lot of unique items in most milsurp collections. This greatly increases the versatility of what you can do with milsurp gear.

That is to suggest, there is milsurp gear that’s ideal for shooting, camping, disaster prep, as in the case of MREs and water filtration, hiking, climbing, snowsports, boating, hunting, airsoft, paintball, and many, many other outdoor sports.

Few other industries are as well suited to meet the needs of so many different outdoorsmen and collectors as military surplus is.

Take Your Pick

As much as the main draw of military surplus gear is functionality, its value is not relegated to that sphere alone. In fact, there are lots of aesthetic and fashion-centric uses for milsurp gear, such as boots, headwear, field jackets, and other clothing. This is especially true for those that appreciate street fashion, and milsurp makes building out a wardrobe on that front not just effective, but affordable.

Potential Historical Significance

There are some leftover relics from past ages that, while still considered military surplus, are no longer contemporary. This makes the market fairly exclusive as the only way to get some of these items is through a surplus sale.

It also means that for some collectors and investors - or just anyone that appreciates history - will have a once in a lifetime chance to own a piece of history, whatever it is that’s in question. Either way, regardless of whether or not the milsurp in question increases in value, it can potentially represent a very exclusive opportunity.

Sustainability; Surplus Is Less Wasteful

Lastly, there’s a case to be made that buying military surplus is the green option, if only for the fact that that gear was going to get manufactured whether or not the military ultimately had a use for it.

Therefore, any military surplus you don’t purchase will eventually be discarded. It might be the case that the military should get better at budgeting for and forecasting its needs, but until that day arrives, we’re going to have army surplus stores. 

And any that doesn’t get bought will end up as waste, somehow or other. So buy up and rest easy in the purchase - you’re keeping garbage bins emptier.

Shop Military Surplus at SARCO

Here to explore high-quality military surplus deals? Take a look through our full collection to find some good buys, build up your collection for a bargain, and let us know if you are looking for something specific you don’t see listed or if you have any questions.