Special Forces Iraq '03-'04

I finally got there! It took me years to find SPEAR vest. It is bitch to find original SF equipment and uniforms considering how many airsofters used or made them looks like SF used. The modified DCU and custom Eagle Industries chest rig came from one SF grouping. The helmet came from another SF grouping. The only few items I still need are comm gear (ultra expensive unless I buy replica), and replica Beretta 9mm and M4. It is sunny and warm outside so I did little "carpe diem" and took it outside for photography.

very nice display anyway, I like it so much specially the painted helmet

Thanks sir!

Nice display ! Happy you finaly find a spear/balcs ! Sadly, I had to sell mine some time ago..

Thanks pierre! I paid $300 for this vest WITHOUT soft inserts. This is probably my craziest purchase. I used foam inserts and plates from another body armor to fill it up. Now I need to find three color version.

Why did you have to sell yours? Those are hard to come by.

Mercenary25 wrote:Thanks pierre! I paid $300 for this vest WITHOUT soft inserts. This is probably my craziest purchase. I used foam inserts and plates from another body armor to fill it up. Now I need to find three color version.

Why did you have to sell yours? Those are hard to come by.

Because I'm student..so no salary and not some money... And I also prefer the desert model.

Id suggest getting some TCI libs for your display, and maybe swaping the holster out for a Safariland 6004 (more popular with SF). Nice display though.

You should get some IR cyalumes and put them into the elastic loops on the radio pouch

GREAT looking display

Aye Jkin, I should get some headset and radio. But it won't happen anytime soon.

Shane, good idea.

Nice, kind of back to basic. I like it!

Very nice display!

[Hey Merc, you were affraid of price paid for your Balcs / Spear...here're the prices for the two last Balcs/Spear sold on ebay... yesterday :





And YES, IT'S ONLY CARRIER - Without soft armor !!!

Now, I'm pretty sure you're happy of the "only $300" you paid ]

Wow, I did good then! I read in some post that you bought another one?

Those are reference photos I used for this display. Note the diversity of SPEAR body armors. Some is woodland, some is desert. Quite variety in chest rigs as well. Interestingly, most worn ACH with covers, but few used painted ACH's as well.

Mercenary25 wrote:Wow, I did good then! I read in some post that you bought another one?

That's right ! I got one in woodland camo for a "realy good price". It's complete : including neck and collar, groin and the full lot of ceradyne soft armor. The seller is sure it was used by a navy seal because he got a full grouping from the same soldier, including the spear/balcs I bought, with items marked as navy seal. It's currently on road for Belgium, and so I'll take pictures when I receive it. I'm happy to find one again, even if price is expensive... (can you believe the first one I got, I paid it only $250 with soft armor ?!?!? seller had it in buy it now for $250. He relisted it some time and nobody buy it during months...I didn't understand why, because all carrier/cover I saw at the same period on ebay were sold for $450-600)

If you'll, I can also add some pictures of soldiers wearing the Spear/Balcs. I saved some from internet, and maybe I can add them on this forum ? (I'm just little affraid, because that's a good way to have thousand of airsofters here...).

Pierre, you can create a new thread that focus on SPEAR/BALCS. I can contribute as well because I have a ton of photos and one in my personal collection.

P.S. $250 got to be the best price for the almost complete set!

ok sir, will do that ! I've my last exam tomorrow, after that I've some time to do my articles And yes, $250 was probably the best price I ever seen for the Balcs. But sadly, because of finance, I had to sell it. Now, I was just able to find another one, full complete. I'm hurry to receive it

Hi PE, that will be a great idea to open a new thread on SPEAR/BALCS. I m sorry I couldn't contribute but I will be very glad to see all your stuff

I already spoke a little about Balcs /Spear here ; https://oefoif.forumotion.net/t743-difference-between-spear-balcs-for-special-forces-and-ranger-body-armor (comparison with the RBA from Ceradyne)

Thanks

Wait till Pierre and I start a new thread purely for SPEAR/BALC only.

ok sir ! I'll follow with my informations. But wait a little I receive mine, then I can take some pictures and add them in our topic exclusively about balcs. ok ? Or you already begin it and i'll complete it with my informations and pictures. As you want !

Edited...misinformations (not spear/Balcs)

And here's one where we can see perfectly their balcs ;

Pierre, did they actually worn SPEAR backwards or they got the different front panel like you discussed on comparison of RBA and SPEAR thread?

The last photo.... The helmet on my mannequin have exactly same IR/green duct tape set up on top of helmet.

In fact, I opened the topic about Spear/Balcs and RBA to show they are two different models, because it's common to see them on ebay with the different panels. That's illogical, but some sellers find two separate panels, and so put them together to sell them a good price, even if they are not the same model ! That's just seller that are dishonnest and sell the different panels like an original...That's why I opened the topic, only to avoid to buy one thinking it's original, and finaly see it's two panels from both models. But for sure, when soldier worn them, they have both panels for Rba - OR both panels for Spear/Balcs. But not a mix of them !

Pierre, the first picture you posted of backwards SPEAR/BALC is actually RBA because I noticed his modified DCU. He is wearing Ranger style DCU (black rectangles for flags on the pockets and green name tape. So he must be a Ranger.

Now you tell it, I think I've wrong....I checked again both pictures, and apparently I made a big mistake...I edited my topic to delete my big mistake - I'll put these pictures in another topic about RBA ! Sorry about this misinformation !