By massively popular demand, we've brought our very own SMERSH to market, selecting renowned technical apparel manufacturer Arktis to clone the original rig as closely as possible. It's a one-and-done complete belt kit with everything you need right out of the box and a sprinkling of post-soviet military style — we agree SMERSH is hard to beat, and we took extra steps to make our SMERSH the best one yet, and far superior to "airsoft" clones. Thanks to Arktis, QC is much more consistent, materials have gotten an overall upgrade with NIR compliant fabric that's been lab-dip-color-matched to the original, and unlike most SMERSH rigs, it'll be easy to get your hands on. But What makes SMERSH so cool? Where did it come from? Why are people so obsessed with it? Why is it so hard to get your hands on in 2024? To answer those things, we need to go all the way back to the 70s... USSR vs. Mujahideen During the very peak of the cold war, the USSR invaded and attempted to occupy Afghanistan. It was here that much of the equipment handed down from the "Great Patriotic War" (WWII) started to fall far behind in combat. Meanwhile, their communist friends in China were arguably miles ahead in taking the grenadier vests of the world wars, making them able to hold magazines, and giving birth to the first true 'Chest Rigs'. The humble type 56 'Chicom' rig had a resounding effect on everyone's gear development but definitely tickled the soviets the right way. Whether "Tactically Acquired" off of Mujahideen or eventually made themselves, they needed new webbing so badly that Chicom chest rigs were the way to go. It wasn't until after the fall of the union that they went back to the drawing board with their belt kit... As the new Russian military was being reorganized, the Federal Securities Service (FSB) Began experimenting with belt-kit again. A modernized version of the Stalin-Era belt kit began to take shape in 1997 from SSO/SPOSN by request from an FSB Alpha member. The first iterations of SMERSH were tested and extensively changed by the FSB after use in numerous combat & training exercises. They drew a lot of the influence from the existing American M1967 Belt kit, (the predecessor to the ever-popular "ALICE" webbing) from its suspenders to a wider hip belt and the iconic buttpack. The "Partizan Rig", which could be considered a part of the SMERSH family saw limited adoption. It drew more inspiration from British PLCE webbings with a different style of yoke and a smaller buttpack with side-pouches. The Partizan harness only served from 2003 to 2006 and had its most iconic appearance at the Belsan School Siege during the Second Chechen War. The "Partizan Harness" and "SMERSH" were being developed side by side, but SSO/SPOSN decided to foucs on developing the SMERSH with some of the partizan's improvements instead.Around the 4th iteration into the SMERSH family, with the introduction of ALICE-Like plastic magazine dividers and an improved Yoke, the SMERSH was standardized.From there, new pouches for supporting weapon systems such as the PKM, RPK, SVD, VSS and of course the classic AKM were configured. With the 5th iteration, it switched to a nylon construction, and became the iconic SMERSH many know today, and the one we picked to clone. Specs Manufactured by Arktis for KommandoStore Comes as a complete set with buttpack and AKM Pouches as pictured buttpack Capacity: 5.5-6L 500D NIR compliant Cordura Construction Color-matched Russian "Olive" colorway NIR Compliant fabrics to reduce visibility under night vision Same Polymer & Metal buckle combination as original SSO SMERSH Waist & Height Adjustable from approximately US Size XS-2XL Features Snap/velcro closure Magazine pouches with shock cord cinch designed for use with AK platforms, compatible with many others. (See further details below) "Flare" pockets on pouch exterior Modular shoulder-mounted "PPI" pouch for small IFAK Items "MOLLE" webbing on Shoulder harness and buttpack sides (Russian variant of PALS, not 100% compatible with western pouches, but similar enough to make work) Rugged drag/carry handle on shoulder harness Auxiliary grenade pouches on side of main mag pouch cells Modular Expandable buttpack with interior cinch & exterior compression straps — may be mounted at hips or in "backpack" position. Posterior mounting straps for carrying tarps & small shelter halves Large structural belt with oversized buckle and padding to distribute weight at hips Sizing Notes Our SMERSH-AK belt kit is a one-size-fits-most rig with the exact same specifications as the original. i.e., If the original SSO SMERSH fits you, you'll fit in ours.It features an adjustable waist that accommodates for 28.5-46.5" (72-118 cm) or the small end of XS to the large end of 2XL. The 'yoke' of the rig is also highly adjustable to accommodate most heights. You'll want the rig to sit at your hips for optimal weight distribution and comfort.
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