Military surplus stores are available to anyone, not just exclusively for military personnel. It is important to know how they work and what they have to offer to the public.

Military surplus stores buy and sell excess or used military gear at a cheaper, or competitive, price based on desire of the public or the amount of product available. Things that can be found at these stores include camo, ammo, hardware, and military weapons.

Military surplus stores contain a lot of different materials that can be purchased by anyone. So, if you’re looking to purchase military weapons at an affordable price and know what is available, here is how to go about it.

What Can be Bought at a Military Surplus

Anything and everything can be purchased at a military surplus store, technically. Whatever is unwanted by someone who used to work in the military, or if the government has excess and unneeded items, that is what goes to military surplus stores. There can be vintage items from far back into previous wars, or brand new items from recent years and wars. Some common items that can be found within a military surplus store are:

• Camouflage clothing
• Tactical pants
• Guns
• Gun Cases
• Backpacks
• Hardware
• Ammo
• Paracord
• Carhartt clothing and equipment

There is no guarantee that what you are looking for will be at your nearest Military Surplus store. There’s a variety of items available to the public, and prices vary depending on the areas, as well as the demand for certain items.

Is Military Surplus Cheaper?

More often than not, the items sold at Military Surplus stores will be cheaper because there is an excess of materials available for purchase. The military sells a lot of equipment and gear that they either have too much of, or are no longer in need of. When comparing prices against the original cost, it is practically pennies to the dollar. However, the price rising or falling depends on what is in demand from the public at the time, and what are considered to be unique finds.

Lots of collector items that are available are cheap because they are obsolete now. Many other countries have sold off their old military equipment to the U.S.. These old items aren’t exactly desired or in high demand, so they are normally fairly cheap and are considered to be collectibles to those who are looking for them. They can be anywhere from the first World War, the Korean War, and anything else in between or after.

The items that are available may also be past their date that they can be used. These may sound strange, as there normally isn’t any food sold at such stores, but that doesn’t mean that military weapons don’t come with dates. The military requires that weapons be re-evaluated and maintained to make sure that they are in proper working condition. Now, after a certain date, it’s time for an upgrade. Whatever the military makes in excess of these items that are being upgraded are usually sold to military surplus stores. Civilians are able to purchase practically brand new items at drastic price decreases.

What are the Best Items at Surplus Stores to Purchase

Desert Boots

Military boots are built a different way, which makes them something everyone should have in their closet. Boots vary depending on the brand and the specific branch they are designed for, but they are all amazing. Their flexibility and breathable material are great for hunting, hiking, really any type of activity or purpose they’re great for. They’re really built for any type of weather or condition you can wear them through.

Camo

Whether you’re looking for tactical gear for hunting, or something to wear for everyday use, this is the place to find any and all types of camo. There are dozens of sizes and coloring available because of various branches of military as well as varying sizes of people. Military Surplus stores are perfect for finding any camo that works for you. Deer can’t necessarily determine the type of camo you are wearing, so you can purchase camo at these stores for hunting as well.

Backpacks

Schools and hiking partners can’t necessarily tell the difference between the material the books are being carried in, so backpacks and other bags from Military Surplus stores are perfect. Again, the military builds their gear tough, so these backpacks and bags are perfect to carry whatever you want to shove into it. They come with an absurd amount of pockets and are comfortable to wear for extended periods of time.

Dooms Day Prepper Gear

All jokes and laughs aside, there is lots of gear available such as gas masks, radioactive material readers, and so forth. This kind of stuff comes at incredibly affordable prices as well because it isn’t in quite of high of a demand. There’s gear and meters available that help to prevent exposure to you as well as monitor the air around you. Whether you’re Brendan Fraser in “Blast from the Past,” or waiting to star in the show “Doomsday Preppers,” there’s plenty of material around to prepare yourself against nuclear powers and the end of the world.

What Items are More Expensive or Harder to Find

Guns

Any and all types of guns can be sold at these places, so they are certainly worth looking into. Whether it’s collectors guns you’re looking for, or the latest tech that can be offered by the military. However, guns can range in prices, but they aren’t always the best items to purchase because they can be sold for outrageous prices. More often than not guns can be a major bust and not necessarily the best finds.

Ammo

Just like you, there are plenty of gun enthusiasts out there, and they like to hoard ammo just as much. Ammo can be scarce at many stores, not just Military Surplus, so most times ammo is kind of a bust when it comes to getting it for cheap and in excess. Not there isn’t lots of ammo on hand, there are just lots of people who also want lots of ammo. It also depends on where you live and what kind of ammo you’re looking for.

Where do Military Stores Get Their Items?

Either from the military itself, or from personal sellers who were in the military, Military Surplus stores are willing to purchase whatever is offered to them. Whether someone served in the Vietnam War or sometime more recently, Military Surplus stores will purchase old gear to resell. Military stores offers will vary depending on the demand of certain items being sold. The military just gets rid of whatever is either in excess or outdated.

How Did Military Surplus Stores Come About and Why

Believe it or not, Military Surplus stores date as far back as the Civil War. There was a surplus of uniforms made as well as gear and guns. Both sides were rallying people, weapons, and so forth. The number of deaths and likelihood of dying from various diseases or wounds made it necessary to have excess of everything, just in case. The thing is, once the war was over, in order to make the money back, they sold the leftover gear and weapons to stores to sell them to civilians. This is the birth of military surplus stores.

The first well-established Military Surplus store was in 1870 by Francis Bannerman VI, and was called “Bannerman’s Surplus.” He was able to get military surplus at such cheap prices, and then sell for a great profit so that he could still pocket some money. Eventually the building would cover an entire block in length, and be seven floors in height. Even today, it is considered the largest surplus store to operate in history.

He happened to have an enormous surplus hold built near the Hudson River, which happened to be called “Bannerman’s Castle.” He eventually even got a few pages in the Sears catalog so that people across the U.S. could do mail orders for what they wanted from his store. Bannerman was usually the first to purchase whatever was leftover from any war or battle, and sold it at a competitive price.

Bannerman’s legacy still lives on today, even if his empire does not. Right after World War II, Military Surplus stores boomed. The public was thrilled to be able to get their hands on the military’s latest technology. After WWII, there was a slow decline in the amount of military surplus on the market, but all thanks to the Vietnam War, the latest tech and gear were available to the public yet again.

Though in recent years that has been a bit of a decline in military surplus stores, the greatest time to own, buy, and sell was in the 80’s and 90’s. There was just so much stuff available and the gear and tech was so new and revolutionary at the time that everyone couldn’t get enough of it all. Enough stores across the country were able to fill the needs and demands of the public that you didn’t need to order from a catalog anymore.

How to Sell to a Military Surplus Store

It’s incredibly easy to sell to a military surplus store, believe it or not. Whether the equipment and gear you have is new or old, you can certainly try and sell whatever you have. Military stores purchase based on need and demand of the surrounding areas public.

A Military Surplus store will first do a background check before purchasing the equipment. It’s part of federal law that everyone selling or purchasing a gun to basically make sure you’re not using the gun for nefarious purposes. Military Surplus stores are normally required to have a three-day waiting period before allowing someone to purchase a gun from a Military Surplus store, which allows time for the background check to go through.

How to Start Your Own Military Surplus Store

Get a License

In order to be able to open your own surplus store is to first obtain a license, which allows you to legally open a business. In order to be able to buy and sell firearms, you also need to contact the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which will determine the licenses you need to be able to sell firearms to others. Make sure to also receive an EIN number from the IRS, which allows you to purchase guns without having to pay taxes on them.

Find a Large Enough Building for Your Equipment

Now you need to find the appropriate building that’s going to accommodate the amount of military gear and equipment you plan on selling. You’re looking for a large enough space to hold all of the items, while also having a parking lot for the traffic. Who knows, you may even want an indoor shooting range to attract more buyers.

What are You Going to Sell

Now to determine the what equipment you’re going to buy. You’re going to want to purchase from liquidation offers. It’s usually through the government, the Department of Defense. You can even purchase through classified ads if those are what bring you enough gear to sell in your store. There are plenty of places to purchase from to fill your store with whatever you’re looking for, as well as whatever the public demands.

Promote Your Business

Promote the heck out of your store. How are you going to get customers if no one knows? Put ads in the local paper, create a Facebook page, maybe even a billboard. Involve all of your family in friends in getting others to want to come to your business. Tell others about what you offer, how to get in contact with you, where you’re located. Are your prices competitive? Get the word out as much as you can once you’ve opened; you’re looking to make money, no? This last step is what will push your business forward, and involving your family by using word of mouth will help your business out greatly.