Recently, we found an early version of the Marine FSBE MBSS Vest in coyote brown with pouches. This version briefly showed up in the early 2000s. But after inspecting, we trust that there is a high possibility that the vest and pouches we found are fake. Our conclusion is based on the following reasons:
Wrong Velcro loop pile color
The vest we’re talking about was made by The Resource Center (a.k.a. Allied Industries) in the period from 2002 to 2004. On the real items, the Velcro loop pile’s color is similar to the main fabric. But in this case, the color is way too thick.
Wrong main fabric color
Similarly, compared to other products in coyote brown made by TRC during the same time period (like a 2004-dated Marine IFAK Pouch), the main fabric color of this case is way lighter and closer to the 2005-dated TRC made FSBE items.
Wrong webbing color
Judging by the photos we found and the real MBSS Vests we have (Olive Drab, Tan, and FSBE Coyote Brown), the material of the drag handle on the back carrier is safety belt webbing with color code thread (red thread on the rim or black thread in the middle). But in this case, the webbing has no color code thread.
Wrong snap buttons
Similarly, the real Modular Assault Pack (MAP) has plastic snap buttons on its zipper pull. But in this case, the snap buttons are all metal.
Missing size mark
The real MBSS vests with no label are always marked with size (S/M or L/XL) by spray painting on the carrier’s insides. But in this case, there is no such thing.
The elastic webbings show no signs of aging
The MAP’s tube ports are all covered by a small piece of 1″ elastic webbing with tension. For the real items, after all of these years, all the elastic webbing pieces are exhausted and their ends are loose, even if they have never been issued or used. But in this case, all the elastic webbing pieces on the MAP and other pouches are still intact.
