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What is Billings Army Navy?

Billings Army Navy is an Army surplus store in Billings, Montana, selling genuine military surplus rather than replica or knockoff gear. Its stock spans U.S. Army and Navy camouflage, uniforms and equipment from World War II through to modern issue, organized into sections for clothing and footwear, hunting and outdoors, military collectibles, and tactical, law enforcement and EMS gear.

Who it suits

• Collectors and historians looking for period uniforms, camo patterns and military collectibles ranging from WWII to current era.
• Outdoor and hunting users who want durable surplus clothing and field gear at lower cost than new retail equivalents.
• Tactical, law enforcement and EMS buyers seeking practical items such as pouches, bags and wear.
• Reenactors and costume or film prop shoppers who care about authenticity of pattern and issue.

Practical trade-offs

Surplus stock is inherently variable: sizes, colors and specific items come and go with each lot the store receives, so an exact match to a list may not be available on a given visit. Condition can range from unissued to well-used, and older surplus may show wear or dated materials. The upside is authenticity and value; the downside is that you shop what is in stock rather than a stable catalog. Small replacement parts also appear in the inventory—the page lists items like folding cot replacement parts at low cost—which suits repair-minded buyers.

Next step

If you are hunting a specific item, such as a particular camo pattern or a size in a field jacket, call ahead or check the store's current listings before making the trip, and ask about condition and whether stock is original issue. For broader price and authenticity comparisons, surplus marketplaces such as eBay or collector forums can help you judge what a given item typically sells for.

How can I tell whether a surplus item on this site is genuine military issue rather than a knockoff?

The site's own claim is that it carries only genuine military surplus and stocks U.S. Army and Navy gear from WWII to the present, so the starting point is to treat "genuine issue" as a claim to verify per item rather than a store-wide guarantee. The page evidence shows category structure (Clothing & Footwear, Hunting & Outdoors, Military Collectibles, Genuine Military Surplus, Tactical/Law Enforcement/EMS) and a sample listing for a folding cot with replacement parts, but no per-item provenance details, so the decisive information has to come from the listing text or the staff.

What to check on a listing

• Contract and stock numbers. Genuine U.S. issue items usually carry an NSN (13 digits, often printed as 4-2-4-1 groups) or a national stock number plus a contract number (e.g., DLA100-xx-C-xxxx). A listing that quotes one is a strong signal; a listing with none may still be genuine but needs another check.
• Labels and stamps. Look for "U.S." markings, manufacturer names known to hold defense contracts, and date-of-manufacture stamps on clothing and canvas. Reproduction gear typically has brand labels only.
• Materials and hardware. Real surplus often uses heavier canvas, mil-spec webbing, brass or steel hardware, and dated ink stamps inside flaps and pockets. Photos of interior labels are worth more than photos of the outside.
• Condition language. "New old stock," "unissued," "used," and "grade 1/2" describe condition, not authenticity. A genuine item can be well worn; a crisp new item can be a copy.
• Category placement. Items filed under Military Collectibles may be genuine but decorative or deactivated; items under Tactical/Law Enforcement/EMS may be commercial equivalents rather than issue items, since much LE gear is bought commercially.

A practical test

Ask the store directly, in writing, for the NSN or contract number and a photo of the label for the specific item. A surplus dealer working from real stock can usually supply this; vague answers like "it's all genuine" are your cue to compare elsewhere. For reference on what genuine markings look like, official sources such as U.S. Department of Defense and surplus-collector references help you read NSNs and contract codes correctly.

For a concrete case: if you are buying a cot for a hunting camp, the replacement-parts listing suggests the store supports repair rather than one-off sales—ask whether the cot frame carries a stock number and whether the parts are original or shop-made. For a collectible uniform, insist on label photos and a date stamp before committing, since that is where reproductions most often pass as issue.

What types of vintage military collectibles and WWII-era gear does this store carry?

The store's own pages present Military Collectibles as a category and describe its stock as genuine surplus spanning "WWII to modern day," so the WWII-era material sits inside a broader collectibles section rather than a dedicated WWII department. Beyond that category label, the page evidence doesn't itemize specific collectible types, so treat the exact mix (insignia, field gear, uniform pieces, small equipment) as something to confirm by browsing the category or asking staff.

What the page does show

• Military Collectibles as a named category, aimed at people who want period pieces rather than working gear.
• Genuine surplus, no knockoffs as the stated standard — relevant if you care about authenticity and period-correct markings.
• Camo, uniforms and gear from WWII to modern day listed across the inventory, meaning WWII items overlap with the clothing and field-gear sections too.
• Adjacent categories — Clothing & Footwear, Hunting & Outdoors, Tactical/Law Enforcement & EMS — where functional surplus and replacement parts (the page lists cot replacement parts at $5.95) live.

Who it suits

A collector hunting a specific WWII piece will find the framing useful but will need to verify condition, date and completeness item by item; a reenactor or history display builder is better served by browsing both Collectibles and Clothing & Footwear, since uniforms and field gear often sit outside the collectibles label. Someone wanting cheap outdoor kit should skip Collectibles entirely.

Next step

Start in Military Collectibles, then cross-check Clothing & Footwear and Hunting & Outdoors for period field gear, and ask the store directly about date ranges and condition for any WWII item before buying. For comparison shopping on period pieces, established specialist dealers and auction listings are worth checking alongside a general surplus store.

Which surplus clothing, footwear, and camouflage uniforms are available for outdoor or everyday wear?

The Billings Army Navy Surplus Store organizes its surplus clothing and camouflage uniforms under Clothing & Footwear, alongside separate sections for hunting/outdoors and military collectibles. Its stated focus is genuine military surplus — U.S. Army and Navy camo, uniforms and gear from WWII to modern day — rather than replica or knockoff items. For outdoor or everyday wear, that means you should expect to browse by category and then judge each item's condition and sizing yourself, since surplus stock varies and the page does not list individual garments.

Who each category suits

• Clothing & Footwear — the starting point for everyday wear: uniform pieces, camo patterns and boots. Practical for people who want durable, low-cost workwear or a military look, but surplus sizing is often inconsistent, so check measurements rather than assuming your normal size.
• Hunting & Outdoors — better suited to field use than street wear; camo and outer layers here are chosen for function, and the patterns may be older or less current than commercial hunting brands.
• Tactical, Law Enforcement & EMS — aimed at duty and range use. Useful if you need rugged utility clothing, less so if you want something that reads as ordinary casual wear.
• Military Collectibles — historical pieces from WWII onward; these are for display or collecting, not for wearing outdoors.

A practical way to decide

If your goal is everyday wear, favor solid-color or subdued camo uniforms and standard-issue boots, and treat loud woodland or desert patterns as a style choice rather than a neutral. If your goal is outdoor work, prioritize the Hunting & Outdoors and Tactical sections, where fabric and layering matter more than appearance. For anything vintage, confirm condition before buying, because collectible-grade items are usually not meant to be worn hard.

A concrete next step: pick one intended use (daily wear, yard work, hunting), open the matching section, and compare two or three items on fabric, pattern and stated condition. As a general rule — not a claim about this store — surplus clothing rewards buyers who size by measurement and accept minor variation, and disappoints those expecting uniform retail sizing.

What tactical, law enforcement, and EMS equipment does Billings Army Navy stock?

Billings Army Navy lists a "Tactical, Law Enforcement & EMS" section alongside its clothing, hunting, military collectibles, and genuine surplus categories, so that department is the place to start for duty and field gear. The page evidence confirms the department exists and that the store describes its stock as genuine military surplus rather than knockoffs, but it does not itemize the tactical, LE, or EMS products themselves.

What is confirmed versus what to expect

• Confirmed: a dedicated tactical/law-enforcement/EMS category, genuine-surplus sourcing, and catalog-style listings with MSRP and sale pricing (a small replacement part appears at $5.95).
• Not confirmed: specific brands, item names, or sizes in that department.

A practical example

A volunteer EMT restocking a jump bag, or an officer outfitting a duty belt, would browse that category first and then call the Billings store to confirm sizes, compatibility, and current availability before making the trip—useful because surplus stock varies and listings are thin on detail.

Decision criterion

If you need a specific item (a holster fit, a pouch size, a medical refill), treat the website as a category guide and verify by phone; if you are browsing general field gear, the surplus and outdoor sections are likely to overlap with what you need.

For broader surplus and outdoor options, Sportsman's Guide and GovPlanet carry military-derived gear and equipment.

How do I find replacement parts or accessories for surplus gear such as a folding army cot?

Search by the specific item and part, not by the general category: "folding army cot replacement parts" on a surplus retailer's site will surface far more than browsing "Camping." Billings Army Navy Surplus organizes its catalog under headings like Clothing & Footwear, Hunting & Outdoors, Military Collectibles, and Tactical, Law Enforcement & EMS, and its page evidence shows cot replacement parts listed as individual items (one example priced at $5.95), so expect to find components sold separately rather than bundled.

A practical search routine

1. Identify the cot's model or pattern (e.g., U.S. military folding cot, wood-and-canvas vs. aluminum frame) and note which part failed: leg, hinge, end bar, canvas, or carry bag.
2. Search the retailer for the part name plus "cot," then check the Hunting & Outdoors section if the search is thin.
3. For older or collectible gear, look under Military Collectibles, where period-correct components often sit apart from general camping stock.
4. If the listing is ambiguous, contact the store with measurements and a photo before ordering; surplus patterns vary between eras and manufacturers, and a hinge that fits one frame may not fit another.

When a part isn't listed

Surplus inventory is opportunistic, so a missing part may simply be out of stock. In that case, compare against other established surplus sellers such as Sportsman's Guide or Major Surplus & Survival, and check whether the cot's maker still supplies parts directly. For canvas or frame repairs, a local upholstery or welding shop is often cheaper than replacing the whole cot.

Decision criterion: if the replacement part costs a large fraction of a complete used cot, buy the cot and keep the old one for spares—surplus cots share many fittings across production runs.