Concertina wire, sometimes referred to as USGI razor wire, was originally an impromptu design of soldiers in the first World War. They say that necessity is the mother of invention, and we think it's safe to say that in this case, the instinct of survival could certainly be credited as the father. The creation of barbed wire was brought to Argentina in 1845 by Englishman Richard Newton, in 1845, but it wasn't until 1865 that a Frenchman named Louis Francois Janin was granted a patent for barbed wire. His design featured a double wire with diamond shaped barbs. As is common with many inventions, many other people around the world were inventing similar types of wire with the same idea and purpose in mind: create a barrier that is more inconvenient to cross than a standard fence or barrier, and make it painful to dissuade people (or animals, enemy soldiers, etc.) from crossing. Barbed wire became very popular first among farmers, as it was the first affordable solution to restraining cattle. In 1867, the first US patent for barbed wire was given to Lucien B. Smith of Kent, Ohio. Although it had been invented in other countries and even patented in France, Lucien Smith is typically credited with the invention, especially in the United States. If you ask a French or English citizen, you may get a different answer. By the time World War I was around, barbed wire had become well known and used by many, including the worlds' militaries, to create a barrier between their territory and the enemy’s. Your typical barbed wire obstacle was fairly straightforward, utilizing a line of stakes and pickets to run the wire through. When these barriers were run over by tanks or hit by military ordnance, they would often end up being such a loose and random cluster of barbed wire that they were more intimidating and difficult to pass through than the intended design. After realizing how much more effective preparing these circular barbed wire "concertinas" in the trenches and then implanting them under cover of night could be, a new craze was born. This tactic was very popular amongst soldiers and held an important role in protecting the barriers in between the land in between your territory and the enemies, known as "no-man's land". Another huge advantage concertina wire held over conventional barbed wire barriers was that due to its flat and round nature, it was easy to store and transport concertina wire packs and they were also easier to setup. Dannert wire:  Dannert wire was developed by the Germans and utilized a high-grade steel wire that was oil-tempered. It was much harder to cut and it was self supporting. One man could now stretch out a concertina style barrier by himself and cover a lot of ground in not much time. Due to high demand during WWII, an inferior Dannert wire made up low manganese steel was made, called "Yellow Dannert". Triple Concertina: A triple concertina wire is a type of barrier that builds on the traditional concertina wire design but utilizes a set of two parallel twists topped with a third concertina, all attached with twists of wire. This triple concertina design had the "random entanglement" factor but was much easier to deploy quickly. Though once hand made by soldiers, today concertina wire is factory made. It is used by militaries, law enforcement, prisons, and farms – and is found in many other places as well.

The best part is, authentic US military surplus concertina wire is available in our military surplus store at unbelievable prices! We offer full skids (40 rolls) for $699, half skids for $399 and individual rolls are offered at just $25. You won’t find a better deal on concertina wire anywhere else, and it has a myriad of applications.