#aws inc

@mou1age's AWS Inc. AK Chest Rig, before and after my modifications: - Velcro engagement improved with extended pull tabs, - Waist strap shortened and fixed to one side, - X-Harness swapped for custom, minimalist H-Harness, I'll likely end up removing all the grenade pockets later and adding pistol mag pouches, but I have other people's orders to get through first.

AWS Inc. Special Forces Chest Rig

I featured this example in one of my previous posts, but I wanted to get some proper lightbox photos of it for posterity

These hold six M4 Mags, six 1911 Mags, two MX-300R-sized radios, and have two medium GP/Medical pouches and a divided map pocket that comprises the entirety of the base panel.

Most famously, they were used by Delta Force at the Battle of Tora Bora (2001) during the initial hunt for Bin Laden.

Contrary to the buckle dates on most examples, I don't believe these were made in 1994 - the earliest reference of them in use that I know of dates to 1999 (operator on far right, first photo below), and it's definitely within the realm of possibility that these rigs were assembled in the late 90's with new old stock buckles from '94.

An AWS Inc. P/N 50529 'Assault Holster' (RH, Black) and an early 'smooth body' Surefire 660 that belonged to and was used by former Delta Force Operator Jim Smith during his time in the unit.

He tells these were part of the kit he had during Operation Gothic Serpent - I've been after an oldschool AWS Nylon Holster for quite some time, and I could not have been given a better opportunity than being offered one by the man who used it!

The buckles on the holster are all Fastex and undated, so it's quite possible this example dates from the late 1980's.

The zipper stops are now the replaceable type instead of the fixed/molded type and the tape ends are cut serrated instead of heat sealed

new one on the left

also the one I got has a double-sided pull despite the listing photos showing the single sided pull that I needed

its so over (new one on the right)

(Context: I'm trying to find a good source of 11" YKK 10V Vislon Zippers for replicating the zip-on assaulter's back panels of AWS DA Trauma Body Armor:)

I'm sure a couple of you are bored to death of my strike vest replicas, but this one's special, I promise :V

I've made quite a few Strike Vests over the years, and I've always ended up getting rid of the examples I meant to keep for myself, but this is one that I think is gonna be staying with me.

I based this one off an example that used to be on display at the Fayetteville Airborne and Special Operations Museum - unlike a majority of Gen.1 Strike Vests, this particular example was fitted with Fastex QR-1 Buckles as opposed to the typical SR-1.

On top of sourcing a set of these scarce buckles, an SADF P83 Rucksack was cannibalized to get just enough vintage nutria brown Cordura fabric to complete this rig (a huge PITA ftr, please don't ask me to do this for you).

As usual, all the other materials used on this rig include the correct MIL-T-5038 T/4 webbing, C.S. Osborne #00 Brass Grommets, and light OD Green MIL-W-5664 Cotton Elastic Tape.

Gen.1 Strike Vests of a similar pattern can be seen worn by SSG Daniel Busch and by an unknown operator next to SFC Randy Shughart in one photo.

AWS Inc. P/N 50990 CQB Vest

This was AWS's penultimate body armor design, developed out of their custom "DA Trauma" Vest made for CAG and Green Berets during the late 1990's. It took all the lessons from that carrier and refined them with a few upgrades such as MOLLE/PALS integration while still maintaining their legacy snap-on modular panel system.

They were really only popular with Green Berets/SFG, as Delta Force had taken a liking to the Paraclete RAV by this point, which outclassed the CQB Vest in many ways (notably with the RAV's 'cutaway' system).

However, the CQB Vest persisted well into the 2010's before ultimately being discontinued - Crye Precision put the writing on the wall from that point on and there wasn't really any room for clumsy BALCS-style armor carriers.

This example is UCP Camo, but was spray painted by a previous owner.

I'm so close to unraveling the AWS woodland mystery.

I have thus far confirmed that: - The oldschool material was more than likely Cordura-branded - The material has had some generational revisions to shape and color

The Cordura 1000D woodland used on the Topo Designs 'Klettersack' is so far the closest match to oldschool AWS Inc. Woodland, with minor differences in the pattern and the 'tan' color being a bit on the green side (though the oldschool material is faded).

The Cordura Classics/AbbeyShea Woodland 787 is the most commonly-found rendition of the material on the present market - the 'tan' color is the closest to an original, but the shapes are downscaled and the green is much less vibrant and lighter in shade.

I'm unsure if the Topo Designs Woodland is merely NOS retro material, or if it's a separate modern production material entirely that Cordura made exclusively for Topo Designs.

Now comes the part where I start sending out emails.

Better comparison of the Topo and AWS fabrics to show the scale is virtually identical, despite slight differences in the shapes.