Military gear exists in a state of permanent contradiction. The Venn diagram of “Mil-Spec” includes tip-of-the-spear cutting-edge weapons and technology, a reputation for going with the lowest bidder, and some $200 toilet seats thrown in for good measure. The term “Mil-Spec” is really just shorthand for an item that meets established standards defined by the Department of Defense.
Of course, it’s about more than just the dreaded “lowest bidder” — it’s the lowest bidder with the capability to produce and deliver parts to the volume and standard required. There’s more that goes into government contracts; just remember that “lowest bidder” is but one piece of the picture.
The needs of the U.S. military are different than the needs of a particular individual; outside of some small special units, the military generally seeks mass-produced items with interoperability and dependability across the board. When in doubt, the DoD will choose established and proven technology over the novel with potential unforeseen consequences.
Take, for example, coatings and finishes. There have been considerable advances since the 1950s, yet the Mil-Spec surface treatment for steel components continues to be manganese phosphate. Just about any commercial finish you can think of — such as black nitride, DLC, or Cerakote — greatly exceeds the performance of that found on issued weapons. Yet some may consider these coatings inferior because they aren’t “Mil-Spec.”
We look at Mil-Spec as our baseline level of acceptability for a weapon that may be used offensively or defensively. An
