US Ration Spoons

Discussions about US MREs and other US rations
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mreheater72
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US Ration Spoons

Post by mreheater72 » Wed Mar 07, 2007 1:59 pm

Hi guys,

here I want to show some different US Ration spoons and some different spoon producers which are in my collection (I got the idea because of the “Ebay asshats” topic with the “valuable” spoons!):

The first photo shows the three different shapes I know (from left to right):

• The actual dark brown spoon in tan MREs, RCWs, MCWs, …
• The white spoon from the late dark brown MREs without a tip (I don’t know the exact appearance date, do you know?). For what reason they cut the tip??
• The white spoon from the early dark brown MREs and MCIs

Image

The second photo shows a printed spoon wrapper, which I found 2003 in the German woods (the spoon in it is not the original). It seems, that it lies nearly 30 years in the woods, but it is still good!! Here the printing:

Van Brode Milling Co., Inc.
Clinton, Mass. 01510 U.S.A.
DSA 13H-73-C-Z002

The defense supply agency (DSA) contract number says, the producing was engaged 1973.

Image

The next photo shows a white spoon produced by V. B. CLINTON, MASS. U.S.A.:

Image

The fourth photo shows a white spoon produced by WREN INDOLS (the second word I can’t read exactly) with a little bird stamped on it:

Image

The last photo shows a white spoon produced by NIB 39083 (I think, these ones are the most common, also the dark brown spoons are NIB):

Image

Do anyone know other different US Ration spoons (on a photo with old C-Rats I have seen a transparent spoon!) or other different producers?

Best wishes

mreheater72

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kman
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Post by kman » Wed Mar 07, 2007 4:48 pm

Wow - excellent update on the ration spoons, mreheater72! I never even noticed that some of the MCI spoons had the tip cut off and others didn't. I'll have to check my collection to see which ones I have.

Richard w.
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Post by Richard w. » Thu Mar 08, 2007 11:54 am

Awesome dislay. Thanks

Just a wild guess, but perhaps they deleted the sharp tip on the white spoons due to a concern that it might puncture the internal pouches or the outer bag.

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kman
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Post by kman » Thu Mar 08, 2007 12:05 pm

I just checked out four MCI spoons I have sitting in a box. These came from either a 1974 case or a 1978 case. All four spoons have the pointed tips. One says "VAN BRODE MILLING CO. INC. CLINTON, MASS., USA" and another says "V. B. CLINTON, MASS. U.S.A.".

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mreheater72
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Post by mreheater72 » Thu Mar 08, 2007 1:46 pm

Thanks for your replies! Now I see, the V. B. on the spoon of the third photo stands for VAN BRODE, I haven´t noticed that before! Kman, I´m rather sure that the spoons without tip are of the late darkbrown MREs, not of MCIs. Richard w., your idea I think could be the real reason for cutting the tip!

So long mreheater72

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mreheater72
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Post by mreheater72 » Sat Jan 19, 2008 6:59 pm

Hi guys,

I found some more MCI or MRE “spoon-variations”:

Image
VB-G


Image
VAN BRODE MILLING CO., INC. CLINTON MASS. U.S.A.

So long mreheater72

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Post by C-rats » Sun Jan 20, 2008 10:37 pm

Kman: You know what this thread needs --- do it! Bring us the picture of Spoonman! :P
Everything tastes better with Tabasco

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Big Galloot
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Post by Big Galloot » Sun Jan 20, 2008 11:01 pm

C-rats wrote:Kman: You know what this thread needs --- do it! Bring us the picture of Spoonman! :P
Spoonman?
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You can pick your friends
and you can pick your nose
but you can't roll your friends into little green balls!

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Post by C-rats » Sun Jan 20, 2008 11:08 pm

Sweet Jesus, you gotta be careful what you ask for around here..... :|
Everything tastes better with Tabasco

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kman
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Post by kman » Mon Jan 21, 2008 12:28 am

Too late...it's only getting worse...


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