"Everything has a history to it. Everything has a military application in some manner. From Dutch wool blankets down to radar nets, which is a camouflage net," said Dave Bondy, president of the company that owns the store.

Bondy, a former American military soldier, said his shop has something for everyone.

East German army clothes, Second World War lamb's-wool bomber pants, Desert Storm night camouflage, British tank ammo cans, jerry cans, combat boots. And the list goes on.

Mil-Spec, which has been in operation since April of last year, is the only military surplus shop in the NWT. It stocks 70 per cent used military stock and 30 per cent new equipment.

Bondy, who was broadcaster for 25 years, got laid off last year from CBC as an announcer.

However, a month after being let go Bondy closed a deal with Peter Crass, a territorial government employee, and set up shop.

Bondy has a passion for this business, he said.

"It's more for the people than it is for the goods. We've had some amazing people come through," said Bondy.

"We have a lot of people from the diamond play up in Lac de Gras. A lot of the helicopter pilots coming up. This was in the spring," he said.

"All the guys were coming up from Vancouver totally ill-prepared, not a clue what they were going to face. So we got a lot of those guys and we sold a lot of things like German insulated trousers, toques and hats and things."

It is not easy finding surplus, said Bondy. Many of the companies that supply military surplus have gone out of business.

"I spend most of my days just trying to track stuff down. All over, other retailers."

Over Christmas, the store recorded its second-highest day since it opened.

The most popular items at the shop, he said, are camouflage pants and combat boots.

To accommodate those who love the outdoors in 1998, Mil-Spec is making a move into tents and supplies, including Yukon stoves designed to burn any type of fuel.

Bondy said they are also expanding into different areas, such as model planes, military vehicles and cars, with a full-catalogue service available.