Experimental Gear, Prototypes & Trial Series

Highly sought-after and rare Lan-Cay M9 variant featuring a solid D-Guard hand protector. All-black tactical finish. ITW Nexus buckle dated 1998. Unissued condition. A holy grail for M9 collectors.

Hard-to-find experimental Close Combat Uniform (CCU) trousers in 3-Color Desert camouflage. 2003 contract. The direct predecessor to the ACU cut. Desirable Size Large-Regular. Used condition with field repairs.

Rare genuine US Military issue BDU trousers in solid Green 483. Features the desirable 50/50 NyCo Ripstop fabric. Dated 1996 (DLA/SPO Contract). Not a commercial copy – this is authentic issue gear (likely US Navy/SEALs or OPFOR). Brand new, unissued condition.

Rare trial pouch for two smoke grenades. Coyote Brown. Tagged "NSN: TBD". Manufacturer The Resource Center (CAGE 4GNV9). Part Number 3677 (sequential to the Mag Pouch trial item). Mint / Unissued condition.

Rare trial/prototype pouch for signal flares. Coyote Brown. Tagged "NSN: PENDING". Features unique color-coded pull tabs (Red-Red-Green) for ammo identification. Manufacturer The Resource Center (CAGE 4GNV9). Mint / Unissued.

Rare early production/test batch Quad Magazine Pouch. Coyote Brown color. Tag features the desirable "NSN: TBD" marking. Manufacturer The Resource Center (CAGE 4GNV9). Likely USMC FSBE II or SOF trial gear. Mint / Unissued condition.

Rare USMC experimental vest with ballistic or shrapnel protection and DORON plates. Size M. Lightly used stock condition.

This type of vest is one of the test pieces produced during WWII. While the US. Army preferred to use metal plates, the USN and USMC tested the DORON material.

The material was named after Gen. G. F. Doriot, who commanded the Research and Development Branch, Office of the Quartermaster General.

A museum-grade collector's piece: A complete Experimental 6-Color Desert (Chocolate Chip) Uniform set. Produced in 1990, this test version features factory Velcro (hook & loop) pocket closures instead of buttons and is made of Ripstop Poplin. This specific set comes with impeccable provenance, featuring original patches from a soldier of the 25th Infantry Division deployed to the MFO mission in the Sinai.

Extremely rare trial/prototype backpack. Features a unique "3D" shaded Desert DCU pattern. Approx. 55L capacity. Advanced molded back panel. Condition: Unissued / Mint.

A museum-grade artifact of classified R&D history. This is a genuine D.A.R.P.A. Experimental Prototype vest, explicitly labeled as "8 # / AK-47 CONCEALABLE BODY ARMOR". Manufactured by Safariland, this unit bears the woven patch of the U.S. Army Soldier Systems Command and is marked "NRDEC EXPERIMENTAL SAMPLE". It represents a cutting-edge attempt to engineer concealable protection against 7.62x39mm rifle threats. Includes rear soft armor panel.

A world-class collector's item. These are Experimental USMC Trousers in Frogskin (Duck Hunter) camouflage, originating from the Test Series produced prior to the adoption of the standard P1941 utility uniform. An incredibly scarce developmental piece intended for advanced collections and museums.

Rare "Experimental Garment" US Navy blouse. NWU-C (Concept) pattern from 2004 contract. Pre-dates standard NWU Type I issue. Insignia for Senior Chief Petty Officer with CNO badge. Size Medium-Long. Collector's item.

Rare experimental trial jacket of the Slovak Army (Armáda SR). "Woodland" camouflage pattern (similar to Czech Vz.95). Manufactured by Zekon in 2001. Size 182/100 (Large). Mint with tags.

Rare experimental/trial field blouse for the Slovak Army (Armáda SR). Manufactured by Zekon Michalovce in 2002. Green variant. Size 182/104 (Large-Long). Mint condition with original tags.

A one-of-a-kind find from the London Bridge Trading design vault: A Prototype / Factory Sample of the LBT-6155B Plate Carrier in Coyote Tan. This unit is distinguished by the white fabric sample tags with handwritten model numbers attached to the shoulders and body. These tags indicate it was an internal reference piece used for design verification or contract bidding, making it significantly rarer than any production model.

Extremely rare US Army trial trousers in UCP-Delta (UCP-D) pattern. The short-lived 2009 experimental pattern featuring Coyote Brown. Flame Resistant (FR) fabric. Unissued condition. Size Medium X-Short. Holy Grail for collectors.

A true collector's unicorn. These are Experimental / Test & Evaluation combat boots originating directly from the US Army Natick Soldier Systems Center. Produced in limited numbers for R&D purposes during the post-Vietnam era (1970s-80s), these boots feature unique design elements intended to test new concepts in soldier footwear.

A unicorn for Old Gen LBT collectors: A complete LBT-2282 Heavy Gunner Set in OD Green. This system features the unique M.A.S.C. (Modular System Alice Clip Webbing), a transitional technology that allowed modularity using ALICE clips before MOLLE became standard. The kit is designed for a SAW/M60 gunner and includes the harness, buttpack, and four massive ammo pouches. It features handwritten inventory numbers, adding to its provenance.

Rare US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) R&D evaluation kit. Contains 5 prototype "Odor Reducing" t-shirts (labeled A-E) for field testing. Dated March 2007. Sealed in original packaging with instruction sheet. Size Medium..

A hard-to-find pair of US Military "Trousers, Field, Tan". Unlike the common OG-107 utility trousers, these solid tan pants were produced in smaller quantities, typically for OPFOR (Opposing Forces) training or early rapid deployment units in the late 70s. This pair features the contract number DSA100-76-C-0093, dating them to 1976. Made from durable 50% Cotton / 50% Nylon. They feature the classic 6-pocket layout with cargo pockets. Condition is lightly used and excellent.

Rare US Marine Corps test coat for the Tropical Combat Uniform (MCTCU). Flame Resistant fabric. Tagged "NSN: Development Item". Size Small-Long. Unissued.

Rare US Marine Corps test trousers for the Tropical Combat Uniform (MCTCU). Flame Resistant fabric. Tagged "NSN: Development Item". Size Medium-X-Long. New with tags.

Museum-grade US WWII Experimental Plastic Canteen. Manufactured by AICO in 1943. Made of Ethocel. Extremely limited production run of only 4,400 units. Authentic Pacific Theater gear.

Complete experimental pouch EX 54-1. Very nice condition.

A scarce component of the 1954 Experimental Load Carrying Equipment trials. This pouch, stamped EX 54-17, is a prototype item developed by the US Army to test new designs before the adoption of the M-1956 system. A highly desirable piece for advanced collectors of Cold War field gear development.

A museum-grade find: The Experimental Field Cargo Pack (Buttpack) from the 1954 EX-54 trials. This rare prototype is the direct forefather of the iconic M-1956 buttpack used in Vietnam. Produced in limited numbers for field testing, it features unique construction details and hardware distinctive to the 1954 experimental series.

A rare experimental garment with elite provenance. These "Trousers, Man's, Combat, Temperate" (Contract 7914) come directly from the estate of a US Special Forces veteran. The trousers are in a unique condition: laundered and then subjected to an extreme "Heavy Starch", making the fabric board-stiff with razor-sharp creases. This represents the classic "Strac" appearance maintained by SF troopers in garrison during the Vietnam era.

Rare experimental ammunition carrier for the XM249 SAW. Transitional "Trial Pattern" gear featuring a nylon body with a cotton canvas strap. Unique mix of metal and early plastic hardware. Very good condition.

A holy grail for modern era collectors: The US Army CCU (Close Combat Uniform) jacket. Tagged formally as "COAT, COMBAT UNIFORM (CU)". This transitional uniform was issued in limited numbers during 2003-2004 for field trials with Stryker Brigades before the adoption of the UCP ACU. It features the modern ACU cut (velcro pockets, mandarin collar) but in the legacy 3-Color Desert (DCU) pattern. This piece is fully patched to a Sergeant Thompson of the 2nd Infantry Division.

Museum-grade grouping of 3 complete Experimental US Navy uniform sets (Variants B, C, D). Pre-NWU trial prototypes from 2004. All issued to Capt. Wood. Includes distinct Woodland and Digital test patterns.

Museum-quality experimental ballistic vest from World War II. Developed by USN/USMC utilizing rare DORON fiberglass plates. Named after Gen. G.F. Doriot. Warehouse condition (NOS), Size Medium. Complete with all inserts.