New Military Prototype (MSR Vapore-Jet) 2007

Well, I've just stumbled across one of these MSR Capillary stoves (see photos below). It's available to me NIB for $90.00. Just met the seller on a backpacking forum. I'm going to go for it even though I don't know the person.

It seems legit, but if it turns out the person is untrustworthy, I wonder whether I'd be better off paying by check or Paypal? I guess I'd have more recourse by check??

HJ

 

Hey Jim,

Awesome score! It may seem pricey now, but it may become the Optimus 9 of this stove era. Do you plan on lighting it, or leaving it in it's virginal state?

The MSR Titan Kettle (titanium) is worth close to $50 dollars. I think you got a great deal.

Cheers,

Manny

 

Hi, Manny,

You know the old saying, "don't count your chickens until they've hatched," but I'm cautiously optimistic.

Not sure if that's a Titan kettle or not. Obviously it looks like one, but I wonder if it's a special steel or aluminum version made specifically for the army. I can't see the army shelling out the money for Ti. The color of the metal makes me think aluminum, but I really don't know.

To fire or not to fire, that is the question. Do I leave the stove unfired or do I try it out? That's going to be tough. The stove comes with a spare CFV, so maybe firing it up is an option. You KNOW that I want to fire it, but an unfired one might indeed become a real collectors item.

First though, let's hope this deal pans out.

HJ

 

HJ, hopefully he is legit. Look forward to some pictures and a full review. Seems that most stove for the mil are just designed for heating water and hopefully not just that.

Ron

 

I'm cautiously optimistic. The seller gave me a delivery confirmation number. Something is on it's way here.

HJ

 

great find
i don't envy you the will i or won't i on lighting it though
are you getting the kettle and fuel bottle to?

 

Hi, Bill,

Yes, I bought the entire kit for $90.00 post paid. I got the kettle, MSR fuel bottle (22oz I believe), nylon carrying case, the stove, instructions, and a spare Capillary Force Vaporizer (CFV). If the kettle is in fact the MSR titanium kettle which retails for $60.00, then the value of the kettle, fuel bottle, and postage come out to be roughly equal to the purchase price -- meaning that I got the stove essentially for free.

However, from the photos, this kettle is clearly not the standard, commericially available MSR titanium kettle. The standard kettle has a 0.85 L capacity. The kettle I purchased has 1.0 L capacity. The handle on the lid of the standard kettle is coated with red plastic. The kettle I purchased has a coiled wire handle similar to the MSR Blacklite pot lid's handle. It's tough for me to see the army paying for something a pricey as titanium. I suspect that this kettle is either aluminum or steel.

lol. I almost wish the dang thing were used instead of new. I so want to fire it up and experiment, but an unfired one with it's complete kit is such a nice collectible.

HJ

 

That is a tough call Jim.

I would fire it but that just me wanting to see the flame.

Jeff

 

It'll be tough to restrain myself, particularly at CASG3 which is coming up next month. I'll at least bring the stove and kit so people can see this much rumored stove.

Interestingly, from what the seller is telling me, these stoves were issued as cold weather stoves. I wonder if MSR was having a problem with excessive heat feedback? I'm engaging in sheer speculation. It could just be coincidence that they were issued as cold weather stoves. The army issues other MSR stoves as cold wx stoves, so cold wx issuance may be indicative of nothing.

Still, my little inquiring mind would love to know what the hold up is. Prototypes of these CFV stoves date back to 2004 IIRC. The instructions on the prototype I've purchased date from 2007. Something's got to be holding up the show. I've seen postings on the army's website(s) that seem to indicate that they've abandoned the CFV stove. Don't take that as gospel, but reading between the lines, that's what it seemed like to me.

Since the stove is apparently not a good working stove, I'm leaning toward not firing it but rather preserving it as an interesting branch in stove evolution.

HJ

 

yes and a great price, you will probably end up paying more for a fired one just to see what it's like i wonder if your the first one here to get their grubby mitts on one
latest burner technology and you can't light it life's a bitch innit

 

HJ, hope to see the stove at CA3.

Ron

 

I Question why it comes with spare CFV thingy ...?
Reckon thats the crucial component that'll stuff up the first time you have a soup/sauce/etc. boil over on it.. Or as suggested with the cold weather designation .. It may be prone to overly feeding back thermally .?

Nick

 

If I can get one. If indeed the army has abandoned the concept, there won't be too many of these popping up on eBay.

I imagine that I might well be. Surely someone would have posted photos or even test results if one of our members had one.

You're right about that. The very stove I've been wanting to try out, but when I finally get it, it makes no sense to fire it up.

Here's an interesting tidbit from Wired Magazine from 2004 (2005?):

Note that heat has to be applied to start the process. In other words, it appears as though priming is required. I wonder if the "problem" is simply one of priming with JP8. JP8 would be a sooty mess as a priming fuel. Such soot might well render the CFV unsuable. The army is quite insistent that everything must run on JP8, but JP8 is of little consequence for a civilian. In other words, it might well be a perfectly fine stove for someone like me who doesn't care a whit about JP8 and for whom priming with meths is as ordinary as breathing. I'm engaging in sheer speculation again. I will know more when I read the instructions. I'll try to scan and post the instructions here on the site.

HJ

 

I would think the spare may be required since it may be operating on the capillary principle and when it gets clogged, the stove may not perform as expected hence a spare comes with the setup. Don't spill any soup on the burner!

Ron

 

I just spoke to my wife on the phone. The stove has arrived. I won't get home until very late tonight, but will post photos soonest.

Ron, yes, I suspect the CFV is a common point of failure on this type of stove. Dirty fuel, spilled food, or soot could all clog the CFV. My best guess is that the army has not moved ahead with the stove for this very reason. I suspect that the CFV just isn't reliable for military operations in the field. Whether excessive thermal feed back, clogging, or just plain fragility, I don't know, but I think the CFV is the point of failure. The fact that they include a spare CFV would tend to support my hunch.

No matter, I will bring the stove to CASG3.

HJ

 

HJ,

Can't wait to see it under your camera! Great find and very cool! Didn't think these even existed!

My curiosity would be too powerful to let that stove go unlighted. I'm glad it is in your very capable hands and protection - or soon will be.

all the best,
sam

 

This is getting exciting! If you bring it to CASG3 the urge to light it might become overwhelming. 8)

Manny

 

Well, when I got home, the MSR CFV stove was there waiting for me.

Some statistics:
-Pot, steel with presumably aluminum lid, Seagull Brand, Thailand, 1 L capacity, 224g (7.9 oz) weight.
-Stove, Lexan like tank with steel burner assembly and pot supports, MSR, USA?, capacity unknown, 380g (13.4 oz).
-Windscreen, steel, MSR, USA?, 24g (0.84 oz).
-MSR Fuel Bottle, aluminum, MSR, USA?, 22 oz capacity, 153g (5.4 oz).
-Roll top bag, coated nylon?, MSR, USA?, capacity unknown, 32g (1.13 oz).
-Entire unit including rubber band, 674g (1 lbs, 7.77 oz or approx. 1.5 lbs).

I realize this is cheesy, but it's after 1:00 A.M. here, so I'm just going to post a link to a slideshow rather than posting individual photos. I'll post more later.

MSR CFV Stove Photos

 

Wow! i wonder how long the jets (cartridges) last or if they can be cleaned/refurbished?

 

Morning, HJ,

WOW! Your MSR score was a great one, my Friend! Like you, I would, of course, not want to fire it up, as it may be one of the only ones that come your way. Unfired, it will be worth a mint, for those collectors with super deep pockets, and that fact cannot be ignored!!

But, on the other hand, what true Stovie would NOT want to see how this thing works, and if the capillary action stuff is actually worth all the press it's gotten, and the hype that has been created??!!!

So, there you have it, Jim: "To light, or not to light, THAT is the question"!!

One thing is certain, however: At our upcoming CASG3, your new little MSR is going to be a VERY popular fellow, me thinks!! And rightly so!! 8) 8)

Now, as an elderly Stovie, I'd like to offer you one small bit of advice, HJ: Do NOT let anyone else sway you, one way, or the other, as to whether you fire up this new "wonder-stove", or not!! This is your call, and your possibilities, and NOT anyone else's!! So, consider all the possibilities, then decide what YOU want to do, and what's best for you, and your family. Then, whatever your decision, you will not regret it. That's the best advice I can offer you, but I do believe that it's worthy of your consideration, for what it's worth.

That having been said, I very much look forward to seeing your new MSR at our upcoming Gathering, and whether you light it, or not, is not important to me one whit! It's just very neat that you happen to have a stove that NONE of us have seen before, and that, in itself, makes it very interesting!!

Again, congrats on a wonderful score, and who knows, maybe, if the Army HAS decided not to use this stove, the flood gates will open, and MSR will soon release it to the general public, so we can all have one. But, the fun thing is that YOU, my Friend, got one of the first!! YAHOO!! Take care, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc