I just have to say that I bought 6 of the French Mess Kits and have already given 4 of them to friends who loved them as much as I do. The French Mess Kits have got to be the best made I have ever come across and will last me a life time. They all were in excellent condition just needed to be cleaned up a little and now look like new. It was definitely money well spent. I plan to purchase a couple more before they are gone forever

I'm a mess kit hoarder, and have collected them for years--I probably have 40+ different mess kits. This is the French mess kit that I believe is the Model 1953; historically, you see them in use from Algeria through the 1990's. They replaced the French Model 1935, which was a large 3 piece pot set that followed the typical European style.

This model was designed by the French after their troops were issued large stocks of US military M1942 mess kits--you can see where the similarities lie. However, the French model utilizes a three piece set, and have steeper sides to the dishes--so you could cook with it as a fry pan or a small pot. The fact that there is 3 pieces is great, as it gives you more options. The set is made from aluminum, so it heats up quick, and holds the heat well. It is also easy clean. The whole set is smaller than the US M1942 set. In total it is about the size of the smaller pan on the British/Commonwealth mess set.

For less then 8 dollars, this is a great mess kit set, and you cannot go wrong!

This mess kit is excellent, collapsible and very space-efficient in my rucksack. Well-built too. Great for outdoor camping.

Coated in a light layer of oil, it was easily cleaned up. Rectangular shape is great for storing in a backpack and for storing utensils and a fire-starting kit inside of it.

These seem like excellent little cook kits, especially for the price. The gauge of the aluminum is thicker than expected. I had a Danish cook kit for a while, which is a copy of the older British cook kits; these French kits are smaller. However, the extra pan really seems like a bonus. The two I received and ordered have very small dings and dents here and there, nothing major and still quite serviceable. I am impressed with them, and if you are looking for a cook kit, you might want to give these a try.

Love this mess kit had others like this before but none as well made as this. Can't wait to try it.

I grabbed 2 of these kits to outfit me and my son. These kits are rugged, nest together for compact storage, and have a nice weight ( not too lite and not too heavy ). They fit in my French ruck, and my Swiss ruck auxiliary pockets which is a nice bonus.

I like this mess kit better than the US made ones. It is more bulky and all, but it is great in the field! Will buy again.

I have wanted one of these for a long time. Mine has no date stamp but looks to be 50's or 60's. I don't think it was used much, there are more marks inside the pan than out, practically brand new! Will be trying very soon. Already has a spot in my rucksack.

Wonderful, sturdy mess kit. The kit I received had a date stamped 1953. They don't build them like this anymore. It looked unused. I would highly recommend. If your looking for a quality well built mess kit look no further.