RCW DATING

[mreheater72]

the rafco rcw are from 1989.

Here you can see a whole case :

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2385&p=18886&hilit=rafco#p18886

[steve1989]

Wow Mreheater what a nice find! I wish I could find an unopened case of RCW's - I'd pay $200 for one I'm so desperate for more by this point!


I have the Vermacelli With Meat Sauce Bars/Slices - Is that the one you are missing?

Only problem is I bought my RCW's from someone out in the hot, dry state of Arizona and they are a little bit heat stressed. They are still good but they COULD be fresher..

[hannonmc]

I have an unopened RCW Ration # 1 - A. No B component. I bought this back in the early 90s and have had it in my basement since...

[steve1989]

I rode 12 miles on my bike today and got home tired and hungry.
Decided to crack my 1989 Chicken & Rice RCW open and have dinner.
It was as fresh as it was the day it was packed I can imagine because it smelled, and tasted fantastic! Filling too!

Here's some photos...

[steve1989]

More photos.

I could eat about 80% of it - I was full so instead of just throwing the rest out I let my dog, Betty have the last little bit. She cleaned the plate.


Well - I have the Vermicelli W/ Meat Sauce (6-a & 6-b) components still unopened so I will keep up the pictures & taste tests!

I still haven't had a hot cocoa yet... they gave me 3 in the pack but I didn't get the Chicken & Noodles - a decent substitute, I guess.

[housil]

Thx for sharing the pic´s. I never saw these once before open.

[LogDayFreshHots]

Hey Steve -

Just so you know there is an RCW on ebay right now and if were really smart I would have put a link here to the auction Like I said, if I were smart.

Nice job on the chicken/rice review. Ive never opened an RCW or seen the contents. Always wondered just what it would look like when they say "block" or "bar" in the description. Doesn't really leave a lot to be desired.

As for the appearance upon reconstituting, I have to say it doesn't look bad. Looks like something I've stepped in a couple times. But not bad!

Good job

[steve1989]

Hey thanks for the compliment on the pictures LDFH! Also, thanks for the heads up on the RCW... see the bid on it? That was me 1 hour after it was listed! I check constantly - I also type in some of the darnest things to find rations.

I bought 4 1970's LRP's for $2.99 each + $7 shipping for each. They were only titled (Example) Food Packet Menu 6: Escalloped Potatoes w/ Pork. Didn't put LRP or MRE in the heading so noone saw it!

I just bought some really cool rations off of Ebay in the past 48 hours and I will be doing reviews on all of the ones that have not been documented yet.

That's what I have fun with - documenting old rations that noone has really seen yet.

I am also corresponding with someone over a sealed case of RCW's! I am so excited on getting a sealed case in a few weeks. He's charging at least $100 for it though... oh well I'll chalk up the money if I really need to but I hate doing that it makes me feel like I am contributing to the rising ration prices so I will do what I can to pay less.


My RCW reviews will continue... hah "RCW Dating" will soon be the official RCW review thread!

[LogDayFreshHots]

Hey Steve,

Looking on the internet for rations and other items is the modern "experience" akin to rummaging through the old neighborhood surplus stores, digging all the way to the bottom of the bin in hopes that one rare or at least "wanted" piece suddenly materializes out of thin air.

Hopefully those LRP's you dug up aren't the eary fabric or 2nd model foil/ paper LRPs. I mean, if they are thats a great deal but don't eat them. You don't find those often. I will have to get some pics posted of the LRPs I have. The mid/ late- 70s poly bag LRPs I eat every now and again. The older ones I sock away for the collection

I know what you mean when searching for stuff. You really have to think like the person posting the auction who doesn't have a clue what they're dealing with. Ask Hagen (mreheater72) about that. He just posted an auction for a case of RCW that went for $35 Euro's because the seller posted it in the wrong era! Housil wasn't too pleased about it

[steve1989]

Hey LDFH, I feel the same way on that feeling of Ebay being almost the modern Army & Navy store (I have 3 local Army & Navy stores only 1 is worth going to but niether EVER has rations.) for finding some neat and unusual military goods.

I could have bought a few Fabric luurps on Ebay in the past but they are never cheap. The cheapest fabric ones I've seen were around $50 each. I bought 4 mid-late 70's era ones and I should post some of the pictures I have documented of them so far. I have a few I've posted already but I still haven't opened the entree's yet. When I do, I'll have detailed photos.

Poor Hagen and Housil..! I, myself have missed out on cases of RCW's and it's painful! That particular scenario that they just experienced is especially frustrating, though! Hopefully you guys will have another chance at some soon.