Submitted by Eric Daniel
Since the dawn of time soldiers in the field have used fire for a variety of things; light, heat, cooking, the list goes on. Well, times have changed, and the Army has come to the conclusion that fire is nasty stuff, and the less soldiers see of it the better.
Rubbish. I happen to like hot food, hot coffee and hot water to shave and clean up with, and while the trioxane tabs are great in tactical environments, there are times where the situation will allow you to really set up shop. Enter the Optimus SVEA stove. Introduced in the late 1800s, this white gas stove is simply bombproof. It has a self-contained fuel tank, an on-off burner with a self cleaning needle, requires no pumping to prime the tank, and will run an hour on 1 tank of gas. Made of brass, the SVEA is heavier than more modern stoves, and it is white gas only (no kerosene, JP-8, DF-2 please) but it is a near indestructible stove, which is why it is currently my stove of choice for dismounted operations. Armed with a 1-liter top off fuel tank, the SVEA will keep me in hot water for over a week.
{ 38 comments… read them below or add one }
carried one for years. will work fine with MoGas, but not sure about the exotic stuff today.
the svea is a great stove, you can even get an auxiliary pump for the cold weather use
Wow, first visit to this site and archive and see a lot of familiar gear being praised, the gear I used cycling across the continent twice a few years back… proves that judicious advice and careful research can get you into the right kit for a long time…
For instance this Optimus…
the stove was great, still is, running fine 25 years later (I do a sloppy startup with the gas instead of using the paste). More kms. of use horizontal and vertical than I can count… it just works every time.
Or: I bought a KaBar on authority it was historic and sturdy (must check, am sure its an Olean made one), and have used it in so many demanding ways…never leave town without it…
Your helpful infield tips (like grunt tape and where to use it), I concur on many points from experience
Have Krazy Glued split skin in a pinch, dried and cracked from weathering and desiccation (in reference to quick wound fix elsewhere here)
Heck, can even vouch for the Photon Microlyte, albeit not in the adventure and odyssey testing.. you folks raid my gear list? hehe
Seriously, AWESOME website, count me a reader!
which stove has the following features,one palm tree wtih two lions facing each other,kaiser potrait at the bottom of the stove,german deutz,serial no s-tn-3017-47.9lb.year1932. please what kind of item is these?
This is an early stove made in the era of Kaiser and it can really fetch good money.I am a willing buyer and you can contact me via +254721399642 or +254729556619.You can also use my email address for further enquiries:kennedymwaura@ymail.com
I have this stove n i wld like to sell it deman deutz ga9414oc
anyone will to buy???
The Optimus is Svea’s most current model, but I have the same thing from about 30 or 40 years ago called a Svea 123, and it lists on the outside that it runs with benzoline, petrol, essence, or bensin. Those are Swedish names for white gas, gasoline, benzene, and I’m not sure what essence is. Benzene is a little hard to find, and gasoline is like liquid gold in some parts of the world, but the stove works fine with all of them. Because of the Svea’s simple wick and capilary innards, not much can make it stop working. The only thing you might have to worry about is cleaning the atomizer hole with the provided tool and cleaning the bottom of your cook gear.
I have a stove. On it there is a fistlike symbol, below it a palm tree with two lions facing each other and under that a crown. The serial number is not very clear to me. There is something like
0033
1943
GERMAN
DEUTZ.
I have a stove with this serial number GA 004371 CK
12lb manufactured 1918.
i also have an iron box 9.19.14 3 and half pounds.
these items are in my custody and wolud like to sell tme.anyone interested to contact me.
Hi Franklin.My name is Mwaura and I am a willing buyer.You can contact me via +254729556619 or +254721399642.My email address is kennedymwaura@ymail.com.Thanks in advance.
Update of the stove I have: Serial number is :
TND-31-48-PN
RBS 11953
DLETZ
GERMAN
*00*33
19*4*3
12Lb
Kaiser’ crown. It also has a fist, a paln tree with two lions facing each other.
update of the stove i have: Serial number:
TND-31-48-PN
RBS 11953
DLETZ
GERMAN
*00*33
19*4*8
12Lb
It also has a fist, a palm tree with two lions underneath facing each other and Kaiser’s crown.
NB: the digits between the stars are not very clear to me. Who can buy?
Hi Oscar.My name is Mwaura,and I am a willing buyer.My phone numbers are +254729556619 or +254721399642.My email address is kennedymwaura@ymail.com.Thanks in advance.
Attn: Jesse Njuguna.
Kindly, get back to me urgently through jmaweu@yahoo.com
Thanks.
John
i have a stove serial no s-PN 1914-47
We are selling a German stove serial no GA-174140C dated 1914 weighing 12 lbs. Plese get intouch with me at petershehe@yahoo.com for extra information.
Hi Peter.My name is Mwaura and I am a very potential buyer.I promise to offer a very good price as is your wish.My phone numbers are:+254729556619 or +254721399642
Hi peter am maitha from kilifi i can bay that stove my number is0720382566 or0719515298
I have stove, it has palm tree with two lions facing each other and Kaiser’s crown, it attracts like a magnet, pineapple shape, when you touch it with a steel wire it produce fire just like electricity, and when you bring a curved mirror closer to the stove it also act like an electricity.
Hi everybody.My name is Mwaura and I've been looking for this stoves for such a long time.I am a willing buyer and the price is quite good as we are going to talk.You can kindly contact me on this numbers:+254729556619 or +254721399642.I live in Thika,Kenya,but as long as the stove is genuine,im ready to come for it ,or you can yourself come to Thika to avoid any inonveniences.Any other genuine Grman material,including the padlocks with a 999 label,iron boxes,sufurias and others are acceptable.Thanks in advance.
Hi Mohamed, iiam john, i am interested in that stove you have, to be honest, i have someone(xpatriate) who will buy it if its the real thing you have. We have been taken on a wild goose chase for months by pple claiming to have it, maybe trying to take advantage of the 'mzungu'.Nway, if you still have it in your possesion, pls get in touch with me on 0721 584 137 or email twistah560@yahoo.com so that we can arrange for tha purchase.all i can say for now is that transactions will be from bank to bank.pls get back soonest.thx
hi my name is Dennis and i am a willing buyer for kaiser stove.please get in touch with me on +254 710 389 974. or shagzmtu@gmail.com.
I have stove, it has palm tree with two lions facing each other and Kaiser's crown, it attracts like a magnet, pineapple shape, when you touch it with a steel wire it produce fire just like electricity, and when you bring a curved mirror closer to the stove it also act like an electricity.
Read more: http://kitup.military.com/2006/11/cooking_with_ga…
Kit Up!
the thing you are missing to understand is that you really dont have an idea of what you have or looking for.I have been in possesion of an original german duss stove for 5 years and i have never come across any individual who really visualizes exactly how the product and its other component look like.If you want to prove me wrong,what is the other component am refering to.Hint.You ordinary people refer to it as the 'stand' which is wrong
Jay, if you’ve got that German stove in your possession. Why dont you sell it?
Its called a Breezer and i also doubt so many pple who allegges to possess the stove._
i also need the stove and i would like to know the price and where i can get it from.please assist
I have the German stove code G.A 714140 c 1914 and I’m look trusted buyer call **********
hey Junior…please send me the price of the stove am willing to buy it.
Hey buyers and sellers,can you shade more light on these products? How much are they worth?
i would like to know the price of this german sove,i have a friend with it 12lb
do you still posses the German stove? It is a real treasure…..juz write back 2 me.
Write to:***********@*****.***
Hi edwin,does your frd still have the stove? Can u contact me thro’my email?
Hi,do u still have the item?contact me on email address,*****************@*****.***
Hi,do u still have the item?contact me on email address,*****************@*****.***
i have the german stove 1914. I need an urgent buyer 40M.. email me asap *******@*****.***
I would like to purchase one stove or iron box but if they meet all requirements